Marijuana - The Facts

Marijuana may be the most commonly accepted drug within our society, but the truth is that it can be very dangerous. “Some common names are: pot, grass, herb, weed, Mary Jane, reefer, skunk, boom, gangster, kif, chronic, and ganja,” (teens.drugabuse.gov). A common misconception is that everybody uses it, when in fact marijuana use is on the decline. People generally choose to use it to escape from their everyday lives into a more calm and mellow place. However, this mellow place isn’t all it’s cracked up to be…

Short term effects:
(+) Dopamine is released which creates the good feeling
(-) Loss of coordination can occur
(-) Impacts perception, memory, and judgment skills
(-) May increase the likelihood of engaging in risky behaviors
(-) Increases Heart Rate
(-) Effects are often unpredictable

The most dangerous aspect of using marijuana is that it may affect the brain in irreversible ways. The THC in marijuana is suspected to affect the hippocampus, the cerebellum, the basal ganglia, and the cerebral cortex of the brain; these areas of the brain are mostly responsible for coordination, learning and memory. Many users’ brains are still developing and because the effects of marijuana use are so unpredictable, one must decide if the risk is really worth the benefit?

Sources:
-Marijuana What is it? http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_mj1.php
-Image from: http://latinolikeme.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/marijuana.jpg

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Employee Assistance Professionals (EAPs)

“In the US, over 97% of companies with more than 5,000 employees have EAPs. 80% of companies with 1,001 - 5,000 employees have EAPs. 75% of companies with 251 - 1,000 employees have EAPs,” (www.eapassn.org).

What does an employee assistance professional do?
EAPs are hired to assist both the employer and his/her employees. It is their job to address productivity in the workplace while assisting people who may have a mental health or addiction concern. A main component of their job is to make referrals to appropriate treatment facilities when the situation calls for it.

EAPs are beneficial to everyone in the workplace. Employees who seek treatment are more likely to maintain a steady job and create good work habits, which in turn will help the employer uphold a productive business and probably save money in the long run.

Employee Assistance Professionals have a large impact on the business industry as more companies are opting to hire them. Their responsibilities benefit both parties and their assistance has proven to be very beneficial overall.


Sources:
About Employee Assistance, http://www.eapassn.org
Image from: http://work-stress.biz/WorkStress.htm

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Wellstone & Domenici Parity Act (2008)

What is “parity”?
In this sense, parity means equal coverage for mental health, substance abuse treatment, and physical health conditions covered under insurance plans. Passing this bill was meant to ensure equal benefits for all types of treatment that people need, without any discrimination.

• Equal benefits (equal coverage)
• Equal limits (one can not be more restrictive than another)
• Equal Cost-sharing (deductibles, co-payments, etc)

Reimbursement charges are not included in the bill and the changes are expected to increase premiums by .4% for insurance companies. Although this act is meant to create equality, it is still possible for some parties to opt out of providing mental health and substance abuse benefits altogether. State laws also come into play and may cause some discrepancies among the people involved in this industry.

The Wellstone-Domenici Parity Act will be implemented beginning January 1, 2010 after being passed by the Bush administration in 2008. Some insurance companies have been fighting against this bill and changes continue to be made, but before long it will be the new way of the health care system. Equality may make an appearance in this bill, but only time will tell how effective the law really is.

Sources:
Wellstone-Domenici Parity Act FAQ http://www.phwa.org/resources/goodcompany/newsletter/article/113
Congressional Research Service Summary
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-6983&tab=summary

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