Transcript Chapter 9 Lecture Notes Page

Chapter 9
Alcohol and Other Drugs
Drug
• Drug – any chemical substance that affects
the mind or body
• Drugs and Culture
– Perception of drugs vary from society to society
– Definition of drugs change over time
Drug Use
• Use of selected drugs in the past 30 days by
those 12 years and older (1980-2005)
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Alcohol – 50-60%
Cigarettes – 30-40%
Marijuana – 5-15%
Cocaine – Less than 5%
Hallucinogens – Less than 5%
(U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2006)
Reasons for Drug Use
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2.
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5.
Therapeutic uses.
Recreational uses.
Spiritual or psychological use.
Escape
Social conformity
Drug Abuse
• Drug abuse – use of any illegal substance or
the use of a legal substance in a way that
violates accepted medical practice
• Addiction – physical or psychological
craving for a drug
• Dependency – state in which a person’s
body has adjusted to regular use of a drug
Types of Drugs
• Stimulants – drugs that increase alertness, changing a
person’s mood by increasing energy
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Caffeine
Nicotine
Ritalin
Cocaine and Crack
Amphetamines
• Depressants – drugs that slow the operation of the central
nervous system
– Analgesics
– Sedatives and Alcohol
– Antipsychotics
Types of Drugs
• Hallucinogens – distort sensory perceptions
(LSD, “ecstasy”, etc)
• Cannabis – sense of euphoria and relaxation
(marijuana, hashish)
• Steroids – build muscle and strength
• Prescription Drugs
Drugs and Other Social Problems
• Family Life – codependency, parental addiction,
child neglect, family violence
• Health Problems - damage organs and influence
malnutrition
• Homelessness – drug and alcohol use common
• Crime – violent offenders under the influence
• Global Poverty – illegal drugs as a source of
needed income
Response to the Drug Problem
• Strategies
– Interdiction – stopping the movement of drugs across
the country’s borders
– Prosecution
– Education
– Treatment
• War on Drugs
• Decriminalization – removing current criminal
penalties that punish the manufacturing, sale, and
personal use of drugs
Theoretical Analysis
• Structural-Functional
– Drugs help and harm order of society
• Social-Conflict
– Drug problems are linked to social inequality
• Symbolic-Interaction
– Variable meanings attached to drug use