Case study Mental Illness and Addiction

Case study Mental Illness and Addiction Describe substance abuse and how it differs from substance dependence. Substance abuse is when an individual Overindulgences in an addictive substance (New Oxford American Dictionary. According to the Neurobiological Causes of Addiction, substance abuse is a Maladaptive pattern of drug use leading to impairment or distress presenting as one or more of the following in a 12 month period of time (Erickson Wilcox 2001): Recurrent use leading to failure to fulfill major obligations Recurrent use which is physically hazardous Recurrent drug-related legal problems Continued use despite social or interpersonal problems and the person has never met the criteria for substance dependence (Erickson Wilcox 2001). A person that has a substance dependence is when an individual uses a substance despite the negative affects that may occur, such as: withdrawal, and compulsive behavior. According to Erickson, Drug dependence is a maladaptive pattern of drug use, leading to impairment or distress, presenting as three or more of the following in a 12 month period (Erickson Wilcox 2001): Tolerance to the drugs actions Withdrawal Drug is used more then intended Inability to control drug use Effort is expended to obtain the drug Important activities are replaced by drug use Drug use continues in spite of negative consequences When an individual has a dependence to a substance the individual has a psychological and physical attachment with the substance. It is this link between the drug and the body / mind that can have devastating and lasting effects on the individual who has the dependence. 5 pts Some recovery/treatment programs stress total abstinence as a goal, while other advocate harm reduction. What are the advantages/disadvantages of each approach? Abstinence is like to what it sounds the individual is not allowed to partake in the substance that they are addicted to, and these types of programs are effective, but the individual has to be willing to devote themselves to the program. Some of the advantages of abstinence can include getting the individual healthy physically and mentally. The positive side of abstinence is that the individual is no longer destroying personal property and committing crimes to finance their addiction. Therefore, abstinence keeps people out of the legal system including serving time for criminal crimes and dealing with the court system for loosing custody of their children. 12 step recovery groups such as AA and NA advocate for abstinence to give people what they call, Recovery and a change for a better life that is free from active addiction (Personal communication, Wright. J, 2010) Abstinence provides a support group that allows the addiction to be normalized, and allow the individual to link up with other people who are slaves to a dependency. The individual is able to have an since of empowerment by being surrounded by others, who are able to keep the individual in check on their addiction and personal goals. The disadvantages of abstinences, Are most disturbing is the way abstinence can segregate mentally ill persons from being able to engage in treatment. This is because many people have diagnoses that require Benzodiazepines, Amphetamines and even Methadone which treatment providers believe to be highly addictive. There is a theory that a person in treatment can engage in services if they are high on prescriptions (Personal communication Wright. J. 2010) The main program for abstinence is AA or NA and they are based on spirituality, this could be a conflict for some of the individuals who are in treatment, because there religion may contradict that of the programs. It is also important to remember that the individual has to want to change their life for this program to work. AA and NA also tell the individual that they have no power over their addiction, it does not allow the individual to have a feeling and since of empowerment. It seems to take the power away for the individual and p uts all the focus on the addiction. Also AA and NA preaches the idea that you have to go to the meetings every day and that you will always be an addict and that you can never be without the addiction and that you can never over come the addiction. Also they have to be willing to alter their lives and commit themselves to the program: fully. Harm reduction is a good alturnative to abstinence for individuals who cannot stop their use because they are psychologically dependance to the substance. Harm reductions can include such ideas and concepts like, using the substance less, using the drug every Wednesday or even changing out their needles for clean ones. Some of the following are advantages and disadvantages according to the 2007 Journal of Drug Issues in English and American Drug Clients (K. Phillips, h. Rosenburg A. Sanikop). Harm Reduction Advantages and Disadvantages Interventions Advantages Disadvantages Methadone Reduces/eliminates/stabilizes