University Health Story Assignment: Sociological Analysis of Modafinil

This assignment analyzes a news story concerning the adverse effects of the drug modafinil on fetal development, with a focus on the potential risks to pregnant and lactating women. The student applies the sociological theory of conflict, examining how resource distribution and societal inequalities contribute to the health issue. The assignment integrates key concepts of conflict theory with the health situation, discussing the drug's impact on the fetus, and the potential for social discrimination. The paper includes an application of the theory and references to recent research articles, which explore the implications of modafinil use, especially its potential to cross the placenta and affect fetal cognitive development. Furthermore, the paper also discusses the role of pharmaceutical companies and the need for increased awareness and policy changes. The conclusion emphasizes the need for awareness programs to mitigate the risks associated with modafinil use, providing a comprehensive sociological perspective on the health issue.

Running Head: HEALTH STORY
HEALTH STORY
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Introduction
The link to the news article is also given below https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-
35091574.
The news issue being discussed in this essay is about the drug modafinil that is
causing harm to the fetal growth and development. The drug is tolerated at high doses and
there are certain psychiatric complications that are related to low doses of the drug. Modafinil
is a stimulant that stimulates the central nervous system (CNS) that have certain properties
that generates wakefulness among the individuals. It is generally used to decrease the
conditions that causes sleepiness at the daytime. There are certain adverse effects of the drug
as well like Stevens-Johnson symptoms, epidermal necrolysis, drug rash and other systematic
symptoms (Greenbalt & Adams, 2018). As the news story presents the drug also causes
problems in pregnancy and lactating women. During pregnancy there are evidences that the
fetus is also affected by the drug use and also the mothers who are still feeding their babies as
it is still not known whether the drug is excreted in the breast milk or not. It is harmful to the
fetus as they decrease the serum concentrations in the blood to such an extent that is clinically
significantly.
It is usually seen that the drug modafinil has an effect on the fetus as almost all the
drugs crosses the placenta and after crossing the placenta the drug lowers the antibodies
inside the blood stream of the fetus that significantly affects the health of the fetus (Norby,
2019). The drug also hampers the cognitive function of the fetus after they are born
hampering their overall growth and development (Hejaz & Karaman, 2019).
Theoretical Analysis
The sociology theory that is related to this topic is “conflict theory” that defines the
state of conflict or disagreement for the available resources. It holds the fact that the society

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is maintained by the consensus and conformity however, there are certain instances where the
resources that are available create a sense of discrimination among the individuals who are
using the resources (Ng & Mutaner, 2014). This theory clearly demonstrates the various
social determinants of health that are otherwise found to have a very defining path for the
future. It critically analyses the scientific realism along with incorporating the social conflict
that arises due to the exposure of the drug modafinil that poses potential threat to the fetus in
pregnant women.
The experience of illness is based on the fact that considers social construction as a
concept of reality. The social construction deals with the fact that some individuals control
the manner in which they treat with the disease and the adaptation of a lifestyle that will help
the individuals to cope with the disease. Cultural as well as individual personality plays a
very significant role in constructing the experience of the illness. For instance, in case of
certain individuals the experiences of illness creates a sense of fear while for others it
develops the chances of discovery (Sinclair et al., 2016).
As the health issue been discussed in this essay is about the adverse effects of
modafinil on the fetus after its administration. The main ideas or concepts of conflict theory
focuses on the resource distribution, inequality among the users of the resources and authority
that is available to some people in the society while others are deprived of that (Houtchens et
al., 2017). The above mentioned health issue can be related to conflict theory as it creates a
sense of conflict among the users. As some of the users gain benefit from the use of the drug
while others are harmed. This is clear from the fact that the administration of the drug
reduces the sleepiness among the individuals however, the consumption of the medicine at
high doses increase the risk of the cognitive deficiency in the fetus as the women who are
pregnant are using the drug. This drug can also the baby if the lactating women also uses it.
This creates difference in the society regarding the use of the drug (Ng & Mutaner, 2014).

