Module 1: History and Key Concepts Flashcards
binge drinking
In the NSDUH surveys, this is defined as five or more drinks on the same occasion for men, and four or more for women.
Morphine addiction during the Civil War
The opiate drug morphine was widely used during the Civil War to manage wounded soldiers’ pain, leaving many of them experiencing morphine addiction as a result.
Opiate addiction among women prior to the Civil War
Prior to the Civil War, 60-75% of Americans experiencing opium or morphine addiction were women, in large part because physicians often prescribed opiates to deal with a wide variety of “female” complaints.
The Opium Exclusion Act
The Opium Exclusion Act of 1909 was the first federal policy prohibiting distribution and non-medical use of a drug.
The Harrison Narcotic Act
The Harrison Narcotic Act of 1914 was directed at drugs derived from opium or coca leaves, to control their production, distribution, and use.
Prohibition Era
The combination of the 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution and the Volstead Act implemented alcohol prohibition laws in the 1920s.
blood alcohol concentration
Defined in terms of grams (weight) of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood, and can be estimated in breath or urine tests.
decriminalization
The act of repealing, removing, or reducing legal restrictions or criminal penalties associated with a previously illegal act.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
An institute of NIH charged with supporting and conducting research on the impact of alcohol use on human health and well-being and leading the nation’s efforts to reduce alcohol-related problems.
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
An institute of NIH charged with advancing science concerning the causes and consequences of drug use and addiction, as well as applying that knowledge to improve public health.
National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH)
An annual study sponsored by SAMHSA providing national and state-level data concerning mental health status in the United States, and the use of tobacco, alcohol, illicit drugs, and prescription drug misuse.
Psychoactive (psychotropic) substances
These are substances that, when consumed, have a significant effect on a person’s mental processes, mind, mood, and behavior.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
The federal agency in the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) charged with leading public health efforts to advance the nation’s behavioral health and reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental disorders on communities.
War on Drugs
The label applied in 1971 by President Nixon to a campaign of United States government policy actions directed toward controlling trade in illegal drugs.
World Health Organization (WHO)
Part of the United Nation’s system, headquartered in Geneva, and leading global efforts to promote health and responses to global health concerns.
