Bookshelf

Issues of Concern

Violence

Interpersonal violence is the chief cause of death amongst children and young adults in the United States.[1] Daily, more than 4500 people die worldwide due to the consequences of violence.[2] Violence can present in various ways, including child abuse or neglect, youth violence, intimate partner violence, sexual violence, elder abuse, self-inflicted violence, and collective violence.[3] Violent behaviors are more common amongst adolescents and young adults.[3] Other factors that can increase the risk of the development of violent behaviors include experiencing abuse as a child, substance abuse disorder, economic stress, and residing in a violent neighborhood.[1]

Alcohol Use Disorder

The American Medical Association defines alcohol use disorder as “a disease characterized by serious impairment that is directly linked to persistent and uncurbed consumption of alcohol,” along with resultant harmful effects on physical health and social behavior. Consistent use of alcohol also leads to dependence, and subsequent withdrawal precipitates undesirable and harmful symptoms.[4] In the United States, up to 30% of people experience alcohol use disorder in their lifetime. It’s more common in younger adults (18 to 44 years) and males. Other risk factors include African American, Asian, or Hispanic ethnicity, presence of mood disorders, substance abuse disorders, and disability.[5]

Tobacco Use Disorder

Tobacco use is a prevalent public health issue and is the leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality in the United States.[6] Each year cigarette smoking causes 8 million deaths worldwide, including 7 million deaths amongst first-hand smokers and 1.2 million deaths amongst passive smokers.[7] The majority of people who smoke begin before the age of 18, and younger people face significant difficulty in quitting smoking.[6] Tobacco use disorder is more prevalent amongst people who suffer from psychiatric illnesses and other substance abuse disorders. Up to 44 percent of smokers in the United States have a mental illness.[8] While rates of cigarette smoking are falling, the prevalence of alternative tobacco products like electronic cigarettes and hookah are increasing.[8]

Risky Sexual Behaviors

Risky sexual behaviors are defined as acts that increase the chance that a sexually active individual will contract a sexually transmitted infection, or become pregnant, or make a partner pregnant.[9] Such behaviors include unprotected intercourse, having multiple sexual partners, and abusing recreational drugs.[10] Risky sexual behaviors and sexually transmitted infections are more common in adolescents. Surveillance data indicate that almost 50 percent of all new sexually transmitted infections are found in adolescents and young adults.[11][12] Other factors that increase the risk are mood disorders, substance abuse disorders, and unpleasant childhood events like sexual abuse, sexual trafficking, or maltreatment.[13]

Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are a group of mental illnesses that have profound negative effects on a patient’s physical and psychosocial health. They include anorexia nervosa (characterized by a fear of gaining weight, food restriction, and low body weight), bulimia nervosa (characterized by binge eating followed by purging), binge-eating disorder(compulsive overeating), pica (eating non-food items), avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (lack of interest in food), and a group of other specified feeding or eating disorders.[14] Eating disorders occur more frequently in women than in men. Anorexia nervosa affects females three times more than males.[15] Experiencing sexual abuse, belonging to the dance industry, and being exposed to a culture where thinness is idealized increases the risk of developing eating disorders.[16][17][18]

This post was last modified on Tháng mười một 22, 2024 6:04 chiều