Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Chapter 8 Alcohol and Other Drugs 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.

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Drug Use and Abuse 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

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Major Patterns of Drinking 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

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Alcohol Consumption and Class, Gender, Age and Race The wealthy have greater resources and privacy than lower-income individuals to avoid a “drunk” or “alcoholic” label US Census Bureau 2004  43.4% of people between the ages of reported using alcohol once 17.6% reported bring current users  Vast majority of persons between the ages of have tried alcohol once Over 60% are current users Before age 30, Whites consume more alcohol than Blacks  After age 30, Blacks have higher rates of heavy drinking

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 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.

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Alcohol-Related Social Problems Health problems  Nutritional deficiencies, adult-onset diabetes, alcoholic dementia, cardiovascular problems, alcoholic cirrhosis, and fetal alcohol syndrome Alcohol in the workplace  Lost productivity and cost of treatment, and workplace injuries Drinking and driving  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  Domestic abuse and violence, patterns of codependency when family members unwittingly aid the alcoholic’s excessive drinking and resulting behavior

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 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 Source: Chronicle of Higher Education, 2002.

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Major Hazards Associated with Tobacco Use Cancer of the lung, larynx, mouth, and esophagus  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?  Nicotine is highly addictive  Good marketing More than 4 billion dollars is spent annually by companies

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Problems from Prescription and Over-the-Counter Drugs Iatrogenic addiction  Occurs from long-term use or high dosages of prescription drugs Drug controversies  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 take legal drugs illegally each year Caffeine is a dependency-producing psychoactive stimulant  Heavy caffeine use can increase risk of heart attack and osteoporosis

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Marijuana Use and Abuse 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

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Stimulant Use and Abuse Cocaine and amphetamines are among the major stimulants abused in the U.S. 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 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)

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Depressants Most common include:  Barbiturates (e.g., Nembutal and Seconal)  Anti-anxiety drugs or tranquilizers (e.g., Librium., Valium, and Miltown) Users may develop both physical addiction and psychological dependency Potentiation, or the drug interaction that takes place when two drugs are mixed, is a risk because of the greater effect

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 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)

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Sociological Explanations for Drug and Alcohol Addiction Symbolic Interactionist Drug behavior is learned and influenced by families, peers, and others Spending time with members of a drug subculture increases attitudes and behaviors favorable to drug use Once one is labeled an “alcoholic” or “drug addict,” he or she will have difficultly discontinuing use

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 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

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Purpose of Prevention and Treatment Programs Primary prevention  Programs that seek to prevent drug problems before they begin 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 Tertiary prevention  Programs that seek to limit relapses by individuals in recovery

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 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.

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Structural Factors that Contribute to the Drug Problem Dramatic changes in the economic and technological bases of society Growing gap between the rich and the poor Inequalities based on race, ethnicity, and gender