Transcript Chapter 2

Chapter 2
Drug-taking Behavior:
The Personal and Social
Concerns
Toxicity

Refers to the potential physical or
psychological harm that a drug might
present to a user.

Acute toxicity-short term or temporary.
Toxicity

Chronic toxicity-long-term or acquired over
time.

Chronic toxicity are examined in the context
of drug tolerance and/or drug dependence.
Toxicity (con’t)

A dose-response curve is a graph of the
percentage of a population that experiences
some response as a function of dosage level.
Toxicity (con’t)

ED5O" refers to the dosage that produces
an response in 50% of the population.

LD5O" refers to the dosage that is lethal for
50% of the population. In general, the
further apart the.
Toxicity (con’t)

Ed-response and ld-response curves, the
safer (less toxic) the drug.
Dawn

Federal program- ED report incidences of
lethal or non-lethal drug-related
emergencies in U.S.

ED refers to drug-related cases treated in
emergency departments.
Dawn


ME refers to drug-related cases recorded
by the medical examiner.
Multiple drugs are mentioned by the
patient.
Tolerance

The more I get…the more I want.

Behavioral tolerance: environment.

Physical dependence: the abuser continues
the drug-taking behavior in order to avoid
physical withdrawal symptoms.
Tolerance (cont’d)


Psychological dependence: the
continuance of drug-taking behavior is
motivated by a craving for the pleasurable
effects of the drug.
Catheter: device used to deliver intravenous
injections.
Special Problems in Drug
Abuse

Pregnancy and drug addiction.

Dirty needles-HIV.
Special Problems in Drug
Abuse


Pharmacological violence: under
the influence of drugs.
Economically compulsive
violence: committed in order to
sustain habit.
Systemic Violence

Aggressive patterns of behavior,
related to the trafficking and
distribution of drugs.
Governmental
Policy,regulation, and Laws

Between 1900 and 1970, U.S. Drug policy
changed from a philosophy of laissez-faire
("do as you please") to an increasingly
restricted philosophy with respect to drug
access and use.
Governmental
Policy,regulation, and Laws

The Harrison act of 1914 was the first
legislation to restrict access to opiate drugs
and cocaine. At that time, the U.S. Treasury
department was entrusted with drug law
enforcement responsibilities.
Governmental Policy,
Regulation, and Laws

In 1970, the comprehensive drug abuse
prevention and control act classified drugs
in terms of five schedules of controlled
substances.
Governmental Policy,
Regulation, and Laws

Schedule I drugs include heroin, LSD, and
marijuana.No acceptable medical use.

Schedule I and II refer to drugs presenting
the highest level of abuse, examples,
codeine.
Governmental Policy,
Regulation, and Laws

Schedule III drugs, some potential for abuse
(1.8% codeine).

Schedule V drugs present the least abuse
potential and are the most accessible among
controlled substances (laxatives).