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There are a number of sociologists that relate illness or side-effects of drugs with the
biological and experimental components. They emphasize on the fact that these components
are not inter-related to each other. Illness is often stigmatized in society and are usually
considered as a disability that reduce the productivity of the individual and affects the
society. This generates a sense of social discrimination among the individuals that create
problems for proper integration into the society. The stigmatization of the concept of illness
impacts the individual strongly who is either taking the drug to reduce the sleepiness or is
avoiding the use of the drug in order to reduce the associated risk of the fetus. The stigmas
and myths that are related to the use of drug might keep people away from seeking help for
the proper diagnosis of the disease that in turn will worsen the disease condition (Houtchens
et al., 2017).
Research Article Application
There are many recent research articles that support the health issue been discussed in
the essay. According to Pietromonaco et al. (2013), there are certain conflicts that arises after
the administration of the drug. The article emphasizes on the fact that as the use of modafinil
increases the risk of cognitive disabilities as well as wakefulness among the fetus it should be
used among the pregnant women and also in the lactating women. Thus, it proposes the fact
the use of the drug should be banned (Dodich, Patel & Williams, 2015). However, it is also
very helpful to keep people awake who are either working or are suffering from any disorder
that causes sleepiness among the individuals. Here, the author clearly highlights the conflict
that persist in the society regarding the use of the drug and the implications that the conflict
can have on the society. The author of the research paper also describes about the meaning of
illness in the social context, the social construction of illness and the social construction of
the medical knowledge that will help in analyzing the various aspects that act as a barrier for
preventing the use of the drug (Ibrahim, 2016).

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According to Levy & Sidel (2016), there are certain armed effects that hamper the
health of the population on a large scale. Here the author describes about the various conflicts
that are supposed to create a very profound effect on the health of the individuals. As a
recommendation, the author outlines certain policies that should be used to create awareness
among the individuals that will help to generate a sense of right and wrong among them so
that they can decide whether or not the drug should be abolished (Wisner & Schamefer,
2015). The author also highlights the fact that there are certain services that should meet the
demands of the affected population and also protects their rights and also certain rules that
will reduce the chances of the future conflicts. However, there are certain instances where the
removal of the social conflicts generated some challenges as they were affecting the large
section of people who were getting benefitted from the use of the drug (Ray, 2015).
As the research articles that are being discussed above apply social conflict theory to
the adverse effects caused by the intake of modafinil on the fetus. There are evidences that
show that the high doses of the drug can cause excretion in the breast milk and risk to fetus.
The use of the drug also generates inter-country disputes with respect to the use of animal and
human resources used (Barger et al., 2013). The social conflict theory also describes the fact
that as there are high chances for the drug to cross the placenta and mix with the blood of the
fetus or reach the baby through breast feeding the pharmaceutical companies do not provide
the risk warning about the disease that will ultimately increase the unnecessary risk among
the neonates. This can result in the improper or inappropriate issues at the time of prescribing
the drug to the pregnant women (Hansen et al., 2013; Tab, 2019).
Conclusion
Thus, the conclusion that can be drawn from the essay is that the use of the drug
modafinil increases the risk of the wakefulness in the fetus or can have other serious

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consequences on the health of the neonates including poor development of the cognitive
abilities. Thus, it will affect different people in the community in various ways as each
individual has a different perspective. The essay highlights the social conflict theory which
can be used in order to explain the discrepancies faced by the different individuals. The essay
integrates the key concepts of the theory with the disease situation that is being discussed in
the recent health news. The essay also describes the application of the social conflict theory
and analyses various recent articles that critically links conflicts with the health issues faced
by the fetus as well pregnant or lactating women. At last the paper also describes various
recommendations on how to reduce the related risk of the drug by creating certain awareness
programs that will be beneficial to all the people taking the drugs.

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References
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Dodich, C., Patel, S., & Williams, A. (2015). Teenage pregnancy: Prenatal drug
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Greenblatt, K., & Adams, N. (2018). Modafinil. In StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls
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Hansen, H. Pernille Warrer, Lise Aagaard & Ebba. Comparison of Pregnancy and Lactation
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