Chapter 2 Drug Use as a Social Problem

Question 1

What happened to laissez-faire?

Answer 1

Toxicity, dependence, and crime

Question 2

Toxicity

Answer 2

the possibility of harm caused by the drug
- acute vs chronic
- behavioral vs physiological

Question 3

Dependence

Answer 3

when the user experiences withdrawal upon stopping drug use
- physical vs psychological
- often accompanied by tolerance, suggesting that one’s body has adjusted to the continued presence of the drug

Question 4

Acute toxicity

Answer 4

Associated with immediate drug use and is an issue only when the drugs is present. It can also be present even when the drug is taken rarely

Question 5

Chronic toxicity

Answer 5

Associated with long-term drug use and is a factor whether or not the person is currently using the drug

Question 6

Behavioral toxicity

Answer 6

Harm caused by the behavioral effects of the drug

Question 7

Physiological toxicity

Answer 7

Harm caused by the effects of the drug directly on the body

Question 8

Potential changes to limit toxicity

Answer 8

• access to medications that treat drug dependence
• allowing not just first responders but police, sheriffs, even librarians to carry Narcan
• allowing needle exchanges and safe injection sites

Question 9

DAWN data

Answer 9

• toxicology tests are sometimes used but not always
• the “mention” of a drug doesn’t mean the drug caused the visit or death necessarily, especially if multiple drugs are used
• use of alcohol alone by people 21 and over is not recorded. Alcohol is only mentioned in combination with other dugs or if the user is underage

Question 10

Psychological dependence

Answer 10

there are psychological withdrawal symptoms (depressions, craving); more predictive of relapse into drug use, although a combination of psychological and physiological withdrawal is probably more of a predictor; lasts longer than physiological withdrawal and is more subject to environmental cues

Question 11

Physiological dependence

Answer 11

there are physical withdrawal symptoms (seizures, shaking); lasts days or week

Question 12

Three forms of tolerance

Answer 12

behavioral, drug disposition, and cellular

Question 13

Behavioral tolerance

Answer 13

the person learns to function under the influence of the drug, basically a practice effect

Question 14

Drug disposition tolerance

Answer 14

AKA pharmacokinetic or metabolic tolerance. levels of enzymes increase so as to clear the body burden of the drug faster

Question 15

Cellular tolerance

Answer 15

AKA pharmacodynamic tolerance. Neurons adjust so as to balance out the effect of the drug

Question 16

Difference between dependence and addiction?

Answer 16

• dependence is more of a global term, more often used where there is a physical withdrawal symptom(s)
• addiction is more often used to describe behaviors that are typically associated with psychological dependence (going to lengths to procure the drug, using the drug even when it’s clear that the drug is causing serious problems, compulsive drug-seeking behavior)

Question 17

Past issues with the term “addiction”

Answer 17

• it’s a pejorative term
• implies an inability to stop using the drug
• the term “addiction” is loosely used for all types of compulsive behavior

Question 18

What determines whether a person will become dependent on a given drug?

Answer 18

• frequency of use
• the purity of the drug
• the route by which the drug is used
• the conditions under which the drug is used
• the reason for the use of the drug
• one’s biological susceptibility

Question 19

Issues of crime

Answer 19

• people engage in crime to obtain the drug or money for the drug
• under the influence of the drug, people engage in crimes, such as assaults or murders
• if the drug is illegal, possession of the drug is breaking the law. this is a concern because “doing time” can make it harder to find a job and expose one to real criminals