Chapter 3

Alcohol and Other Drugs

Chapter Outline

The Global Context: Drug Use and Abuse Sociological Theories of Drug Use and Abuse Frequently Used Legal and Illegal Drugs Societal Consequences of Drug Use and

Abuse Treatment Alternatives Strategies for Action: America Responds Understanding Alcohol and Other Drugs

What is a Drug?

The term drug refers to any chemical substance that – has a direct effect on the user’s physical,

psychological, and/or intellectual functioning

– has the potential to be abused– has adverse consequences for the

individual and/or society

Drug Use and Abuse Around the World

Globally, 3.0% of the world’s population—185 million people—reported using at least one illicit drug in the previous year.

The lifetime prevalence of illicit drug use varies from 46% of the adult population in the United States, to 36% in England, 26% in Italy, 18% in Poland, and 9% in Sweden.

U.S. Social Policy: Results of a National Survey, 2001

Statement % in Support

Restrict drinking on city streets 93

Ban youth-oriented packaging. 70

Ban keg sales to individuals. 31

Restrict drinking in parks 91

Ban beer/wine ads on TV. 59

U.S. Social Policy: Results of a National Survey, 2001

Statement % in Support

Ban alcohol marketing with athletes. 62

Restrict drinking at sports stadiums. 74

Restrict drinking on college campuses. 89

Punish adult providers. 87

% Reporting Drug Use, 2003

Drug Lifetime Past Year Past Month

Marijuana 40.6 10.6 6.2

Cocaine 14.7 2.5 1.0

Crack 3.3 .3 .3

Heroin 1.6 .1 .1

LSD 10.3 .2 .1

PCP 3.0 .0 0.0

Ecstasy 4.6 .9 .2

Inhalants 9.7 .9 .2

% Reporting Drug Use, 2003

Drug Lifetime Past Year Past Month

Pain Relievers 13.1 4.9 2.0

Tranquilizers 8.5 2.1 .8

Methamphetamine 5.2 .6 .3

Sedatives 4.0 .3 .1

Cigarettes 68.7 3.5.1 29.8

Alcohol 83.1 65.0 50.0

Drug Abuse

Occurs when acceptable social standards of drug use are violated, resulting in adverse physiological, psychological, and/or social consequences.

chemical dependency - Drug use is compulsive; users are unable to stop.

Question

Did you ever use marijuana during your senior year in high school?

A. Yes

B. No

Structural Functionalist Perspective

Drug abuse is a response to weakening of societal norms (anomie).

Drug use is a response to the absence of a perceived bond between the individual and society.

Conflict Perspective

Drug use is a response to political, social and power inequality.

Drug use is an escape from alienation from work, friends and family and frustration caused by inequality.

Most powerful members of society influence the legal definition of drug use.

Symbolic Interactionist Perspective

If the label “drug user” is internalized drug use will continue or even escalate.

Drug users learn motivations and techniques of drug use through interaction with others.

Symbols may be used for political and economic agendas (e.g. D.A.R.E. Campaign against drugs).

Biological Theories

Genetics may predispose an individual to alcoholism.

Some individuals are physiologically “wired” to get more pleasure from drugs thanothers.

Psychological Theories

Some personality types are more susceptible to drug use.

Positive reinforcement: drug use results in pleasurable experience.

Negative reinforcement: drug use reduces pain, anxiety, loneliness and boredom.

Question

In the past year, have you had more than 5 alcoholic drinks in a sitting?

A. Yes

B. No

Alcohol

Alcohol is the most widely used and abused drug in America.

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health reports that 119 million Americans age 12 and older consumed alcohol at least once in the month preceding the survey.– 6.8% reported being heavy drinkers– 22.6% were binge drinkers.– 10.9 million current users of alcohol are 12 to 20

years old.

Question

I believe that underage drinking is an important social problem in our society.

