Transcript Chapter 8

Chapter 8
Alcohol and Other Drugs
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Drug Use and Abuse
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Drug: Any substance, other than food or water, that
when taken into the body alters its functioning in some
way.
Drug abuse: Excessive or inappropriate use of a drug
that results in some form of physical, mental, or social
impairment.
Drug addiction: Psychological or physiological need
for a drug to maintain sense of well-being and avoid
withdrawal symptoms.
Objective component is physical, psychological, or
social evidence of harm
Subjective component is people’s perceptions about
the consequences
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Major Patterns of Drinking
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Social drinkers: Drink primarily on social
occasions, from occasionally to frequently
Heavy drinkers: Consume greater
quantities of alcohol and are more likely to
become intoxicated
Acute alcoholics: Have trouble controlling
use of alcohol and plan their schedule
around drinking
Chronic alcoholics: Have lost control over
drinking and hide or sneak drinks
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Alcohol Consumption and Class,
Gender, Age and Race
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The wealthy have greater resources and privacy than
lower-income individuals to avoid a “drunk” or “alcoholic”
label
US Census Bureau 2004
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43.4% of people between the ages of 12-18 reported using
alcohol once
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Vast majority of persons between the ages of 18-25 have tried
alcohol once
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17.6% reported bring current users
Over 60% are current users
Before age 30, Whites consume more alcohol than Blacks
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After age 30, Blacks have higher rates of heavy drinking
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Figure 8.2: Percentage of Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes with Blood
Alcohol Levels of 0.08 or Higher, 2003, by Age Group
Source: National Center for Statistics and Analysis, 2004.
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Alcohol-Related Social Problems
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Health problems
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Alcohol in the workplace
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Lost productivity and cost of treatment, and workplace injuries
Drinking and driving
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Nutritional deficiencies, adult-onset diabetes, alcoholic dementia,
cardiovascular problems, alcoholic cirrhosis, and fetal alcohol
syndrome
19% of fatal motor vehicle accidents in which the driver was
between the ages of 16 and 20, the driver had a blood alcohol
level of 0.08
Family problems
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Domestic abuse and violence, patterns of codependency when
family members unwittingly aid the alcoholic’s excessive drinking
and resulting behavior
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Figure 8.1: Alcohol Consumption and Smoking Among First-Year
College Students. Based on survey responses of 281,064 freshmen
entering four-year institutions in the fall of 2001.
Source: Chronicle of Higher Education, 2002.
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Major Hazards Associated with
Tobacco Use
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Cancer of the lung, larynx, mouth, and esophagus
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Bronchitis, emphysema, ulcers, and cardiovascular disorders
Shortened life expectancy
 Low birth weight babies
 Environmental tobacco smoke is highly dangerous
Why do so many people still smoke?
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Nicotine is highly addictive
Good marketing
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More than 4 billion dollars is spent annually by companies
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Problems from Prescription and
Over-the-Counter Drugs
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Iatrogenic addiction
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Drug controversies
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Occurs from long-term use or high dosages of prescription drugs
Ritalin and Prozac are being over-prescribed
 Long-term effects on adolescents is still unknown
Prescription drugs are being used illegally by teenagers
 2.3 million youths between the ages of 12-17 take legal drugs
illegally each year
Caffeine is a dependency-producing psychoactive
stimulant
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Heavy caffeine use can increase risk of heart attack and
osteoporosis
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Marijuana Use and Abuse
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Most users are between 18 and 25
Use by teens (12–17) has doubled over the
past decade
Heavy use can impair concentration and
motivation
High doses during pregnancy can disrupt
fetal development
Inhalation has been linked to lung problems
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Stimulant Use and Abuse
Cocaine and amphetamines are among the major
stimulants abused in the U.S.
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Cocaine comes in two forms: power and crack
 The increase use of crack cocaine lead the Reagan
administration in 1982 to implement the “war on drugs”
 Research shows that crack use is higher among inner-city,
African American and Latino/a users
 Law enforcement policies and practices may be prejudice
towards minorities
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Children born to crack-addicted mothers usually suffer painful
withdrawal at birth and later show deficits in cognitive skills
Chronic amphetamine abuse can result in amphetamine psychosis
(e.g., paranoia, hallucinations, and violent tendencies)
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Depressants
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Most common include:
 Barbiturates
(e.g., Nembutal and Seconal)
 Anti-anxiety drugs or tranquilizers (e.g., Librium.,
Valium, and Miltown)
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Users may develop both physical addiction and
psychological dependency
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Potentiation, or the drug interaction that takes
place when two drugs are mixed, is a risk
because of the greater effect
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Biological and Psychological
Perspectives on Drug Abuse
Biological
 Genetic factors through impaired enzyme production,
brain function, and physiological response
 Drugs such as alcohol, heroin, and cocaine act directly
on brain mechanisms responsible for reward and
punishment
Psychological
 Social learning and reinforcement on drug-taking
behavior
 Personality disorders (e.g., impulsivity and anxiety)
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Sociological Explanations for Drug
and Alcohol Addiction
Symbolic Interactionist
 Drug behavior is learned and influenced by families,
peers, and others
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Spending time with members of a drug subculture
increases attitudes and behaviors favorable to drug use
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Once one is labeled an “alcoholic” or “drug addict,” he or
she will have difficultly discontinuing use
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Sociological Explanations for Drug
and Alcohol Addiction, Cont’d.
Functionalist
 Social institutions of control (e.g., family, education, and
religion) have become disorganized
 External law enforcement controls are now necessary
 Illicit drug activities serve important societal functions
(e.g., government jobs)
Conflict
 People in positions of power make some drugs illegal
 Corporate interests perpetuate use and abuse of legal
drugs
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Purpose of Prevention and
Treatment Programs
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Primary prevention
 Programs
that seek to prevent drug problems before
they begin
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Secondary prevention
 Programs seek to:
 Limit extent of drug abuse
 Prevent spread to other substances beyond those already
experienced
 Teach strategies for responsible use of illicit drugs
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Tertiary prevention
 Programs
recovery
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that seek to limit relapses by individuals in
Map 8.1: Main Sources of Illegal Drugs Imported into the United States.
Amounts shown in parentheses represent metric tons.
Sources: U.S. Department of State, 1996; New York Times, 1996b.
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Structural Factors that Contribute
to the Drug Problem
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Dramatic changes in the economic and
technological bases of society
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Growing gap between the rich and the
poor
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Inequalities based on race, ethnicity, and
gender
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