Chapter 1: Introduction to Drug Use & Abuse PSY 302: Substance Abuse.
-
Upload
jonah-merritt -
Category
Documents
-
view
232 -
download
3
Transcript of Chapter 1: Introduction to Drug Use & Abuse PSY 302: Substance Abuse.
Chapter 1: Introduction to Drug Use & Abuse
PSY 302: Substance Abuse
Psychoactive Drugs
Any substance that alters:MoodAwareness of the external environmentAwareness of the internal environment
Examples:Marijuana, LSD, cocaine, heroin, alcohol,
nicotine, codeine, caffeine, etc.
Three Categories of Psychoactive Drugs
DepressantsReduce physiological arousal and help
individuals to relax Stimulants
Increase arousalProduce states of arousal
HallucinogensDistort sensory experience
Depressants
Alcohol Sedative-Hypnotic Drugs
Barbiturates Benzodiazepines
Opioids Opium Morphine Heroin Methadone Many others we will discuss
Stimulants Increase arousal and cause states of euphoria
that are generally referred to as highs Most commonly used:
CaffeineNicotine
The two most powerful that are abused:Amphetamines
MethamphetamineCocaine
Hallucinogens Marijuana LSD PCP Inhalants Prescription drugs
Lawful drugs vs. illegal drugs Distinction is made between the two
even in common language usage
Legal vs. Illegal
The Gateway DrugsLink between their occasional use and
later drug abuse and addiction repeatedly found
Characteristics: violence, early sexual activity, and school failure
Drug use both cause and symptom of adolescent problem
Legal vs. Illegal
The Gateway Drugs
Nicotine Alcohol Marijuana
Very controversial…
World Health OrganizationTheir studies point to the fact that
over 99% of hard-drug users began with the gateway drugs
US Dept of Health Dispute the gateway connection
saying less than 1% of gateway users become regular users of harder drugs (such as cocaine and heroin)
Addiction
Repeated, compulsive, at times uncontrollable behavior that persists even in the face of adverse social, psychological, and/or physical consequencesPreoccupationCompulsionRelapse
Addiction Drinking coffee?
Winter Smith’s goal is to go to every Starbucks
Drug Addiction
A chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences
Other Terminology
Dependence Often used interchangeably with addiction
Substance Abuse The use of a drug with serious consequences
Substance Misuse Contemporary term The Substance Use and Misuse Journal prefers this
term Rationale is that Substances are used or misused;
living organisms are and can be abused
Drug Use Continuum
For example: How would you define an alcoholic?
DSM 5 Substance Abuse Criteria
Substance abuse is defined as a maladaptive pattern of substance use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress as manifested by one (or more) of the following, occurring within a 12-month period:
1. Recurrent substance use resulting in a failure to fulfill major role obligations at work, school, or home Recurrent substance use in situations in which it is physically hazardous (such as driving an automobile or operating a machine when impaired by substance use)
2. Recurrent substance-related legal problems 3. Continued substance use despite having persistent or recurrent
social or interpersonal problems caused or exacerbated by the effects of the substance
Drugs & Crime
Goldstein (1985)PharmacologicalEconomic-CompulsiveLifestyle
Drugs and Crime
Studies have found that some individuals commit crimes after becoming addicted (economic)
Studies have also found that many abusers were committing crimes before beginning drug usage
During periods of addiction, crimes tended to increase considerably
Drugs and Crime
For the latter group, decrease in substance abuse was associated with a decrease, but not stopping, criminal activity
For a number of offenders, then, stopping drug use will not stop their criminal behavior, although crimes may decrease
Drugs Use & Violence
Alcohol involved in 2/3 of homicides in a Philadelphia study, about 40% of rape cases
About 75% of arrestees have traces of illegal drugs in their systems
In a study of CA inmates, over 40% reported using “heavy drugs” in the last 3 years
Policies
Reducing drunkenness through increased taxation and cultural discouragement
Forbidding alcohol in public places to the convicted (perhaps through an altered driver’s license)
Legalization of marijuana Reduce volume of serious drugs (cocaine,
methamphetamine, heroin)
Policies
Making treatment more readily available Targeting higher level drug dealers Long sentences for minor dealers takes up
prison cells Police tactics focussing on blatant drug
dealing (reducing disorder) More effective use of probation and parole Use of methadone
Estimating Drug Use
National Survey of Drug Use & Health (NSDUH)
Monitoring the Future (MTF) Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) Arrestee drug Abuse Monitoring (ADAM)
Alcohol & The College Environment
College students particularly vulnerable to drugsMore to alcohol than anything else Its always been a “right of college”
Social context encourages use and abuseOn their own; first time away from family,
etc.
Alcohol & The College Environment
Consequences of alcohol and drug use often seriousWork below potential; drop outLose or quit jobs Involved in uncommitted sexual relationsExperience serious psychological
difficulties
The Setting
Wechsler et al. (1994)Residential colleges seem particularly
vulnerable O’Malley et al. (2000)
Prospective college students (still in high school) have lower rates than their peers
This changes upon entering the college or university setting
Within the college setting...
Nelson et al. (2001)Student-Athletes
High rates of binge drinkingBoth males (16% more) and females
(19% more)
Gender
Significantly higher rates of daily use and binge drinking in males
CreditsSome slides prepared with the help of the following websites:cstl-hhs.semo.edu/cveneziano/Drugs%20and%20Crime.pptwww.factsontap.org/.../Alcohol%20effects%20on%20Adolescent%20...