Health Sciences Research Guide

A powerful and important exploration of how addiction functions on social, psychological and biological levels, integrated with the experience of being an addict, from an acclaimed philosopher and former addict. What is addiction? Theories about what kind of thing addiction is are sharply divided between those who see it purely as a brain disorder, and those who conceive of it in psychological and social terms. Owen Flanagan, an acclaimed philosopher of mind and ethics, offers a state-of-the-art assessment of addiction science and proposes a new ecumenical model for understanding and explaining substance addiction. Flanagan has first-hand knowledge of what it is like to be an addict. That experience, along with his wide-ranging knowledge of the philosophy of mind, psychology, neuroscience, and the ethics and politics of addiction, informs this important and novel work. He pairs the sciences that study addiction with a sophisticated view of the consciousness-brain/body relation to make his core argument: that substance addictions comprise a heterogeneous set of "psychobiosocial" behavioral disorders. He explains that substance addictions do not have one set of causes, such as self-medication or social dislocation, and they do not have one neural profile, such as a dysfunction in dopamine system. Some addictions are fun and experimentation gone awry. Flanagan reveals addiction to be a heterogeneous set of disorders, which are picked out by multifarious cultural, social, psychological, and neural features. Flanagan explores the ways addicts sensibly insist on their own responsibility to undo addiction, as well as ways in which shame for addiction can be leveraged into healing. He insists on the collective shame we all bear for our indifference to many of the psychological and social causes of addiction and explores the implications of this new integrated paradigm for practices of harm reduction and treatment. Flanagan's powerful new book upends longstanding conventional thinking and points the way to new ways of understanding and treating addiction.

Considers the issues that impact healthcare for LGBTQ+ Americans today and the negative influences that disproportionately affect the well-being of these communities, and presents a path forward to making needed improvements. The health of LGBTQ+ Americans is affected by many historical achievements and failures, societal influences, economic disparities, cultural shifts, and political divisions that can greatly impact the world of medicine, especially given the COVID-19 pandemic. Each chapter examines these issues to identify the systemic factors and enduring consequences impacting these communities. First-hand accounts from LGBTQ+ individuals impacted by healthcare challenges are included between chapters through "In their Words" perspective essays. An extensive chronology of relevant people, events, and legislation places this topic in historical context and outlines the evolution of healthcare challenges as they relate to sexuality and gender identity. Intended to be an encompassing reference for high school students, college students, and general readers alike, this overview not only explores the historical and contemporary complexities of this topic, but also proposes solutions for improvement and pathways to advocacy.

Advances in medicine and medical treatments are inherently intertwined with the technology that helps propel and deliver those advances. The latest leaps in artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, genetics, and nanotechnology impact numerous industries, but particularly healthcare, at a time when cutting-edge treatments are saving more lives than ever and increasing the health and wellbeing of Americans across the country. As medical technology expands, the variety of professions available involving medical equipment grows as well. Jobs within this industry can involve creating and operating important pieces of medical equipment or using medical technology to retrieve diagnostic results for patients. Many different types of careers are available within this wide-ranging industry. From MRI Technologist, to Medical Dosimetrist, plenty of exciting employment opportunities can be found in this field. This volume offers an up-close look into what it's like to work in various careers related to medical technology.