The Article: Providing an earlier warning of Emerging Drug Trends: the Fore Var System by Jane Mounteney and Siv-Elin Leirvang
In the analysis, the author postulates that the Fore Var System is one of the information systems that is anchored on the recommendations and research findings of EMCDD study. Unlike other information systems, the Fore Var System was invented to render and disseminate swift information, timely identification and regulate drug patterns in the environs of Bergen City (Mounteney & Leirvang, 2004). In other words, the Fore Var System is an effective local-regulating system that analyses, reports and monitors data about drug patterns in the city after six months. The system is an essential component for the policy makers and other parties who address drug and alcohol related issues and patterns in the city. The Fore Var System employs numerous triangulation methods to report, analyze, blend and convey both the qualitative and quantitative data; an aspect that enhances its strength, efficiency and effectiveness. The authors acknowledge that the Fore Var System has many advantages, but it also has its demerits, especially its reliability. Empirical studies reveal that policy makers and healthcare practitioners question the reliability of the system; considering that researchers need to compare result from different sources. Despite this shortfall, the authors conclude that the Fore Var System is a reliable and an effective information system to monitor and report on emerging drug trends in the city.
The article provides an elaborate and detailed analysis about the importance of embracing the Fore Var System to monitor and report on the emerging trends in drug use in the Bergen City. The authors have depended on empirical studies and provided practical examples to substantiate their claims and articulate the objectives of the article. In the analysis, the authors have integrated coherent and interesting case studies, which attract and influence the reader’s attention and thinking. The article is educative and informative and I would recommend others to read it and have an insight understanding about the emerging trend in drug use.
Article 2: Emerging Trends in the use of Drugs to manage the challenging Behavior of people with intellectual disability by Jane A. McGilivray and Marita P. McCabe
Jane and Marita postulate that the study sort to examine the trend, type and frequency of the drugs, which were administered to individuals with behavioral and intellectual challenges for eight years (1993-2000). The study also compared the rate of drug usage between those participants who remained on medication for the entire period (recurrent sample) and those who ceased (limited sample). The study involved about 873 subjects (female and male) with intellectual problems and the researchers examined more than 874 cases. Research findings indicated that there was a slight decrease of about 0.5% of individuals who remained on medication on the entire period (McCabe & McGilivray, 2006). However, this effect was counteracted with an increase in diversity and variance of drugs between the two samples. The researchers also affirmed that there was an increase of about 6.4% in the use of antidepressant drugs, especially on the recurrent subjects. In the same breath, the authors point out that there was and emerging trend on the use of psychotic drugs among the children. The authors recommend that there is a need to conduct extensive and continuous studies on this practice to help the healthcare practitioners to review and reform the existing medication modalities.
The article is imperative as it has employed a holistic approach to articulate and analyze the key objectives of the study thus adding knowledge to the readers. In the analysis, the authors have remained focused and objective in the study thus enhancing accuracy, reliability and validity of the information. The authors have reviewed and borrowed heavily from previous studies to paint a clear picture to the readers. However, the researchers have failed to mention the limitation of the study. They have also advocated for elimination of multiple therapies to individuals with mental and intellectual challenges; a move that contravenes the healthcare practices and ethics. Despite these drawbacks, it is important for other people to read the article because it is informative and educative in nature.
Article 3: Monitoring emerging drug trends: Psychometric and Validity in earlier warning systems by Jane Mounteney, Siren Haugland and Mark Stoove
In essence, the article is essential as it provides an in-depth analysis on the application of psychometric principles to establish the validity and reliability of EDTMS. The authors have remained objective in their analysis; an aspects that attracts the attention of the readers. The article is informative, interesting and educative and I would recommend others to read it so that they can expand their knowledge.
References
McCabe, M., & McGilivray, J. (2006). Emerging Trends in the use of Drugs to manage the challenging Behavior of people with intellectual disability. Journal of Applied Research in intellectual disabilities, 19(1), 163-172.
Mounteney, J., & Leirvang, S. (2004). Providing an earlier warning of Emerging Drug Trends: the Fore Var System . Journal of Drug and Alcohol Review, 11(6), 449-471.
Mounteney, J., Haugland, S., & Stoove, M. (2011). Monitoring emerging drug trends: Psychometric and Validity in earlier warning systems. Addiction Research and Theory, 19(1), 32-39.
