Ch. 17-18 Preventing Substance Abuse/Rethinking Drug Policy

Question 1

how can you assess the success of prevention programs?

Answer 1

• most efforts examine marijuana, smoking, and alcohol
• consider the definition of “success”
• look at long-term effects to evaluate
• how are data gathered?

Question 2

why has school been seen as the appropriate venue for drug prevention information?

Answer 2

• “captivate audience”
• may be able to get people before they have tried a drug (or used extensively)
• a risk factor for drug use is believing that drug use at school is common and condoned
• teachers seen as credible

Question 3

what are the themes in drug prevention programs?

Answer 3

• early programs, aimed at primary prevention, focused on the substance, often demonizing it. subsequent programs have placed more emphasis on the user
• values clarification/character building
• coping and social skills, “unoculation”
• alternative to drugs
• focus on the effects of drugs on health or appearance
• often mention impact of one’s drug use on loved ones

Question 4

what does the life skills program include?

Answer 4

• decision making and critical thinking (challenges to common beliefs about drug use)
• communication and interpersonal skills (drug refusal can be assertive but non-threatening)
• coping and self-management (setting appropriate goals and handling negative emotions and stress)
• focus on learning
• parent and family
• community programs

Question 5

top ten things to know about addiction

Answer 5

• addiction is fundamentally about compulsive behavior
• compulsive drug seeking is initiated outside of consciousness
• addictions is about 50% inheritable
• most people with addictions who present for help have other psychiatric problems as well
• addiction is a chronic relapsing disorder in most people who present for help
• different psychotherapies appear to produce similar treatment outcomes
• “come back when you’re motivated” is no longer an acceptable response
• epiphanies are hard to manufacture
• change takes time

Question 6

what are the issues with treatment?

Answer 6

what is the goal of treatment? to never use the drug again? to use the drug responsibly or in moderation? to use another drug instead?
it is common to assume a treatment is successful if the person never uses agai8n, but by that standard few treatments are successful. a treatment that spaces out relapse significantly can also be considered successful.

Question 7

motivational enhancement therapy

Answer 7

motivation, no matter its source, is the prime predictor of treatment success so increasing motivation is a worthy goal.
therapist expresses empathy, focuses on discrepancy between current and ideal states of being, supports self efficacy, defuses resistance

Question 8

pharmacological therapy

Answer 8

• aid detoxification by reducing physical withdrawal effects upon initial cessation of the drug
• reduce craving
• reduce effects of the drug
• cause adverse consequences if the drug is used
• treating disorders that may underline drug abuse

Question 9

legalization vs decriminalization

Answer 9

both: no criminal penalty, less government funds on courts and prisons
decrim: have some leverage over use, could employ if needed
legal: drug production under government control, cartels etc undercut