Chapter 10. Drug Abuse

I. Extent of Drug Use:

A. A. alcohol: 1. 5% of adult Americans are heavy drinkers consuming 5 or more drinks at one sitting , 5 or more times each month

B. 2. 1/3 high school seniors report episodes heavy drink preceding 2 weeks

3. Est 15% male drinkers,6% of female drinkers in U.S. become abusers

4. More likely to become alcoholics: 1. men 2. lower SES 3. Catholic high, Jews low 4. young people

C. Marijuana: 1/2 – 1/3 adults have ever used

1. 18-25 years old:14% current users

over age 35: a. 2 % current users

b. peaked in late 1970s increase some in 1990s

c. 5% college students use on daily basis

2. Chronic Marijuana use: may develop a motivational syndrome lack of goals, apathy, sluggish mental responses, and mental confusion

a. However, such behavior may be socially acceptable among drug users – thereby encouraging it & not product of drug?

b. May only affect 3% of users

c. Disappearance without any treatment

d. No convincing evidence that causes harder drug use

1. Bring in contact with people using other drugs

2. Personal psychoactive drug probs may incline use other drugs

D. Cocaine: 3^rd most popular in U.S., following alcohol, marijuana

1. Only 1.4% of 18-25 year olds used cocaine in last month of 1995 compared with 9.9% in 1979

2. Use peaked 1980-1985 substantial decline since then

3. Can produce = dependence, tolerance, and withdrawal as heroin

E. Amphetamines: highly addicting can induce paranoia or confusion – linked with high levels of crime & violence (along with cocaine)

F. Depressants(e.g. barbiturates use as sedatives/painkillers): can cause potentiation :2 depressants take same time effect greater,create interaction can cause death (e.g. alcohol + depressant) use declined, esp among young

G. Narcotics(painkillers): highly addictive;heroin addicts many crimes

Heroine: probably 800,000 addicts in U.S.

Adults: only 1 % claim to have ever used it (rate use) rate seems to be dropping – fewer opiate related deaths and arrest

AIDS: ½ addicts in NY city may be infected (Dole 1991)

Damage to Human Body: Less than alcohol and tobacco

H. Hallucinogens ( so called “psychodelics”): produce hallucinations awareness of sensory input and mental activity is intensified

LSD, psilocybin, peyote, mescaline, DOM or STP, PCP, MDMA (ecstasy)

1. No physical dependence or withdrawal

2. Popularity peaked in 1960s, since been somewhat supplanted by stimulants and suppressants

3. usage can precipitate psychoses

4. Ecstasy (MDMA): Hallucinogen with properties of amphetamine

a. Popular on night club circuit

b. Use: Increased substantially in recent years (1994-2000): much higher in 2000 than 1989

II. Explanation of Drug Abuse

A. Biological: people with alcoholic parent are

1. As much as 6 times more likely to become alcoholic themselves, even when raised apart from their biological parents in a nonalcoholic family. Although true for men not known if it applies to women

2. 60-65% of alcoholics do not exhibit their genetic link only become heavy drinkers under certain environmental condition

B. Psychological

1. Psychodynamic theories claim that drug abuse is a consequence of flaw or weakness in people’s personalities (Collins and Marlatt 1983; Light 1986)

- Alcoholic may be exceedingly dependent personalities who experienced rejection & have a compulsive need for love excessive alcohol may relieve anxiety when unrealistic needs not met

- Another psychodynamic approach: need for power: men fantasize about how strong and powerful they are

- Opiate addict – have hi rates of mental disorder, esp depression

C. Sociological

1. Structural Functionalist: strains in soc sys create problem;

a. anomie: socially approved goal, no soc approve means

b. innovation: drug trade (illeg) means to success

2. Conflict: law ignore drug use among influential groups

3. Interactionist: cult transmission of values. Subcult of drugs

III. Applied Research: Discovery of Role of Drugs in Violence

Concern regarding drug use: associated with crime & violence

Why uses of stimulants – such as cocaine or amphetamine – leads to more violent, more crime, aggression

1. More people overly confident feel paranoid impulsive perhaps more important is criminal subculture:

2. Criminal subculture of “speed factor” hustles, fraud, coercion part of illegal drug business

a. Crack cocaine: fewer inhibitions against violence because no primary relationship, no primary supplier – homeless

1. Competitive bought ostreet corner, probably cause cheap

b. Violent crimes way of getting money to support habit

IV. Political Economy of Drug Use in U.S.

A. Colombia exports billion in cocaine each year—biggest export

B. Estimates place marijuana as one of the largest cash crops in California, Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee

C. 25% of demand in U.S. is satisfied by marijuana grown in U.S.

V. Prohibition: War on Drugs Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988:>police: narcotics agents. Stiffer prison sentences, despite $12 billion 1 year, not much changed

A. Drug Policy in Other Societies: What are the policies of the Netherlands and their effects?

1. Decriminalized drugs in 1976

2. Drug users and small-time dealers not prosecuted, whereas large drug dealers and those who sell to minors are

3. Drug use in Netherlands since then has not increased; may have declined somewhat

4. consumption of marijuana, hashish, heroin declined after decriminalization

5. Low incidence of AIDS among intravenous drug users

6. Treats drug addicts as a health problem

B. What about Great Britain? Result of less punitive approach, fewer narcotics addicts in the Netherlands and United Kingdom than in U.S.

1. 1960s physicians prescribe opiates and cocaine to patients if need them

2. Effect: still black market

3. Increase in illegal use of stimulants, sedatives, and hallucinogens in1960s

4. In response drug laws tightened up by end of 1960s

5. Addiction rates have since increased substantially, but due to change in policy, but because of worsening social conditions for lower income groups in 70s and 80s

VI. Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) overall assessment is that it had little effect

VII. Behavior Modification:

Aversion therapy: act drinking alcohol associated unpleasant experience

1. Antabuse: induces nausea, vomiting if person drinks alcohol

2. Electrical shocks: administered when drink

3. Evaluation: limited utility – require cooperation/ useful some addicts

Social Policy: Bartender responsibility – can be legally liable if serve drunk get into accident

a. Host: at party responsible for behavior if serve enough to get drunk

What is the Therapeutic Community? Often run by addicts who are drug free

Group involvement, social support, and group pressures are used to help addicts – e.g. AA (established 1935 now more than ½ million members, also Narcotics Anonymous)

- Acceptance by peers is a prime force in their communities

- Evidence suggests programs work for many, but not for those who do not admit they have a problem

Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988: What does this do?

Requires company’s with federal contracts to maintain drug-free workplace e.g. urine-testing for illegal drugs

a. ½ all full-time workers employed settings some form of testing

Borders Interdiction: only 10% seized at best (Durn & Gross 1993)