HSH712 : Evidence Based Argument Assignment Help
The Question:
HSH712:This evidence -based argument requires students to choose a drug policy and compose an evidence-based essay for a policy response. This task includes four criteria, and students are required to evaluate and analyse their responses to these criteria by articulating an evidence -based argument in support of a policy change. This should include description of the chosen harm, and how the harm can be addressed through the policy change.
The solution of this assessment begins with a short introduction, providing a quick overview of the critical argument presented in the essay and how a policy change would address the legalisation of cannabis.
In formulating the introduction section, our experts have clearly explained the essay’s purpose, encompassing the harm induced by cannabis legalisation and the necessary policy changes. Keep reading to learn more!
The Solution:
Introduction
Legalisation of cannabis is a widely debated topic globally despite its potential health benefits. Cannabis has been used for centuries to treat a variety of ailments and is seen as a potentially effective source for pain relief, inflammation and other illnesses (O’Brien, 2019). According to the Australian Institute of Health & Welfare (AIHW), use of cannabis in Australia increased from 10.4% in 2016 to 11.6% in 2019, particularly among those aged 50 and above due to its medicinal benefits (AIHW, 2019). However, irrespective of the healthcare benefits, there are still numerous restrictions on its use (Decorte et al., 2020).
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While discussing the selected harm, the student is required to provide a clear explanation and rationale for their choice. It requires the student to highlight the importance of taking action for addressing the harm.
Keep reading to get insights into how our skilled experts have chosen the harm related to the selected policy!
The harm caused by non-uniform legalisation of cannabis
Cannabis was legalised in Australia for medicinal and scientific purposes in the year 2016 at a federal level, but the rules regarding its possession varies from state-to-state (Government of Australia, 2022). This non-uniformity concerning the legalisation of cannabis in Australia has created significant access barriers for older adults who rely on the medicinal benefits of cannabis for their various age-related ailments (Seddon & Floodgate, 2020). A significant harm that is caused by the non-uniform legalisation and unavailability of cannabis among older adults is chronic pain and eventual physical debilitation. According to the AIHW, chronic pain affects 1.6 million Australians aged 45 years and above (AIHW, 2020). Chronic pain can cause significant debilitation in an older adult’s life by impacting their ability to perform daily activities, such as bathing, dressing or eating, and lead to a decline in their physical functioning and mobility (Reid et al., 2015).The AIHW also reported that there were nearly 105,000 hospitalizations involving chronic pain in Australia in 2017-18, who were dispensed opioids and other analgesics to manage their condition (AIHW, 2020). According to Romero‐Sandoval et al. (2018), there is substantial evidence that cannabis is considerably effective for chronic pain in older adults, and has the potential to reduce opioid consumption.
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The policy change section requires the student to provide a concise and justified explanation of the policy modification to address the chosen harm. The student needs to provide examples and evidence by emphasising that the implementation of these changes will result in a decrease in the defined harm.
Scroll below to discover how our experts have elucidated the policy change section with in-depth explanation backed up with evidenced justifications.
The policy change required to address the harm
At present, many older adults in Australia are experiencing chronic pain and its related symptoms. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), every 1 out of 2 people aged 65 and above are suffering from disability, and the most common symptom leading to this disability has been identified as chronic pain due to arthritis, back problems or other related musculoskeletal disorders (ABS, 2019). Improved accessibility to medicinal cannabis will help older adults suffering from chronic pain to overcome their pain and related debilitation, by providing them relief from the symptoms associated with it, such as muscle and joint stiffness, decreased range of motion and limited mobility (Bicket & Mao, 2015). In a study conducted by Yang et al (2021) on 568 adults aged 65 years and above, over 75% of the participants reported cannabis to be ‘extremely helpful’ in managing their chronic pain condition. As cannabis is known to have anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-spasmodic properties, it can prove beneficial in reducing pain, inflammation, stiffness and muscle spasm in older adults with chronic pain (Hill et al., 2017). Therefore, providing older adults with easy accessibility to cannabis will enable them to manage their symptoms more effectively, thereby allowing them to be self-reliant and have a more fulfilling life, as they would no longer have to rely on others for their mobility or daily living activities. Despite overwhelming evidence that cannabis is a highly effective alternative to traditional pain medications, older adults in Australia are still unable to obtain it due to the stringent laws and regulations as applicable under the ‘Therapeutic Goods Act, 1989’ for the governance of cannabis-based products (Government of Australia, n.d.). Therefore, the policy change that is required to address the current situation is to uniformly legalise cannabis for medicinal use in older adults aged between 50-to-80-years and make it more affordable for them across all states in Australia in order to improve their accessibility to cannabis.
Uniformly legalizing cannabis for older adults across all states in Australia could have a number of advantages. Firstly, a uniform legalisation would improve the access of cannabis to older adults by removing the complex formalities associated with its possession and use (Rehm & Manthey, 2020). This includes obtaining TGA authorisations, state licenses and other paperwork to access cannabis for medicinal use (Lintzeris et al., 2020). Currently in Australia, patients must have a medical condition that is eligible for an approval from the TGA’s Special Access Scheme (SAS) in order to obtain a prescription for cannabis. This scheme allows medical professionals to prescribe unapproved medicinal cannabis-based products on a case-by-case basis to provide access to unregistered medicinal cannabis for use in specific cases when a registered medicine is not available, may not be suitable for the particular patient, or is not meeting the medical needs of the patient (Government of Australia, 2022).
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