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Chapter 9. Alcohol and Other Drugs. Drug. Drug – any chemical substance that affects the mind or body Drugs and Culture Perception of drugs vary from society to society Definition of drugs change over time. Drug Use.
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Chapter 9 Alcohol and Other Drugs
Drug • Drug – any chemical substance that affects the mind or body • Drugs and Culture • Perception of drugs vary from society to society • Definition of drugs change over time
Drug Use • Use of selected drugs in the past 30 days by those 12 years and older (1980-2005) • Alcohol – 50-60% • Cigarettes – 30-40% • Marijuana – 5-15% • Cocaine – Less than 5% • Hallucinogens – Less than 5% (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2006)
Reasons for Drug Use • Therapeutic uses. • Recreational uses. • Spiritual or psychological use. • Escape • Social conformity
Drug Abuse • Drug abuse – use of any illegal substance or the use of a legal substance in a way that violates accepted medical practice • Addiction – physical or psychological craving for a drug • Dependency – state in which a person’s body has adjusted to regular use of a drug
Types of Drugs • Stimulants – drugs that increase alertness, changing a person’s mood by increasing energy • Caffeine • Nicotine • Ritalin • Cocaine and Crack • Amphetamines • Depressants – drugs that slow the operation of the central nervous system • Analgesics • Sedatives and Alcohol • Antipsychotics
Types of Drugs • Hallucinogens – distort sensory perceptions (LSD, “ecstasy”, etc) • Cannabis – sense of euphoria and relaxation (marijuana, hashish) • Steroids – build muscle and strength • Prescription Drugs
Drugs and Other Social Problems • Family Life – codependency, parental addiction, child neglect, family violence • Health Problems - damage organs and influence malnutrition • Homelessness – drug and alcohol use common • Crime – violent offenders under the influence • Global Poverty – illegal drugs as a source of needed income
Response to the Drug Problem • Strategies • Interdiction – stopping the movement of drugs across the country’s borders • Prosecution • Education • Treatment • War on Drugs • Decriminalization – removing current criminal penalties that punish the manufacturing, sale, and personal use of drugs
Theoretical Analysis • Structural-Functional • Drugs help and harm order of society • Social-Conflict • Drug problems are linked to social inequality • Symbolic-Interaction • Variable meanings attached to drug use