illicit drug use facilities detox/relives withdrawal More addictive and worse withdrawal then heroin, Substituting one addiction for another. Substitute Amphetamines Known potency, Content.Decrease need for street drugs. Crime reduction Could encourage to use more on top and OD Diversion to black markets. Needle Exchange Disease Prevention, Removes temptation to share or reuse (needles) Disease Prevention Lower rates of AIDS and STI Community harm/inappropriate disposal, Makes it easier to inject. Encourages use Drop in Centers Safer environment NOS, OD prevention/ Prevents harm treatment facilitation Encourages drug use/Risk compensation. Place where drugs can be sold. Lofexidine Eases pain of withdrawal non-opiate alternative Encourages detox/eases withdrawal Doesnt help enough with the withdrawal symptoms Drug has specific side effects Naltrexone Temptation resistance Relapse prevention because use is waste of money Relapse Prevention/ helps user quit, blocks the effects of Heroin Can be used as a weapon, Clients wont take it In the states, Harm Reduction therapy has a stigma attached to it that some clinical practices and professionals have attached to it, detouring individuals with substance abuse issues to use Harm Reduction. This type of therapy also does not assist with co-occurring dependancies that the individual may have. It tends to focus on the chemical that the individual is addicted to and not the cause of the dependancy. It does not allow for the individual to isolate and get to the root of the problem, however, it does save money in the medical and prison systems. The needle exchange, was started after the out break of HIV and AIDS and the number of individuals who were diagnosed with HIV and AIDS has gone down since the needle exchange was influenced. As well as the number of individuals who are in prison for substance abuse has gone down because there are treatment programs that include methadone that can help the individual come off their addiction to an opiate. 5 pts Alcoholism has been described as a bio-psycho-social disorder. If you were performing an assessment of a defendant what factors would you look for in the client history? Bio-psycho-social is broken down into the following: Biological Addiction: is addiction that runs in the families and there maybe genetic involved in the process of addictions, but some of the individuals have a biological predisposition to addiction Psychological Addiction: That addiction is a learned behavior. This can include, domestic violence and learning how to use a drug. One becomes obsessed by the PLEASURE that the substance can provide. Social Aspect: Environments that individuals grow up in and that environment may reinforce addictive behaviors. It is these concepts that create the bio-psycho-social theory, it is an idea that is steeped in the theory of person in environment. It takes in account the individuals biology, psychological health and social wellbeing and support to fully understand the root of the persons addiction. According to the Handbook of Forensic Mental Health ( D. Springer A. Roberts 2007 p. 350-352) the following are questions and information that you have to gather in order to be able to fully complete an assessment: Presenting Problems: Record current problems as reported by the youth, family, referral source and any pertinent others, Include the history and development of the problem, circumstances surrounding the problem and the previous attempts to solve the problem. Development (birth to current age): describe prenatal care, birth, achievements of developmental milestones, delays and birth defects. Family Background: describe the family constellation, family functioning and communication. Include socioeconomic, educational and occupational information. Describe family childrearing and parenting tactics. Academic History: Describe previous diagnoses and the history of psychological problems and services. Include medication history and any history of self-injurious behaviors and or suicide attempts. Psychological History: Describe previous diagnoses and the history of psychological problems and services include medication history and any history of self-injurious behaviors and or suicide attempts. Substance Abuse History: Describe the youths use and abuse of all substances; include the length, method, and location of use and the families history of substance use. Juvenile Justice or Legal History: Describe previous encounters with the juvenile justice system and the history of illegal behaviors and status offense. include timeline, type, and circumstances of offense as well as the family history of legal problems. Violence and Abuse History: Detail psychological, verbal, physical, and sexual abuse of the youth and include a timeline. Identify perpetrators and describe whether the abuse occurred in or outside of the family. Describe any family or dating violence that the youth perpetrated. include any other traumas that