Chapter 8

Alcohol and Other Drugs

Drug Use and Abuse

Drug:
Any substance, other than food or water, that
when taken into the body alters its functioning
Therapeutic vs. recreational (purpose vs.
pleasure)
Licit and Illicit (legal vs. illegal)

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Drug Use and Abuse (2/2)

Drug abuse:
Excessive/inappropriate use of a drug; results
in a physical, mental, or social impairment

Drug addiction:
Psychological or physiological need for a drug
to maintain sense of well-being:
And avoid withdrawal symptoms

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Subjective vs. Objective View of Drug

Abuse
Objective component is physical,
psychological, or social evidence of harm
Subjective component is peoples
perceptions about the consequences

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Subjective vs. Objective View of Drug

Abuse (2/2)
Example: Marijuana vs. Alcohol
Subjectively our society believes marijuana is
harmful and should remain illegal:
While alcohol is harmless and should stay legal

Objectively no little evidence that marijuana is

harmful
But much evidence of alcohol and its dangers

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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

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Major Patterns of Drinking n(2/2)

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: Class, Gender, Age and Race

The wealthy have greater resources and
privacy than lower-income individuals to:
Avoid a drunk or alcoholic label

More men than women drink, and men are

more likely to be labeled alcoholic
Before age 30, Whites consume more
alcohol than Blacks

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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, cost of treatment, injuries

Drinking and driving

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Alcohol-Related Social Problems (2/2)

70 percent of drivers involved in a fatal drunkdriving crash had a BAC of 0.15 or higher

Family problems
Domestic abuse and violence
Patterns of codependency when family:
Unwittingly aid the alcoholics excessive drinking
and resulting behavior

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Tobacco Use as a Social Problem

Health Problems:
Cancer of the lungs, larynx, mouth, and
esophagus
Bronchitis, emphysema, ulcers, and
cardiovascular disorders

Shorter life expectancy

pack a day reduces lifespan by 4 years

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Tobacco Use as a Social Problem (2/2)

Low birth weight babies
Environmental (second hand)tobacco
75% of nicotine ends up in the air

Why do people still smoke?

Nicotine is highly addictive
Good marketing by tobacco companies

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Prescription and Over-the-Counter

Drugs
Iatrogenic addiction
Long-term/high use of prescription drugs
Initially prescribed by a physician for a
medical purpose

Controversial Drugs
Ritalin and Prozac over-prescribed

Teens and Prescription Drugs

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Over the Counter Drugs

These types of drugs are not linked to
significant addiction
Most popular OTC drugs: sleep aids,
aspirin and ibuprofen, cold medication
Caffeine is a dependency-producing
psychoactive stimulant
Found in coffee, tea, soda, chocolate

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Marijuana Use and Abuse

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.
Cocaine comes in two forms: powder and
crack
Men more likely to use than women
Research shows that crack use is higher
among inner-city, African American & Latino/a

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Stimulant Use and Abuse (2/2)

Law enforcement policies and practices may
target minorities

Amphetamines come in form of diet pills

and pep formulas
Chronic amphetamine abuse can result in
amphetamine psychosis
Paranoia, hallucinations, & violent tendencies

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Depressants
Common: Barbiturates, Anti-anxiety drugs
Low doses produce relaxing feeling,
higher does result in sedation
Users may develop both physical
addiction and psychological dependency
Rophynol: date rape drug used with
alcohol very dangerous & can cause
death
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Narcotics and Hallucinogens

Narcotics:
Natural forms: opium, morphine, codeine
Opiate Derivatives: heroin and Percodan

Heroin is the most widely used drug

Hallucinogens:
Produce hallucinations
LSD, angel dust, and ecstasy

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Perspectives on Drug Abuse

Biological
Alcohol, heroin, cocaine act on brain
mechanisms; reward and punishment

Psychological
Social learning and reinforcement
Personality disorders

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Sociological Explanations
Symbolic Interactionist
Drug behavior is learned and influenced by
families, peers, and others
Time with members of a drug subculture
increases attitudes & behaviors toward drugs
Once labeled an alcoholic or drug addict,
he or she will have difficultly discontinuing use

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Sociological Explanations (2/4)

Functionalist
Drugs serve functions in society
Prescription and over the counter drugs help
patients
They help doctors treat patients, justify their fees
Provide jobs for pharmacists

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Sociological Explanations (3/4)

Drugs are also dysfunctional
Dysfunctional because people can become
addicted
Illicit drug activities serve important societal
functions (create jobs for DEA agents)
Dysfunctional because they are linked to crime,
addiction, and other social problems

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Sociological Explanations (4/4)

Conflict
People in positions of power determine what
is legal and illegal
Make drugs used by the powerless illegal

Corporate interests perpetuate use and abuse

of legal drugs
Manipulation of nicotine levels to addict users

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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

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Prevention and Treatment Programs

(2/2)
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

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