BLOOMSBURG UNIVERSITY

Department of Nursing

NURSING 230: Drug Use and Abuse in Society

Scholarly Paper Guidelines and Rubric

The purpose of this paper is to first identify an issue (topic) related to substance abuse that appears in a common lay public source such as a website or the popular press, e.g., grocery store magazine. Then, analyze the merit of this topical source by gathering and comparing research findings from quality (researched and peer-reviewed) journals, government websites, and other professional sources. In short, your paper includes three steps: 1) the selection of a substance use or abuse issue based upon retrieved informal (lay public) information, 2) an analysis of reputable sources on the topic, and 3) a narrative that summarizes the merits of the lay item based on evidence.

Assignment Objectives

• Explore information sources to gain knowledge about a topic specific to substance abuse
• Use research sources (e.g., library based-research data bases, in-person library services) to find different types of information, such as books, periodicals, and research articles pertinent to your topic
• Select and cite current (within five years) appropriate information from primary and secondary references that support the relevance of the substance abuse topic
• Examine and compare information from various sources in order to evaluate reliability, validity, accuracy, authority, timeliness, and point of view or bias; in other words, investigate the qualifications of the authors and merit of the informal (lay public) publication
• Demonstrate an understanding of what constitutes plagiarism by composing a unique and scholarly analysis
• Determine the usefulness of the information for yourself and others, like professionals or a lay group

Potential Topics

The content of your paper will center on a moral, ethical, legal, or policy topic associated with substance abuse as presented in a lay public article, newspaper, website, or other publication or venue. Examples of appropriate topics:

• Decriminalizing illegal drug use
• Legalizing marijuana for medical use
• Legalizing recreational marijuana
• Lowering the drinking age
• Legalizing safe use rooms
• Treating addiction with a substitute like methadone

Internet and Magazine Accuracy

• There are varying statistics about the reliability of information from webpages and the popular press. Accuracy is not rated very high; therefore, in this assignment, you are asked to conduct a factual comparison on the topical item that you select
• As you evaluate the issue and ferret-out the facts versus myths or stereotypes, look for peer-reviewed research articles published in reputable journals to analyze the topical information you selected
• Conduct a literature search to identify valid information sources (articles published in research journals, government data bases, etc.); cite these sources in the text paper to support statements made as you analyze the accuracy of the information

Writing the Paper

• There may be a great deal of information on some topics, so focus on a specific viewpoint. Hint: After locating an item, determine if your viewpoint is “for” or “against” this topic; or, consider the perspective of a family member, victim, substance user, or law enforcer.
• The body of the paper must be at least two (2) pages without exceeding three (3) double spaced pages, not counting the title page and reference page.
• Correct elements of English are used that follow grammar, punctuation, and spelling rules.
• APA format is preferred, but another style like MLA or Chicago is okay –if approved by faculty before you draft your paper. Double space all lines of the paper.
• IMPORTANT: Submit all work in either Microsoft Word (.docx) or PDF format.

• Assignments must be uploaded into BOLT on time, or 1 percent per day is deducted from the 10% paper grade for each day past the due date. Do not email – only submit to BOLT within the Assessment-Assignment

• Use the following headings within your paper and address content as delineated below
• Place page numbers in the bottom footer and your name in the top header, rather than a condensed title
• The first paper assignment form may help as a template

First page: Title Page – Only 3 lines double-spaced: -Bloomsburg University -NURSING 230 Drug Use and Abuse Fall 2021 -Your Name Pages 2 & 3: Your paper should have the following elements and headings: Bold title of your paper on the first line, centered  Introduction -State the purpose of the paper. -Provide a brief overview of the informally published issue you found. Identify the lay article name or website (place the citation in your references). -Include at least one key point about this issue you found in research-based or professional literature.  Analysis of the Issue Comprehensively: -Analyzes the points made by the website or article. -Evaluates for accuracy, quality, and completeness of information. -Identifies and describes presence of bias, stereotyping, or incorrect assumptions. -Reviews  research and professional literature you obtained in order to support your analysis. Conclusion -Summarizes the quality of information of your chosen topic within the popular press or internet as compared to the evidence that you found from research-based or professional literature. -Strong connection between key points found in the introduction and summary. Last Page:      References -Utilized APA style, or a uniform system approved by faculty. -Title Page, Headers, and all directions followed. -No errors in grammar, spelling, or punctuation. -All citations and scholarly references utilized in the paper must be cited correctly and listed on the Reference page.   Hints: What are the claims in the lay publication versus what you found in scholarly publications and reported by experts? Are the “lay” claims accurate according to research literature? Support your analysis (for or against accuracy) with citations. Consider the assumptions that underlie the writer’s position and what alternative explanations or counter explanations might weaken the conclusions. In short, what is factual and what is fictional or biased opinion? Avoid making unsubstantiated opinions.

BU’s Writing and Literacy Engagement Studio (WALES) Support for Writing and Reading

The Writing and Literacy Engagement Studio (WALES), supports students’ growth as writers and readers.  We enjoy easing the writing process for all students from any background working in any major. Please see the WALES website https://www.bloomu.edu/offices-directory/writing-and-literacy-engagement-studio-wales  for more information.

WALES will be open in BAKELESS 206 and also available online via ZOOM. To make a WALES appointment, either come to BCH 206 or use your Huskies email to contact wales@bloomu.edu.  You can also just drop in to WALES and work with the first available consultant, often immediately. We ask that students wear masks inside WALES at all times.

