Zastrow Ch. 8 Flashcards
Broad Drug Definition
Any substance that chemically alters the function or structure of living organism. Definition includes air pollution, food, etc., etc.
Drug Definition - social problems
Any habit forming substance that directly affects the brain and the nervous system. Affects mood, perceptions, body functions, or consciousness.
Has potential for misuse because it may be harmful to user.
Drug Abuse
Regular or excessive use of a drug when consquences endanger relationships with others, are detrimental to users’ health, or jeopardize society.
Drug Abuse in Society - 2 Key Factors
- Actual drug effects.
2. Group’s perception of effects.
Legal Drugs vs. Illegal
Legal drugs (alcohol and tobacco) are more abused and cause more harm in our society than illegal drugs.
Dependency
Habit forming drugs lead to dependency, where user develops recurring craving. Dependency may be physical, psychological, or both.
Tolerance
Drug users develop tolerance, which means they must take increasing amounts over time to achieve given effect. Not all drugs create tolerance.
Drug Addiction
The intense craving for a drug that develops after a period of physical dependency from heavy use.
History of Drugs in Society
Pilgrims - 1620, brought 14 tons water, 10K gallons wine, and 42 tons of beer.
Civil War - wounded were given narcotics to relieve pain and many became addicted. Narcotic addiction serious problem from 1860s to 1910s. Turn of century - 1% of population addicted - highest rate in history.
Opiates readily available at turn of century - used to treat many minor ailments. Sales legally stopped in 1914 by Harrison Narcotics Act.
Tobacco - History
Originally only chewed. Began to be smoked after 1870, and was briefly banned in 14 states because it was believed to be a stepping stone to alcohol use, sexual deviance, insanity, and impotence.
Marijuana - Federal Bureau of Narcotics
Labeled marijuana as “assassin of youth.” Mass media published stories stereotyping marijuana users as “crazed drug fiends.” To continue receiving funding, director of bureau asserted that it was stepping stone drug.
1960s and 70s - marijuana popular among youth, college students, drug subcultures, and general population.
Drug History - Addressing Social Problem
1800s - American Temperance Union, followed by Women’s Christian Temperance Union, Anti Saloon League, and others.
Alcohol was viewed as responsible for many social ills - crime, collapse of family, and unemployment.
Under pressure, several states passed legislation prohibiting sale and distribution of alcohol in 2nd half of 19th century. By WWI, half population lived in dry areas.
Prohibition
18th Ammendment to Constitution. Ratified in 1919.
1933, prohibition repealed. Alcohol use became more widespread. People in middle and upper classes began drinking on rather large scale.
Anomie Theory
Emile Durkhiem and Robert Merton.
Anomie is condition where acceptance of approved standards of conduct is weakened.
Societies have approved goals (making money) and approved means to achieve goals (working at jobs). When goals are desired but means aren’t available, anomie results. Individuals seek to achieve goals through deviant means.
Theory asserts that if people are unable to achieve goals, they may be “driven to drink.”
Anomie Theory - Drug Abuse Reduction
Merton
Drug abuse can be reduced if:
- Society sets realistic goals attainable by all.
- Society establishes legitimate means of obtaining, also attainable by all.
(Theory does not explain drug abuse by those who are meeting goals. )
Labeling Theory
Drug abuse largely stemming from occasional users’ being labeled “abusers.” When use is disapproved of, users are publicly labeled “drunkard,” “pothead,” or “dope user.” Causes occasional users to view themselves as label.
Labeling Theory - Drug Abuse Reduction
Drug abuse can be reduced by avoiding labels.
Fails to explain drug abuse among “closet alcoholics.”
Differential Association
Edwin Sutherland
Behavior is determined primarily by values and actions considered important by small intimate groups people interact with.
Example: Italians use alcohol frequently in moderation as a group. Drunkenness is rare. Irish subculture has periodic episodes of excessive drinking. Higher rate of alcoholism.
People learn and take on the drug use norms of small groups they associate with.
People can become resocialized into drug use norms of different subculture.
Drug Subculture
Group of peers who advocates the use of one or more drugs. Membership in subculture encourages further drug use and rejection of established norms.
Dysfunctional for society but serve important functions for user - instructions and safety guidelines for how to use drugs, how to handle adverse effects, assist in obtaining drug and assist in avoiding arrest.
Alcohol - Depressant
- Most abused drug in America. Extremely widespread use.
- Ethyl alcohol found in drinks. Also called grain alcohol.
- Effects vary with percentage in bloodstream. Effects observable when reaches 1/10 of 1%.
- Women become intoxicated more quickly than men due to lesser amount of enzyme that breaks down alcohol before it reached the bloodstream
Who Drinks Alcohol? Primary Factors
- Biological Factors - close relatives are 4x more likely to become alcoholics.
- Socioeconomic Factors - drinking more frequent among younger men at higher socioeconomic levels and less frequent among women at lower socioeconomic levels.
- Gender - men are more likely to use and abuse alcohol. Trend changing because cultural taboos for women and alcohol are weakening.
- Age - older people less likely to drink. Heavy drinking most common for men at ages 21-30 and women at 31-50.
- Religion - Nonchurchgoers drink more than churchgoers. More common among episcopalians and catholics.
- Urban-Rural Residence - urban residents more likely to drink than rural residents.
Legal Drinking Age
In 1980s and 90s, Federal Government put pressure on states to change legal drinking age or lose funding for roads. All states have now raised drinking age to 21.