the youth was exposed to. Medical History: Describe the history of medical conditions diseases and medication of youth Include the family history. Cultural History: Identify the ethnicity and rase of the youth and family include any issues noted regarding bicultural identity, immigration status, language barriers, acculturation and discrimination. Lethality: Clearly identify any concerns with lethality of the youth either towards him or herself or others and describe the plan for addressing this lethality. Bio-psycho-social is a holistic approach when dealing with an individuals addictive behavior. It is based on a continuum approach, that is supported by a since of empowerment. It allows the individual to understand why they many have started to be addicted to a substance that is plaguing them, and gives them the tools that is needed to understand their addiction and how to prevent themselves from relapsing. 5 pts Historically, a number of theories or models of alcoholism have evolved. What are these models and what is their relevance for today? These models give a guideline and help create an understanding in why people become addicted to specific substances. These models range from biological reasoning to environmental, but they are all linked in trying to discover why people become addicted to substances: they all strive to create a public understanding of addiction. They do not try to make excuses for those who are addicted, but they try to understand why addiction occurs. Theoretical Models of Alcohol/Drug Abuse From the Concepts of Chemical Dependency by: H. Doweiko Moral Model Temperance Model Spiritual Model Dispositional Disease Model Core Element The individual is viewed as choosing to use alcohol in problematic manner This model advocates the use of alcohol in moderate manner Drunkenness is a sight that the individual has slipped from his or her intended path in life. The person who becomes addicted to alcohol is somehow different from the nonalcoholic. The alcoholic might be said to allergic to alcohol Educational Model Characterological Model General Systems Model Medical Model Core Element Alcohol problems are caused by a lack of adequate knowledge about harmful effects of this chemical Problems with alcohol use are based on abnormalities in the personality structure of the individual Personal behavior must be viewed within context of social system in which they live The individual use of alcohol is based on biological predispositions such as his or her genetic heritage brain physiology and so on. (Harold Doweiko. 2009. pp. 30) The models that have the most relevance for today has to be the medical model and the general systems model. Because by looking at the person in a holistic way we can understand that the individual is affect by addiction in three ways: biologically, psychologically, and socially and those two theories envelop those ideals. I think that when you understand the individuals biological and social characteristics, you will understand there addiction. 5 pts In describing the neurobiology of addiction, the term neuroplasticity is used to describe what brain process? Neuroplasticity is when the brain is altered due to chemicals, and it is forced to change in order to adapt to the chemical. When the chemical has been removed from the individual withdrawal starts to occur, because the brain has a difficult time functioning without the substance it has been forced to adapt to. Because the brain is good at making adjustments the body is capable of adapting to the toxic chemical, and the body learns how to function with the additive. Without the chemical the body has to alter itself to relearn how to function without the chemical. 5 pts Dr. Eugene Prochaska has developed a treatment approach based on Stages of Change. What is the thinking behind this model and how it is used in treating substance abusers? The purpose of this model is to understand how the cognitive and behavioral approaches affect the individual who is addicted to chemicals. According to Porchaska the, Purpose (of) the transtheoretical model (TTM) of health behavior seeks to bridge the cognitive and the behaviorist approaches by positing a series of stages in modifying behavior; in only some of these are cognitive processes pertinent and The model includes four main constructs: the sequential stages of change; processes which people typically use to facilitate change; decisional balance, which predicts whether change will occur; and self- efficacy, the persons confidence they can make changes (Prochaska. 