A. Strongly agree

B. Agree somewhat

C. Unsure

D. Disagree somewhat

E. Strongly disagree

Alcoholism

The chances of being alcohol dependent also increase if an individual’s parents:– are alcoholics– drink– have a positive attitude about drinking– use discipline sporadically

Question

How often do you go to a bar or tavern?

A. Daily/Weekly

B. Monthly/Yearly

C. Never

GSS National Data

EducationNot a High

School Graduate

High School Graduate

College Education

Daily/ Weekly

10.4% 13.8% 18.9%

Monthly/ Yearly

20.1 32.8 41.2

Never 69.5 53.4 39.9

Tobacco

30% of those ages 12 and older are smokers. In 2003, 14.4% of the 12- to 17-year-old

population reported smoking, a slight decrease from the previous year.

In 2003, 3.6 million youths between the ages of 12 and 17 reported past-month use of a tobacco product.

Marijuana

Most commonly used and trafficked illicit drug in the world.

There are more than 14.6 million current marijuana users, representing 6.2% of the U.S. population age 12 and older.

Marijuana

According to the 2004 Monitoring the Future survey, 45.7% of twelfth graders have used marijuana or hashish at least once in their lifetime.– 34.3% used it in the last year, and 19.9% used it

in the last month.

Cocaine

Cocaine, made from the coca plant, has been used for thousands of years.

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health:– 34.9 million people, 14.7% of the U.S.

population 12 and older, have tried cocaine.

Cocaine

42% of high school seniors surveyed in the 2004 Monitoring the Future study indicated that getting powdered cocaine is “fairly easy” or “very easy.”

Crack, made by boiling a mixture of baking soda, water, and cocaine, is one of the most dangerous drugs to surface in recent years.

Question

The most commonly used and most heavily trafficked illegal substance in the world is:

A. cocaine.

B. methamphetamines.

C. heroin.

D. marijuana.

Answer: D

The most commonly used and most heavily trafficked illegal substance in the world is marijuana.

% Of Parents Reporting Household Turbulence, by Alcohol Dependence or Abuse: 2002

Costs of Drug Use and Abuse

Alcoholics are more likely to separate or divorce. 25% to 50% of domestic abuse cases involve

abusers with substance abuse problems. According to a 2004 report of the Office of National

Drug Control Policy, the total economic cost of drug use was more than $180 billion in 2002..

Alcohol-related car accidents account for 18% of the more than $100 billion in U.S. auto insurance payments.

Question

Which drug use is the leading preventable cause of deaths in the United States?

A. cigarette smoking

B. alcohol use

C. heroin

D. cocaine

Answer: A

Cigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of deaths in the United States.

Reasons for Not Receiving Treatment Among Individuals, Who Did Not Receive Treatment and Felt They Needed Treatment: 2003

Federal Drug Control Spendingby Function, Fiscal Year 2006

Legalization: Benefits

Affirms the rights of adults to make informed choices.

Money from drug taxes could be used to benefit all citizens.

Would result in decreased drug prices and decreased crime.

Drugs would be regulated and safer.

Decriminalization: Benefits

Promotes a medical rather than criminal approach to drugs.

Would encourage users to seek treatment.

Decriminalizationand Legalization: Risks

Would be construed as government approval of drug use.

Not all drugs would be decriminalized; illegal trafficking would still exist.

Would require costly bureaucracy to oversee drug use/production.

Quick Quiz

1. If the government reduced its control over various illegal drugs that would be termed:

A. legalization.

B. deregulation.

C. decriminalization.

D. interdiction.

Answer: B

If the government reduced its control over various illegal drugs that would be termed deregulation.

2. Which substance is the most widely used and abused drug in the United States?

A. nicotine

B. cocaine

C. marijuana

D. alcohol

Answer: D

Alcohol substance is the most widely used and abused drug in the United States.

3. A conflict theorist would argue that the war on drugs:

A. all of these choices.

B. unfairly targets minorities.

C. has resulted in the changing of definitions and labels.

D. contributes to society by providing thousands of jobs for people.

Answer B

A conflict theorist would argue that the war on drugs unfairly targets minorities.