HealthHealth

Chapter 12Chapter 12Making Decisions About Making Decisions About

Drug UseDrug Use

DrugsDrugs

Most Fortune 500 companies use Most Fortune 500 companies use pre-employment during testing.pre-employment during testing.

Drug use remains a significant Drug use remains a significant problem for both college students problem for both college students and the general population.and the general population.

Alcohol is the most important Alcohol is the most important problem drug for most college problem drug for most college students.students.

Table 7.1Table 7.1

Prevention: The Best SolutionPrevention: The Best Solution

The best way to avoid immense costs The best way to avoid immense costs of drug abuse is simply reduce the of drug abuse is simply reduce the demand.demand.

Three levels of prevention:Three levels of prevention:– PrimaryPrimary– SecondarySecondary– TertiaryTertiary

Primary – means reaching people Primary – means reaching people who have not yet used drugs who have not yet used drugs reducing heir desire to try drugsreducing heir desire to try drugs

Prevention: The Best SolutionPrevention: The Best Solution Secondary – targets those who are Secondary – targets those who are

beginning to experiment with drugs beginning to experiment with drugs and uses detection, screening, and uses detection, screening, intervention and treatment of early intervention and treatment of early drug abuse to help avoid further drug drug abuse to help avoid further drug useuse

Tertiary – targets drug-dependent Tertiary – targets drug-dependent people; uses specialized, intensive help people; uses specialized, intensive help that includes rehab and maintenancethat includes rehab and maintenance

Effects of Drugs on the Central Effects of Drugs on the Central Nervous SystemNervous System

Neuron – a nerve cellNeuron – a nerve cell Dendrite – the portion of a neuron that Dendrite – the portion of a neuron that

receives electrical stimuli from adjacent receives electrical stimuli from adjacent neurons; neurons typically have several neurons; neurons typically have several such branches or extensionssuch branches or extensions

Axon – the portion of a neuron that Axon – the portion of a neuron that conducts electrical impulses to the conducts electrical impulses to the dendrites f adjacent neurons; neurons dendrites f adjacent neurons; neurons typically have one axontypically have one axon

Effects of Drugs on the Central Effects of Drugs on the Central Nervous SystemNervous System

Synapse – the location at which an Synapse – the location at which an electrical impulse from one neuron is electrical impulse from one neuron is transmitted to an adjacent neuron; also transmitted to an adjacent neuron; also referred to as a synaptic junctionreferred to as a synaptic junction

Neurotransmitters – chemical Neurotransmitters – chemical messengers that transfer electrical messengers that transfer electrical impulses across the synapses between impulses across the synapses between nerve cellsnerve cells

Drugs work by changing the way the Drugs work by changing the way the neurotransmitters work.neurotransmitters work.

Addictive BehaviorAddictive Behavior

Experts in human behavior view drug Experts in human behavior view drug use and abuse as just one of the use and abuse as just one of the many forms of addictive behavior.many forms of addictive behavior.

Addictive behavior includes Addictive behavior includes addictions to shopping, eating, addictions to shopping, eating, gambling, sex, television, video gambling, sex, television, video games, internet use, or work, as well games, internet use, or work, as well s addictions to alcohol or other s addictions to alcohol or other drugs.drugs.

Addictive BehaviorAddictive Behavior

The process of addiction: exposure, The process of addiction: exposure, compulsion, loss of controlcompulsion, loss of control

Exposure – the initial exposure that Exposure – the initial exposure that temporarily replaces an unpleasant temporarily replaces an unpleasant feeling or sensation; this initial feeling or sensation; this initial pleasure gradually becomes a focal pleasure gradually becomes a focal point in the person’s lifepoint in the person’s life

Addictive BehaviorAddictive Behavior

Compulsion – increasingly more Compulsion – increasingly more energy, time and money are spent energy, time and money are spent pursuing the drug use or behavior; pursuing the drug use or behavior; during the compulsion phase a during the compulsion phase a person’s ‘normal’ life often person’s ‘normal’ life often degenerates while they search for degenerates while they search for increased pleasures from the drug or increased pleasures from the drug or the behaviorthe behavior

Addictive BehaviorAddictive Behavior Loss of control – addicted people lose Loss of control – addicted people lose

their ability to control their behavior their ability to control their behavior despite overwhelming negative despite overwhelming negative consequences; they continue to behave consequences; they continue to behave in ways that make their lives worsein ways that make their lives worse

Intervention and treatmentIntervention and treatment

Codependence Codependence

Drug TerminologyDrug Terminology Drug – an substance, natural or artificial, Drug – an substance, natural or artificial,

other than food, that by its chemical or other than food, that by its chemical or physical nature alters structure or physical nature alters structure or function in the living organismfunction in the living organism

Psychoactive drug – any substance Psychoactive drug – any substance capable of altering feelings, moods, or capable of altering feelings, moods, or perceptionsperceptions

Dependence – a general term that refers Dependence – a general term that refers to the need to continue using a drug for to the need to continue using a drug for psychological or physical reasons or psychological or physical reasons or bothboth

Drug TerminologyDrug Terminology

Addiction – compulsive, uncontrollable Addiction – compulsive, uncontrollable dependence on a substance, habit, or dependence on a substance, habit, or practice to such a degree that cessation practice to such a degree that cessation causes severe emotional or causes severe emotional or physiological reactionsphysiological reactions

Withdrawal illness – an uncomfortable, Withdrawal illness – an uncomfortable, perhaps toxic response of the body as it perhaps toxic response of the body as it attempts to maintain homeostasis in the attempts to maintain homeostasis in the absence of a drug; also called absence of a drug; also called abstinence syndromeabstinence syndrome