1985. pp. 1). Stages of Change Stages of Change and the Transtheoretical Model By: E. Prochaska Stages Description Pre-contemplation The person has no intent in changing the behavior, usually within the next six months. This maybe due to lack of information or confidence. The person is unmotivated and will resist discussing or thinking about making the change. They are not ready for interventions. Contemplation The person expresses and intention to take action within six months. They are aware of the benefits and cost of making the change and this balance may keep them in the phase for a long time. They are not ready for an intervention that expects immediate action. Preparation The person intends to take action in the immediate future. They typically have a plan of action and they have taken some preparatory action. They are ready for traditional action interventions Action The person has specific changes to their lifestyle Maintenance The person works to prevent relapse; during this phase their confidence increases as they continue with their new lifestyle. Termination In principle the maintenance stage will lead to a phase in which the person is no longer tempted to revert to their former behavior and the change is complete. This model suggest that in order to over come an addiction you have to go though a linear model. I do not think that the individual with the substance abuse has to go though all these steps in order to kick the habit. I also believe that this model places all the blame on the individual because it does not take into account the individual biology and or the environment that the individual is surrounded by. The thinking behind this model is that these are the stages that an individual who has a substance abuse dependency must go though in order to become clean and if they are able to follow this model they will finally be able to kick the habit. 5 pts How is crystal meth different from other stimulants such as cocaine? What are some of the long-term effects associated with meth use? According to the Powerpoint provided by the Department of Health and Human Services (SHMHSA) the differences between methamphetamine and cocaine are: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Cocaine effects: 1 to 2 hours. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Methamphetamine effects: 8 to 12 hours. More intense rush or initial pleasure (I would add.) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Withdrawal from methamphetamine can cause more intense symptoms and last longer. The Long term psychological effects of using meth are: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Confusion à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Loss of ability to concentrate and organize information à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Loss of ability to feel pleasure without the drug à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Paranoia à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Insomnia and fatigue à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Mood swings à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Irritability and anger à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Depression à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Anxiety and panic disorder à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Reckless, unprotected sexual behavior The more sever psychological effects can include: Hallucinations Severe depression that can lead to suicidal thoughts or attempts Episodes of sudden, violent behavior Severe memory loss that may be permanent The chronic physical effects are: Tremor Weakness Dry mouth Weight loss/malnutrition Increased sweating Oily skin Sores Headaches Severe problems with teeth and gums Sever Physical: Seizures Damaged blood vessels in the brain/stroke Damaged brain cells Irregular heartbeat/sudden death Heart attack or chronic heart problems Kidney failure Liver failure Tweaking Infected skin sores 5 pts â‚ ¬Ã‚ ³Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ µÃ¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¯Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ³Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ µ Citations Department of Health and Human Services. SHMHSA.(Year unknown) Session 4: methamphetamine and cocaine, TCRIM 361 Summer 2010. University of Washington Tacoma. Doweiko, H. (2009). Concepts of chemical dependency: psychological models of substance use disorders. Brooks/cole cengage learning. Belmont CA. ISB: 13-978-049550580-8 Erickson, Carlton K. and Wilcox, Richard E.(2001) Neurobiological causes of addiction, journal of social work practice in the addictions, 1: 3, 7 22 DOI: 10.1300/J160v01n03_02 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1300/ J160v01n03_02 Phillips, K., Rosenberg, H., Sanikop, A. (2007). English and american drug clients view of the acceptably, advantages and disadvantages of treatment and harm reduction interventions. Journal of Drug issues, 37(2), 377-402. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database. Prochaska, J. (1985). Stages of change and the transtheoretical model. Springer W., Roberts A., (2007) Handbook of forensic mental health with victims and offenders: assessment, treatment, and research. Springer Series on Social Work. New York. ISBN: 0826115144 Wright. J. (2010, Aug. 8). Personal communication. University of Washington.

