Avoiding Harmful Substances

Informs children about what medications, household chemicals, alcohol, cigarettes, and other potentially dangerous or harmful substances are, and explains why it is important to avoid them.

This book: 1 Identifies harmful pesticides and additives in food and gives advice on how to avoid them; it emphasises the importance of removing such chemicals from the diets of babies, children and pregnant women. 2 Gives details of the rates of pesticide contamination of fruit, vegetables and other types of food using easily interpreted tables. 3 Provides a summary table for identifying the least chemically polluted foods. 4 Gives a list of organic foods that are the most important to buy and an explanation of why, in these financially challenged times, it is unnecessary to eat just organic foods. Professor Norman Ratcliffe is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine and has published over 200 books and research papers on immunology, cancer, influenza, tropical diseases and MRSA. Five years ago Professor Ratcliffe decided to produce a comprehensive but easily accessible book on health and fitness to help people of all different ages lead more healthy and fulfilling lives; the result of this five year project is the 'It's Your Life' series of books. There are six books in the series; five of these offer advice in specific areas, whilst the sixth - It's Your Life: End the confusion from inconsistent health advice - includes all of the advice given in the rest of the series.

An accessible text on maintaining a safe and healthy lifestyle, this title covers such topics as: what everyday substances are harmful; medicines; smoking; how alcohol affects your body and behaviour; solvents; ecstasy and cannabis; heroin and cocaine; addiction; and how to keep safe. Each spread also features a fascinating fact, something to try out or a healthy hint.

Estimates indicate that as many as 1 in 4 Americans will experience a mental health problem or will misuse alcohol or drugs in their lifetimes. These disorders are among the most highly stigmatized health conditions in the United States, and they remain barriers to full participation in society in areas as basic as education, housing, and employment. Improving the lives of people with mental health and substance abuse disorders has been a priority in the United States for more than 50 years. The Community Mental Health Act of 1963 is considered a major turning point in America's efforts to improve behavioral healthcare. It ushered in an era of optimism and hope and laid the groundwork for the consumer movement and new models of recovery. The consumer movement gave voice to people with mental and substance use disorders and brought their perspectives and experience into national discussions about mental health. However over the same 50-year period, positive change in American public attitudes and beliefs about mental and substance use disorders has lagged behind these advances. Stigma is a complex social phenomenon based on a relationship between an attribute and a stereotype that assigns undesirable labels, qualities, and behaviors to a person with that attribute. Labeled individuals are then socially devalued, which leads to inequality and discrimination. This report contributes to national efforts to understand and change attitudes, beliefs and behaviors that can lead to stigma and discrimination. Changing stigma in a lasting way will require coordinated efforts, which are based on the best possible evidence, supported at the national level with multiyear funding, and planned and implemented by an effective coalition of representative stakeholders. Ending Discrimination Against People with Mental and Substance Use Disorders: The Evidence for Stigma Change explores stigma and discrimination faced by individuals with mental or substance use disorders and recommends effective strategies for reducing stigma and encouraging people to seek treatment and other supportive services. It offers a set of conclusions and recommendations about successful stigma change strategies and the research needed to inform and evaluate these efforts in the United States.

The prevention of harm from drug use, both legal and illegal, is a major concern to government departments and clinicians throughout the world. Recently, much new research has been conducted regarding global levels and patterns of drug-related harm, on common risk factors with other social problems (e.g. mental health, crime) and on the effectiveness of wide range of intervention strategies. There is a need to summarise and synthesise this new knowledge for use in a range of disciplines. Preventing Harmful Substance Use offers the most comprehensive and up-to-date advice available on the prevention of drug and alcohol abuse. Contributors provide authoritative, science-based reviews of knowledge on their areas of expertise, and make clear recommendations for the future of prevention policy and practice. A final section draws the work together and offers a framework for an integrated science of prevention.

Audisee® eBooks with Audio combine professional narration and text highlighting for an engaging read aloud experience! Matthew's little brother doesn't know about harmful substances. But Mighty Matthew does! He rescues his brother from household poisons. That means cleaners, medicines, and houseplants. He also points out poisons in the grass and garage. Matthew knows how to stay safe at home!

The prevention of harm from drug use, both legal and illegal, is a major concern to government departments and clinicians throughout the world. Recently, much new research has been conducted regarding global levels and patterns of drug-related harm, on common risk factors with other social problems (e.g. mental health, crime) and on the effectiveness of wide range of intervention strategies. There is a need to summarise and synthesise this new knowledge for use in a range of disciplines. Preventing Harmful Substance Use offers the most comprehensive and up-to-date advice available on the prevention of drug and alcohol abuse. Contributors provide authoritative, science-based reviews of knowledge on their areas of expertise, and make clear recommendations for the future of prevention policy and practice. A final section draws the work together and offers a framework for an integrated science of prevention.

All across the United States, individuals, families, communities, and health care systems are struggling to cope with substance use, misuse, and substance use disorders. Substance misuse and substance use disorders have devastating effects, disrupt the future plans of too many young people, and all too often, end lives prematurely and tragically. Substance misuse is a major public health challenge and a priority for our nation to address. The effects of substance use are cumulative and costly for our society, placing burdens on workplaces, the health care system, families, states, and communities. The Report discusses opportunities to bring substance use disorder treatment and mainstream health care systems into alignment so that they can address a person's overall health, rather than a substance misuse or a physical health condition alone or in isolation. It also provides suggestions and recommendations for action that everyone-individuals, families, community leaders, law enforcement, health care professionals, policymakers, and researchers-can take to prevent substance misuse and reduce its consequences.