“ Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Deviance 10e Chapter Twelve: Drinking and Alcoholism This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law: any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network; preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or in part, of any images; any rental, lease, or lending of the program. Alex Thio

“ Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 The Extent of Drinking and Alcoholism Alcohol is the most widely used drug Alcohol is the most widely used drug About 7% of the U.S. population is alcoholic About 7% of the U.S. population is alcoholic About 63% of Americans drink alcoholic beverages About 63% of Americans drink alcoholic beverages Moderate compared to other countries Moderate compared to other countries Alcohol is more abused than other drugs, and makes up one of U.S.’s leading health problems Alcohol is more abused than other drugs, and makes up one of U.S.’s leading health problems

“ Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Myths about Alcohol Use Alcohol makers sponsor campus events, place commercials on TV, and create myths about alcohol and its abuse including: Alcohol makers sponsor campus events, place commercials on TV, and create myths about alcohol and its abuse including: alcoholics are homeless or skid-row bums alcoholics are homeless or skid-row bums mixing different kinds of alcoholic drinks can make a person drunk faster mixing different kinds of alcoholic drinks can make a person drunk faster drinking coffee or dousing one's head with cold water can be sobering drinking coffee or dousing one's head with cold water can be sobering drinking beer is unlikely to make one an alcoholic drinking beer is unlikely to make one an alcoholic sex becomes more exciting after several drinks sex becomes more exciting after several drinks

“ Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 What Alcohol Does To Its Users Alcohol plays a part in many crimes Alcohol plays a part in many crimes Alcohol is a depressant: Use reduces mental and bodily functional activity Alcohol is a depressant: Use reduces mental and bodily functional activity Alcohol does NOT decrease a drinker's moral competence, even though the public believes it does Alcohol does NOT decrease a drinker's moral competence, even though the public believes it does

“ Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Figure 12.1 Alcohol and Violent Crimes

“ Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 What Alcohol Does To Its Users – cont. Factors influencing intoxication: Factors influencing intoxication: body size and weight body size and weight percentage of alcohol in a beverage percentage of alcohol in a beverage amount of food in the stomach amount of food in the stomach level of tolerance for alcohol level of tolerance for alcohol There are long-term social, psychological, and even physically benefits to alcohol use There are long-term social, psychological, and even physically benefits to alcohol use Heavy drinkers harm their health in various ways Heavy drinkers harm their health in various ways

“ Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 What Alcohol Does To Its Users – cont. Excessive use of alcohol brings about negative social consequences, including: Excessive use of alcohol brings about negative social consequences, including: auto accidents and death, especially among young people auto accidents and death, especially among young people high crime rate high crime rate situational factors also influence the drunken person's behavior -- provoking a drunken person can cause an even more fierce reaction, and alcohol in the hands of an aggressive person is dynamite. situational factors also influence the drunken person's behavior -- provoking a drunken person can cause an even more fierce reaction, and alcohol in the hands of an aggressive person is dynamite.

“ Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Social Factors in Drinking Males are more likely to drink, consume more when they drink, and get into trouble with drinking Males are more likely to drink, consume more when they drink, and get into trouble with drinking The gender difference among alcohol drinkers has been narrowing The gender difference among alcohol drinkers has been narrowing Young people drink more heavily or regularly than older adults Young people drink more heavily or regularly than older adults Race/ethnicity is a factor in predicting the likelihood to drink and alcoholism Race/ethnicity is a factor in predicting the likelihood to drink and alcoholism

“ Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Social Factors in Drinking – cont. Higher rate of drinkers at higher socioeconomic levels, but higher level of alcoholics from the lower classes Higher rate of drinkers at higher socioeconomic levels, but higher level of alcoholics from the lower classes Alcohol consumption is the highest in the regions of the Northwest, lowest in the South, and intermediate in the West and Midwest Alcohol consumption is the highest in the regions of the Northwest, lowest in the South, and intermediate in the West and Midwest

“ Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 A Global Perspective on Drinking Throughout the world, liquor and beer are more popular than wine Throughout the world, liquor and beer are more popular than wine Affluent Western countries drink more Affluent Western countries drink more Russia consumes the most alcohol Russia consumes the most alcohol In Islamic countries alcohol use is prohibited In Islamic countries alcohol use is prohibited

“ Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 What is Alcoholism? No universally accepted definition of alcoholism exists No universally accepted definition of alcoholism exists Most definitions Include: Most definitions Include: consuming a large quantity of alcohol consuming a large quantity of alcohol developing a psychological dependence developing a psychological dependence having a physical addiction having a physical addiction having alcohol-related problems having alcohol-related problems

“ Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Becoming an Alcoholic Alcoholism usually involves a succession of stages: Alcoholism usually involves a succession of stages: 1. prealcoholic stage: social drinking; tension release 2. forewarning stage: blackouts; excessive drinking; sneaking drinks; relationships suffers; guilt 3. crucial stage: loss of control over drinking 4. chronic stage: physical addiction to alcohol is total, isolation and withdrawal

“ Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 College Students and Alcohol About 47% of college students abstain from alcohol About 47% of college students abstain from alcohol About 44% binge drink at least occasionally About 44% binge drink at least occasionally Profile of college binge drinkers: Typically males, whites, living independently from parents, athletes, fraternity members, and those having indulged in binge drink as high school seniors Profile of college binge drinkers: Typically males, whites, living independently from parents, athletes, fraternity members, and those having indulged in binge drink as high school seniors

“ Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Women and Alcohol Women are generally more vulnerable to alcohol: attributed to smaller size, less body fat, less stomach enzyme Women are generally more vulnerable to alcohol: attributed to smaller size, less body fat, less stomach enzyme Today, young women drink as much as men because of increased gender equality and power Today, young women drink as much as men because of increased gender equality and power Female alcoholism has some unique characteristics; such as an increased likelihood of a family history of drinking, suffering a traumatic event, being introduced to drinking at an older age, taking the lead of a heavy- drinking partner, and drinking more at home Female alcoholism has some unique characteristics; such as an increased likelihood of a family history of drinking, suffering a traumatic event, being introduced to drinking at an older age, taking the lead of a heavy- drinking partner, and drinking more at home

“ Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 What Causes Alcoholism? Many theories Many theories genetic disposition genetic disposition negative personality traits, such as being antisocial, manipulative, attention-seeking, and depressed negative personality traits, such as being antisocial, manipulative, attention-seeking, and depressed vulnerable personality traits and certain drinking-group values and activities vulnerable personality traits and certain drinking-group values and activities cultural tension without cultural release cultural tension without cultural release

“ Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Controlling Alcohol Use and Abuse Prohibition Prohibition Sin tax Sin tax MADD and SADD MADD and SADD Raising drinking age Raising drinking age Halfway houses and rehabilitation centers Halfway houses and rehabilitation centers Alcoholics Anonymous Alcoholics Anonymous