The Collapse of the American Dream

The Collapse of the American Dream â€Å"The American Dream has run out of gas,† said JG Ballard, a prominent English novelist. The American Dream was once a reality, a time when the citizens of America were the simple migrants who had immigrated because they sought a place where they could dictate their own fate. It was further developed in the 1770’s, and was referenced to by a great document through the words â€Å"all men are created equal† and that they are â€Å"endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights† including â€Å"Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. These words are the basis of the Dream, which is now defined by Webster’s dictionary as the ideals of freedom, equality, and opportunity traditionally held to be available to every American. For generations, achieving the dream was the goal of all Americans. However, this period of happiness did not last long; for times change, and the people along with them. Today, th e American dream has evolved into an unachievable illusion, caused by a capitalistic economy, human nature and the government. To start off, the American dream is unattainable because of the capitalist economy. For example, in the Grapes of Wrath, the Joads are unable to get jobs because of the income disparity in the economy. When traveling the California, a garish one-eyed man appears. He tells the Joads how the flyers that advertise job are actually fraud. To fill 800 positions they print out several thousand flyers. Employers use unemployment to their advantage and drive wages down further making it impossible for many to achieve the American Dream. The Capitalistic economy strives to maximize profits, regardless of human consequences. The Joads end up losing their so called American dream and their family endures much suffering which causes them to break apart Similarly, In the Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald presents the American Dream as a corrupt shadow of what it once was. The valley of ashes, one of the settings of the novel, is a capitalist wasteland that represents the degradation of the Dream. Fitzgerald compares the valley of ashes with the Eggs, the other setting, on many occasions. All descriptions of the valley of ashes are grim. The poor live in the ashes compared to the wealthy who live in clean and extravagant communities. This shows the disparity caused by capitalism; only the rich can enjoy their lives, while the poor must work long hours of manual labor in order to survive. The dream is nonexistent to anyone who is not born with a silver spoon. The time where one could work hard and rise from rags to riches is gone. Likewise, in the recent Muppets movie, the characters are hindered on their way to the American dream by the capitalist oil baron Tex Richman. He tries to raze Muppet studios and drill for the oil beneath it. This once again shows that capitalism does not care for human rights; it’s only goal is money and power. But naturally, since the Muppets is a children’s movie, Tex becomes a better person by the end of the movie. Sadly, it is not so in reality. People are not afraid to go out and kill each other’s dreams for personal gain. Next, The American Dream is unreachable because of the government. For instance, in To Kill a Mockingbird, Tom Robinson is denied the American dream because of the biased system. Long before the trial occurs, Harper Lee makes the reader recognize how prejudiced Maycomb county is. Atticus acknowledges this fact when he tells his brother John that the jury couldn’t possibly taken Tom Robinson’s word over the Ewell’s. And later, even though Atticus points out plenty of holes and discrepancies with Mayella’s story, the jury refuses to believe the word of a black man. For Tom, the worst part of the deal is being imprisoned after the court hearing. This, Atticus says, is what led him to try to escape; â€Å"he was tired of white man’s justice. † The American Dream is nonexistent to all colored folks because they were denied their basic liberties by the system that was supposed to protect them. Likewise, in the novel Anthem the people of future world are denied their American Dream by the government. Equality, the protagonist of the novel, is a very intelligent person who desires only to be a scholar. Instead, the government delegates him the task of street-sweeping. Later, when he discovers the light, the government, instead of praising his accomplishment, shuns him and banishes him from society. Thus, his Dream to unify mankind and teach them about the wonders of the unmentionable times is killed. Lastly, The Night Thoreau spent in Jail presents Henry David Thoreau, an able man, fighting for his dream, though the government forestalls him at every turn. The Mexican war is going on in during the novel. Thoreau, the protagonist, does not believe that it is a just war and refuses to pay tax. He is so determined to prove his point, that he even goes and lives in the woods, creating a sanctuary he calls his Walden. Still, the government throws him in jail, and he continues to refuse to pay, boycotting the war. Finally, he is kicked out of jail and finds that he made no impact. The war was as Abraham Lincoln said was â€Å"of the sheerest deception,† as the people had no choice in the matter. So, Henry David’s dream was unfinished, and he died a heart-broken death at the age of 45. Finally, the American Dream is unachievable because of human greed. Although this great nation was founded on the noblest of principles, the founding fathers forgot one crucial detail; people always want more than they have. According to Daniel Gilbert, a highly esteemed professor and writer of the Futile Pursuit of Happiness, says that people have a tendency to miswant, or mistakenly believing that wanting something will bring one happiness. This leads them to think that money, is the most important thing, and soon, they stop at nothing to achieve more and more money, often throwing others under the bus. The novel, Death and the American Dream, by Daniel Cano, is about a Mexican revolutionary who wants to start over in America. He is actually