Paper Rubric: Point of View
	All Criteria Met-  2 points	Basic Criteria Met- 1 point	No Criteria Met- zero points	Maximum Points
Choice of Topic	The topic was sufficiently narrow to allow and show thorough research.	Chosen topic is broad, poorly defined, or not relevant to course content.	No topic provided.	2
Introduction	Comprehensively: -States the purpose of the paper. -Provides a brief overview of the informally published issue. – Identifies the lay article name or website (place the citation in your references). – Includes a key point about this issue you found in research-based or professional literature.	Minimally stated or missing one or more of the expected criteria.	Lacks introduction.	2
Analysis of the Issue	Comprehensively: -Analyzes the points made by the website or article. -Evaluates for accuracy, quality, and completeness of information. -Identifies and describes presence of bias, stereotyping, or incorrect assumptions. -Reviews  research and professional literature you obtained in order to support your analysis.	Minimal completion of expected criteria.	Analysis not included.	2
Conclusion	-Summarizes the quality of information of your chosen topic within the popular press or internet as compared to the evidence that you found from research-based or professional literature. -Strong connection between points found in the introduction and summary.	-Minimally summarizes key points from introduction, chosen topic and evidence from research-based or professional literature.	Lacks a conclusion.	2
References & Formatting	-Utilized APA style, or a uniform system approved by faculty. -Title Page, Headers, and all directions followed. -No errors in grammar, spelling, or punctuation. -Narrative citations and scholarly references were utilized.	Missing 1-2 expected criteria.	Three or more of expected criteria not met.
Total				10

ANSWER

 

NURSING 230 Drug Use and Abuse Fall 2021

Analysis of Cannabis Use in Pregnancy May Lead to a More Anxious, Aggressive Child”

Introduction

The purpose of this paper is to provide an analysis of an article posted in the New York Times on November 19 twenty twenty-one. The topic discussed in this article is “Cannabis Use in Pregnancy May Lead to a More Anxious, Aggressive Child .”The author of this article is Melinda Wenner Moyer. Notably, according to Moyer, who is the author of this article, the use of marijuana during pregnancy or shortly after the mother has conceived affects the development of the child. In addition, this article suggests that children born to mothers who have me subjected to marijuana by smoking it, eating it, or being exposed to it through vapors, oils, or creams are twice likely to become anxious, aggressive or hyperactive, compared to those born to mothers who were not exposed to marijuana in any way during the or after the pregnancy. Also, the article suggests that Cannabis usage during pregnancy has been linked to low birth weight, lower IQ, autism, delusional thoughts, and attention issues.

Analysis of effects of Cannabis exposure to a mother on a child

To begin with, according to the article, children born to mothers who have me subjected to marijuana are twice likely to become anxious, aggressive, or hyperactive. Notably, the use of cannabis for a pregnant mother, according to (Marroun et al. 2019), can subject her baby to a range of developmental behavior issues. This is because the Cannabis’ psychotropic components, such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is responsible for the excitement felt after consuming marijuana, can penetrate the placenta and reach the fetus. Arguably, prenatal cannabis intake has been linked to worse birth outcomes. Again, studies have found that children born to mothers who consume marijuana show childhood cognitive deficiencies, inhibitory control impairments, hyperactivity, impulsivity, attention issues, behavior problems: adolescent aggression, and a greater risk of drug misuse later in life. Although the article discusses most of the effects that marijuana can have on a child born to a mother who abuses it, the articles fail to provide detail on the impact on the child during teenage years.

On the other hand, Changes in the function of genes located in the placenta, the organ that gives nourishment and oxygen to the growing fetus, may play a role in behavioral disorders. According to the article, the placenta, which is responsible for supplying the grown fetus with nutrients and oxygen, can be affected by the maternal use of marijuana. These, in turn, affect the supply of nutrients and oxygen to the fetus hence resulting in underweight babies and babies that have poorly developed brains. Notably, this is possible keeping in mind that, Marijuana exposure during pregnancy has been linked to some degree of developmental disturbance in studies that have been published(Thompson et al. 2019). Marijuana use during pregnancy has been linked to stillbirth, fetal growth restriction, and neurological repercussions in the fetus. Again, although the article has shortlisted some of the effects of maternal marijuana use on the placenta and the baby, it fails to give details on all the fatalities associated with effects on the placenta, such as stillbirths. Additionally, the article is biased since it primarily discusses the effects of maternal use of marijuana on a child when they are very young and fails to discuss the long-term effects that the child might grow up to about their teenage years and beyond.

Conclusion

To sum up, maternal abuse of marijuana during and after pregnancy results in psychiatric problems for children born to these mothers two times as much as of those whose mothers abstain from using marijuana. The major contributor to this is that the chemical compounds in marijuana affect the health and performance of the placenta, which in turn affects the mental growth of the fetus again; children whose mothers use marijuana may be subjected to environments that change their behavior by their mothers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

El Marroun, H., Bolhuis, K., Franken, I. H., Jaddoe, V. W., Hillegers, M. H., Lahey, B. B., & Tiemeier, H. (2019). Preconception and prenatal cannabis use and the risk of behavioral and emotional problems in the offspring; a multi-informant prospective longitudinal study. International journal of epidemiology, 48(1), 287-296.

Moyer, M, W. (2021, November 19) Cannabis Use in Pregnancy May Lead to a More Anxious, Aggressive Child. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/19/well/family/cannabis-pregnancy-behavior.html

Thompson, R., DeJong, K., & Lo, J. (2019). Marijuana use in pregnancy: a review. Obstetrical & gynecological survey, 74(7), 415.