1. Running Head: Effects of Alcohol, Drugs, and Violence <br />The Psychological Effects of Alcohol, Drugs, and Violence on the Psychosocial Stamina of Minority Children in the Social-Economic Deprived Neighborhood<br />Anthony Wallace, BS, ND<br />P.C.D.I. Healthcare and Consultants of Texas L.L.C<br />Study of the Family<br /> <br /> Effects of Alcohol, Drugs, and Violence <br /> <br />ABSTRACT<br />The psychological effects of alcohol, drugs, and violence on the psychosocial stamina of minority children in the social-economic deprived neighborhood. This topic not only helped me to relate to the actual activities that happened in the intercity. The effects of drugs, alcohol, and violence on young children especially minority children is greatly devastating not only in their lives but also to future generation around them. The fact that our African American children are getting their examples of life from the streets is not only a fact that crime will continue to increase but also there must be a way to stop this cycle of depriving our young children of making a future for themselves and also building positive communities. <br />Key Words: Children, Education Psychology, Alcohol Disorders, Child Development<br /> <br /> <br /> Effects of Alcohol, Drugs, and Violence <br />Introduction<br />In this article, there are over 5 (five) good articles from previous studies that can relate not only to the opposing side, which are generally people that have criticized government assistance but have not seen the hardships of those children and their cognitive stressors. The other side of the issue will be the agreeing side or the side that can relate to the terror of these children. I would like to express the points of the innocent children and not just what the study were comparing, real life experience. Some children walk through 3 sometimes 4 gang territories to get to school with hopes of making it home another day. <br />The topic in question is in this essay, elaborates on how a child can survive this type of neighborhood and yet still continue to have great cognitive skills and psychomotor skills. In the past studies, the test referred to as an IQ test were given in one study to 4-year-old children that were born by mothers that were social economically deprived and either used alcohol or some type of addictive substance. <br />The study entitled “Prenatal Exposure to Alcohol, Caffeine, Tobacco, and Aspirin: Effects on Fine and Gross Motor Performance in 4 yr old Children” explained how mental health personnel conducted the study in an actual hospital system. The studies were conducted to figure out the effects of substance abuse on unborn fetus and premature babies. <br /> Effects of Alcohol, Drugs, and Violence<br />Methods<br />In the method, section of the study tells the reader about 85% out of 100% of married Anglo-Saxon prenatal women consented to participate in the study. It was found that the substances or drugs that the mothers consume were discovered in the baby’s circulatory system (Streissguth, Martin, & Horst pg 2). The study did not show the effects of those drugs on mothers that participated or how their babies condition. The study chose more four (4) yr old children to compare what the outcome of the study would have been. Therefore, the conclusion would not only set the results totally off in its deviations but it made the study to my point of view incomplete or inconclusive. I believe that if a study is going to be completed on certain individuals and populations based on radical and social demographics including poverty-stricken neighborhoods then the conclusion should be there with the original participants. The study that coordinates the same meanings of study or similar outcomes would be “The Protection and Vulnerability Processes Relevant for Early Onset of Substance Use.<br />Prior Research<br />The study entitled “A test among African American Children.” In this study, school age children from ages 10 and 11 were asked to answer questions on a lab top in which, the psychologist or administrator would ask questions and the child would answer using the numerical key pad provided by the test administrator. <br /> Effects of Alcohol, Drugs, and Violence <br />This notion of testing can be perceived as bias to other researchers and the child that is cognitively challenged. It gives favoritism to those that have higher IQ scores. The participants in the study were 422 students 54% girls and 46% boys and the testing were conducted in two different states. The conduction of the study took place in the participants’ home, which were mostly African American single parent homes or children cared for by close siblings and not the birth parents. I have some concerns about this study regardless of its intended study results. The fact, that the administrator could have done the testing in a more controlled environment such as the participant’s school, recreation center, etc. The other issues were that the administrator stated in the study “The interviewer would answer the question of the child,” this could mean in my point of view: that the child was help in his/her answering of the question given by the administrator to produce a result that is not true. <br />According to both of the studies mention they all similar. There were no changes in the null hypothesis that the effects of substance abuse can hurt the child’s cognitive ability to learn and comprehend school work but also will exhibit evidence of physical disability with either FAS (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome), Developmental Delays, etc. All of my research has not only focused on the pediatric population but also the effects of the parent’s behavior model towards the child’s goals and behavior change within themselves. The studies and articles show how the effects of the home actually affect the child’s learning ability and social growth.