an American citizen, but his only identification is his American passport. His friend, desperate for money, steals his passport and makes him look like an illegal immigrant to get a reward. It is a story of betrayal, politics and life; a shockingly real portrayal of life today. Similarly, they say that life is a race. What they don’t say is that if one falls, he is unlikely to ever get up again. In conclusion, the American Dream is now just an unattainable dream, instead of a reality because of the capitalistic economy, the government and human nature. When this nation was first created, American believed that wealth, prosperity and happiness could be created through handwork and perseverance. But now, with society on the verge of collapse, America needs to stop dreaming and wake up. Works Cited Cano, Daniel. Death and the American Dream. Tempe, Ariz: Bilingual, 2009. Print Gertner, Jon. â€Å"The Futile Pursuit of Happiness – New York Times. † The New York Times – Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. New York Times, Sept. -Oct. 2003. Web. 14 Dec. 2011. Fitzgerald, Francis Scott. The Great Gatsby. Harmondsworth, Middlesex: Penguin, 1986. Print. Lawrence, Jerome, and Robert Edwin Lee. The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail. New York: Hill & Wang, 1970. Print. Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. Harmondsworth, Middlesex: Penguin, 1973. Rand, Ayn. Anthem. New York: Plume, 1999. Print. Steinbeck, John, and Robert J. DeMott. The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Penguin, 2006. Print.

One of the Most Overlooked Systems for Business Research Paper Writing

One of the Most Overlooked Systems for Business Research Paper Writing New Questions About Business Research Paper Writing Other companies may also write research for you, but they can't guarantee on-time shipping. Any paper is going to be written on time for an affordable price. Assignment 1 The use of sites by companies, both big and small, has developed from an optional feature to a necessary component of business. Don't forget this in organization, time is money. The research paper ought to be interesting to read from the start to the end. It's unwise to compose your company paper without a program. Your small business paper should begin from a preface. Business research paper sometimes takes a kind of an action research paper in which you attempt to discover solutions to problems encountered in the industry world. After writing the last paper, the author should revise it and make certain that all important points are addressed and that the appropriate structure was followed. Having discussed the structure of a company research paper, it's most effective to detail how a writer ought to go about writing the paper. Share the details Tell us when you want to get the paper than whenever your professor needs it. The Honest to Goodness Truth on Business Research Paper Writing Don't forget to select something you adore. Whatever you write will need to be written from the viewpoint of your readers. Assuming your chosen writer is a specialist in this issue you need assistance with, and assuming they're readily available to do the job quickly enough for your preferred deadline, you are going to be paired with your very first selection. It ought to be evident that there's a quality English speaking writer who's going to compose the paper from scratch. If you would like to receive a distinctive paper without paying a huge amount of money for it, it's the ideal webpage to get in contact with. Your readers won't have enough time of attempting to create meaning out of what you've written. Thus, do not become upset, since there is the ideal answer to your problem. Things You Won't Like About Business Research Paper Writing and Things You Will The situation worsens in case you lack time or cannot gather great facts for conducting extensive research. It is crucial to remember that huge and little study population may demand distinctive procedures. Following that, there's the true research of your problem. Moreover, it talks about previous attempts to resolve the matter and about historical trends that could inform the present investigation. In general, the standard of the paper highly depends upon the standard of the Methods section. Get a thorough description on what information should be shown in each part of your research paper. When writing a research paper, you're utilizing different authors' information to be able to present a claim. What all you will need is getting the assistance from a specialist and EssaysChief is going to be the expert that you seek out. If you're citing a whole work, it's required to include only the author's surname without page numbers. Our website is just one of the most appropriate for essay help. The actual men and women highly praise our essay help site. You cannot research a topic on business with the assistance of your creativity. In this kind of situation, the issue of the growth of business networks becomes one of the significant challenges to the contemporary small business development. It's possible to write your research paper but in that instance, you need to spend t ime, you require full concentration and you'll take tension and effort to type. Most legitimate paper writing services are likely to permit a client to meet and select the paper writer they will be working with so that a comfortable level can be developed, throughout the approach. Without regard to the approach, the writer has to justify their choices and provide a thorough account of the folks and the activities involved with the research. You may also specify if you would love a specific writer if you're a past customer who has built up a thriving working relationship with one of our writers. The author suggests organizations to concentrate on training of employees along with on the implementation of the knowledge sharing management to expand skills and abilities of workers in respect to information technologies and company networks. On the other hand, he is conscious of the fact that many companies face substantial difficulties, while using their business networks.

