Global Warming Project

Global Warming is an increase in the average temperature of the earth's atmosphere. It is primarily caused by greenhouse gas concentration in the atmosphere and almost 100 percent of the observed temperature increase over the last 50 years has been due to this reason. The biggest contributing factor of greenhouse gases is the burning of fossil fuels which leads to the emission of carbon dioxide. Vast concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, mainly carbon dioxide, acts like a mirror and reflects heat energy back onto the earth raising the temperature. This increase of temperature causes sea levels to rise due to thermal expansion of the ocean, along with melting glaciers. Pattern and amount of rain and snow are changing. Hurricanes are now more intense and occur more frequently along with unpredictable tornadoes, floods, droughts, and heat waves. Other consequences of global warming include higher or lower agricultural yields and in most extreme case, species extinction. Also malaria is showing up places thought to be extinguished previously. Petroleum and coal are two of the main reason of carbon dioxide emission. Transportation fuels, residential, commercial, and power plants make up for half of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

In order to reduce the effects of global warming, mainly it is crucial that we reduce the amounts of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere along with all the other harmful heat—trapping gasses like methane. We must use cleaner forms of energy rather than electricity from coal—burning plants. We need to come up with a replacement for petroleum due to the amount of pollution it causes. We need to utilize and incorporate wind, water, and solar energy more into our lives. We need to stop destroying our rain forests. We can’t wait for our governments to step in and make changes. We need to be responsible and make changes individually since it affects all living things on this planet. It is vital to our survival that we change the way we live and do things. Everyone can make positive progression by doing something simple as using energy efficient appliances, using fluorescent light bulbs, using less hot water and taking showers instead of baths, recycling, reducing waste, buying fresh foods instead of frozen, buying more organic foods rather than processed, eating less meat, maintaining our vehicles so it emits less harmful gasses, buying more fuel efficient cars, and spreading awareness of the impending dangers that we may face one day. Every positive little thing we do adds up in the big picture. Earth will continue to get warmer as more greenhouse gasses are released into the atmosphere. It is a test for our species as conditions begins to worsen, to adapt to the ever-changing Earth.

Prescription Drug Abuse is On the Rise

People in Oklahoma City are fighting the battle against prescription drug abuse. National Institute of Health estimates that around 20% of people 12 and older have abused prescription medicines for non-medical purposes. United States Department of Health and Services say that there are three million new abusers of prescription drugs. Prescription drug abuse is on the rise. Parents are now advised to talk to their kids about prescription medicines along with other harmful drugs. Kids are getting a hold of these harmful substances with ease. The video shows a person’s cabinet full of prescription drugs and it’s easy as reaching in the cabinet, opening the bottle, and taking the drugs. The situation is so bad that kids are getting a high off of cough medicine due to an active ingredient known as DMX that is present in cough syrups. FDA says that most abusive drugs are anti-depressants and stimulants.

Abuse of prescription drugs to get high has become gradually more common amongst the youth and young adults. According to NIDA, general youth drug usage is down by 23 percent as of 2001 but still around 6.4 million Americans report non-medical abuse of prescription drugs. Recently abusers of prescription drugs have reached the number of new users of marijuana and most of the abuse seems to be catalyzed by the relative simplicity of acquiring prescription drugs. Around 60 percent of people who abuse prescription pain killers decree that they acquired their prescription drugs from a friend or relative for free. Prescription drugs used for non-medical reasons or abused can modify and alter brain activity along with a dependence of the drug and in most extreme cases abuse may lead to death. General classes of prescription drugs being abused consist of opioids (pain killers), central nervous system depressants (to treat anxiety and sleep disorders), and stimulants (to treat ADHD).

Prescribed Drugs

Can people develop an addiction to prescribed medication?

A recent study done by NIDA (National Institute of Drug Abuse) reveal that the abuse of prescribed pain medication ranks second, only behind marijuana, as the Nation’s most common illegal drug problem.

Who is to blame?

In many cases Doctors misdiagnose their patients and hand them drugs. Doctors must use extreme caution when prescribing drugs and medication due to obvious health hazards. Thousands of lives are lost each year from misuse or abuse of prescribed medication and many more due to improper diagnosis.