<br /> Effects of Alcohol, Drugs, and Violence <br />Research Question/ Proposal<br />The question is why, when, and how the effects of the parent’s dangerous behavior is going to stop. The studies only shows in my opinion do not show a true result but what the psychologist or test administrators want the public to know. The reason why I came to the conclusion or the comparison is that the studies could have been done differently in both cases especially the case of the Premature Exposure of Alcohol, Caffeine, Tobacco, and Aspirin. This study to me is incomplete and inconclusive due to the methods used to gather the results. The fact that the study compared more 4 yr old children to the original participants that were in the study makes this study non-reliant. The population sample should have been determined in the planning stages. <br /> I personally would have started and finished with the same participants. When adding more participants to the control group there is a big chance of error that will come into play. The reasons for the conclusion statement, the mother could be doing other drugs as illustrated in the study as a potential error. The next issue is (concern with the same study) the support from the medical data that supports the claim. For example, getting subjective data such as the mother urinalysis sample, blood work, and conducting one on one client interviewing every other prenatal visit, to test for other drugs. Other test can be conducted to survey the mother’s drug use such as amniocentesis, sonograms, and vaginal wet preps. <br /> Effects of Alcohol, Drugs, and Violence <br />This is mainly to make sure there is no harm done the baby’s progress as the mother continues to smoke, drink, or use recreational drugs. In other words, there could have been more supportive and descriptive measures to make the results stronger. <br />The study entitled “African American children with Protection and Vulnerability Processes Relevant for Early Onset of Substance Abusequot;
. I believe the study was good in content but the study could have shown more promise than illustrated. The study could have given students or participants the wrong or right answer strikes me as trouble waiting to happen because the administrator stated, “we helped the student”. In my preference, I would have given a written test with games that relate to the child’s grade level. The test should have been easier to access and manage without the administrator’s assistance. <br />The test should been given in a more controlled environment rather than the child’s home. The child may not concentrate on the examiners questions with comfort with fear of physical harm, teased, or tested once the administrator leaves the participants home. Mostly the child is wondering someone wants to study me or the fact that a psychologist comes to see me in my home will be quite embarrassing too, due to other siblings that do not understand. The child will be teased and taunted for wanting to participant in the study. <br /> <br /> Effects of Alcohol, Drugs, and Violence <br />Conclusion<br />If the child takes the examination in the home, the results may not be as accurate as if the test was conducted in a more controlled environment. For example, if the question were directed towards the child’s behavior in school or the parents smoking, alcohol, or drug paraphernalia habits and the answers would possibly get the child into trouble. So, the truth is not told due to fear. The administrator again should have asked for a more control environment for the child’s safety and promote confidence.<br />In conclusion, we can choose to promote health by educating all women of color and nationalities to take pride in caring for their unborn children. We can urge congress and civic leader to develop more program that aid in preventing drug use in our lower to middle class neighborhoods. We can take our voice to many level of government by seeking funds to open refuge centers, provide education material, and perform community outreach. This will not only reduce the rate of developmental or retarded children but it will provide a better tomorrow for the unborn child. <br /> Effects of Alcohol, Drugs, and Violence <br />References<br />Wills, A. Thomas, Gibbon, X. Frederick Gerrard, Meg, Brody, Gene. (2000)<br />“Protection and Vulnerability Processes Relevant for Early Onset of Substance Use: A Test among African American Children”, Pg 253 - 255<br />Barr, M. Helen, Darby, L. Betty, Streissguth, P. Ann, Sampson, D. Paul. (1990)<br />Premature Exposure to Alcohol, Caffeine, Tobacco, and Aspirin: Effects on Fine and Gross Motor Performance in 4-year-old Children, pgs 339 - 341<br />Hansen, Marsali, Litzelman, Ann, Milspaw, Ashley, Marsh, T. Diane (2004)<br />Approaches to Serious Emotional Disturbance: Involving Multiple System, Pgs 457 - 463<br />Robertson, J. Marjorie (1991).Homeless Women, the Role of Alcohol and Other Drug Use, Pgs 1198 - 1203<br />Cruz, Y. Iris, Dunn, E. Michael (2003). Lowering Risk for Early Alcohol Use by Challenging Alcohol Expectancies in Elementary School Children, Pgs 493 - 496<br /> <br /> <br />