Founding of Connecticut Colony

The founding of the Connecticut colony began in 1636 when the Dutch established the first trading post on the Connecticut River valley in what is now the town of Hartford. The move into the valley was part of a general movement out of the Massachusetts colony. By the 1630s, the population in and around Boston had grown so dense that settlers began to spread out throughout southern New England, concentrating their settlements along navigable river valleys such as those in Connecticut. Founding Fathers The man credited as the founder of Connecticut was Thomas Hooker, an English yeoman and clergyman born in 1586, at Marfield in Leicester, England. He was educated at Cambridge, where he received a Bachelors in 1608 and a Masters in 1611. He was one of the most learned and powerful preachers of both old and New England and was the minister of Esher, Surrey, between 1620 and 1625. He was the lecturer at St. Marys Church at Chelmsford in Essex from 1625–1629. Hooker was also a nonconformist Puritan, who was targeted for suppression by the English government under Charles I and was forced to retire from Chelmsford in 1629. He fled to Holland, where other exiles had sought refuge. The First Governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony, John Winthrop, wrote to Hooker as early as 1628 or 1629, asking him to come to Massachusetts. In 1633, Hooker sailed for North America. By October, he was made pastor at Newtown (now Cambridge) on the Charles River in the Massachusetts colony. By May 1634, Hooker and his congregation at Newtown petitioned to leave for Connecticut. In May 1636, they were allowed to go, and they were provided a commission by the General Court of Massachusetts. Hooker, his wife, and his congregation left Boston and drove 160 cattle southward, founding the river towns of Hartford, Windsor, and Wethersfield. By 1637, there were almost 800 people in the new colony of Connecticut. New Governance in Connecticut The new Connecticut colonists used Massachusetts civil and ecclesiastical law to set up their initial government. Most people who came to the American colonies came as indentured servants or commons. According to English law, it was only after a man had paid or worked off his contract that he could apply to become a member of the church and own lands. Freemen were men who had all the civil and political rights under a free government, including the right to vote. In Connecticut, whether a man was indentured or not, if he entered the colony as a free person, he had to wait over a one- to two-year probationary period, during which he was closely observed to make sure he was an upright Puritan. If he passed the test, he could be accepted as a freeman. If not, he could be forced to leave the colony. Such a man could be an admitted inhabitant, but he was only able to vote after the General Court accepted him to freemanship. Only 229 men were admitted as freemen in Connecticut between 1639 and 1662. Towns in Connecticut By 1669, there were 21 towns on the Connecticut River. The four main communities were Hartford (established 1651), Windsor, Wethersfield, and Farmington. Together they had a total population of 2,163, including 541 adult males. Only 343 were freemen. That year, the New Haven colony was brought under the Connecticut colonys governance. Other early towns included Lyme, Saybrook, Haddam, Middletown, Killingworth, New London, Stonington, Norwich, Stratford, Fairfield, and Norwalk. Significant Events From 1636 to 1637, the Pequot War was fought between the settlers in Connecticut and the Pequot Indians. By the end of the war, the Pequot Indians were decimated.The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut were created in 1639. Many believe that this written Constitution would become the basis for the later United States Constitution.The Colony Charter was accepted in 1662.King Philips (the Wampanoag leader Metacomet) War, in 1675, was the result of increasing tensions between Native Americans and Europeans in southern New England.The Connecticut colony signed the Declaration of Independence in October 1776.