Drug TerminologyDrug Terminology Tolerance – an acquired reaction to a Tolerance – an acquired reaction to a

drug in which the continued intake of drug in which the continued intake of the same dose has diminished effectsthe same dose has diminished effects

Cross-tolerance – transfer of tolerance Cross-tolerance – transfer of tolerance from one drug to another within the from one drug to another within the same general categorysame general category

Misuse – the inappropriate use of legal Misuse – the inappropriate use of legal drugs intended to be medicationsdrugs intended to be medications

Abuse – any use of a legal or illegal drug Abuse – any use of a legal or illegal drug in a way that is detrimental to health or in a way that is detrimental to health or well-beingwell-being

Dynamics of Drug AbuseDynamics of Drug Abuse

Many factors influence drug-taking Many factors influence drug-taking behavior including individual factors, behavior including individual factors, immediate environmental factors, immediate environmental factors, and societal factorsand societal factors

Individual factors:Individual factors:– Genetic dispositionGenetic disposition– Personality traits, attitudes, & beliefsPersonality traits, attitudes, & beliefs– Interpersonal skills & self-esteemInterpersonal skills & self-esteem– Unmet developmental needsUnmet developmental needs

Dynamics of Drug AbuseDynamics of Drug Abuse

Environmental factors:Environmental factors:– Home & familyHome & family– School peersSchool peers– CommunityCommunity

Societal factors:Societal factors:– Youth subcultureYouth subculture– Modeling and advertisingModeling and advertising– The self-care movementThe self-care movement

Combination Drug Effects TermsCombination Drug Effects Terms Gateway drug – an easily obtainable Gateway drug – an easily obtainable

legal or illegal drug that represents a legal or illegal drug that represents a user’s first experience with a mind-user’s first experience with a mind-altering drug; this drug can serve as the altering drug; this drug can serve as the ‘gateway’ to the use of other drugs‘gateway’ to the use of other drugs

Modeling – the influence others have on Modeling – the influence others have on us by example of their own behaviorus by example of their own behavior

Synergist effect – a heightened, Synergist effect – a heightened, exaggerated effect produced by the exaggerated effect produced by the concurrent use of two or more drugsconcurrent use of two or more drugs

Combination Drug Effects TermsCombination Drug Effects Terms Addictive effect – the combined (but not Addictive effect – the combined (but not

exaggerated) effect produced by the exaggerated) effect produced by the concurrent use of 2 or more drugsconcurrent use of 2 or more drugs

Potential effect – a phenomenon whereby the Potential effect – a phenomenon whereby the use of one drug intensifies the effect of a use of one drug intensifies the effect of a second drugsecond drug

Club drug – one of a variety of psychoactive Club drug – one of a variety of psychoactive drugs typically used at raves, bars and dance drugs typically used at raves, bars and dance clubsclubs

Antagonistic effect – produced when one Antagonistic effect – produced when one drug reduces or offsets the effects of a drug reduces or offsets the effects of a second drugsecond drug

Drug ClassificationsDrug Classifications Stimulants – psychoactive drugs that Stimulants – psychoactive drugs that

stimulate the function of the central stimulate the function of the central nervous systemnervous system– CaffeineCaffeine– EphedraEphedra– AmphetaminesAmphetamines– MethamphetaminesMethamphetamines– RitalinRitalin– CocaineCocaine– Energy drinksEnergy drinks

Drug ClassificationsDrug Classifications

Depressants - category of drugs that Depressants - category of drugs that sedate the user by slowing CNS sedate the user by slowing CNS function; they produce tolerance and function; they produce tolerance and strong psychological and physical strong psychological and physical addiction in usersaddiction in users– BarbituratesBarbiturates– TranquilizersTranquilizers

Drug ClassificationsDrug Classifications Hallucinogens – psychoactive drugs Hallucinogens – psychoactive drugs

capable of producing hallucinationscapable of producing hallucinations– LSDLSD– Designer drugs – FDA Schedule IDesigner drugs – FDA Schedule I– Phencyclidine (PCP)Phencyclidine (PCP)– CannabisCannabis

Table 7.3 – Effects of marijuanaTable 7.3 – Effects of marijuana

Drug ClassificationsDrug Classifications

Narcotics – opiates; psychoactive Narcotics – opiates; psychoactive drugs derived from the oriental drugs derived from the oriental poppy plant, narcotics relieve pain poppy plant, narcotics relieve pain and induce sleepand induce sleep

Inhalants – psychoactive drugs that Inhalants – psychoactive drugs that enter the body through inhalationenter the body through inhalation

Society’s Response to Drug UseSociety’s Response to Drug Use Most adults see drug use as a clear Most adults see drug use as a clear

danger to society.danger to society. Certain groups have concentrated their Certain groups have concentrated their

efforts on education, others on efforts on education, others on enforcement, and others on the enforcement, and others on the development of laws and public policy.development of laws and public policy.

Some believe that limiting the youths Some believe that limiting the youths exposure to gateway drugs may help exposure to gateway drugs may help slow down the move to other addictive slow down the move to other addictive drugs.drugs.

Society’s Response to Drug UseSociety’s Response to Drug Use Still others support legalizing all drugs Still others support legalizing all drugs

and making government agencies and making government agencies responsible for drug regulation and responsible for drug regulation and control, like with alcohol.control, like with alcohol.

Drug testing has become on of the Drug testing has become on of the more popular prevention tools.more popular prevention tools.

Employers, professional athletics, Employers, professional athletics, college athletics and high schools.college athletics and high schools.

So what works the best?So what works the best?

College and Community Support College and Community Support Services for Drug DependenceServices for Drug Dependence

What services are available on What services are available on college campuses?college campuses?

What services are available in the What services are available in the community?community?

What are the different treatment What are the different treatment options that are used?options that are used?

Who pays for these treatments and Who pays for these treatments and services?services?