Problems Chapter Three

Any substance other than food that alters the structure or functioning of a living organism when it enters the bloodstream.

The violation of social standards of acceptable drug use, resulting in adverse physiological, psychological, and/or social consequences.

A condition in which drug use is compulsive and users are unable to stop because of physical and/or psychological dependency.

A state of normlessness in which norms and values are weak or unclear.

As defined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, drinking five or more drinks on the same occasion on at least 1 day in the past 30 days prior to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

A drug (e.g., marijuana) that is believed to lead to the use of other drugs (e.g., cocaine).

A crystallized illegal drug product produced by boiling a mixture of baking soda, water, and cocaine.

A general term for illicit, often synthetic, drugs commonly used at nightclubs or all-night dances called "raves."

Drugs that are used to render victims incapable of resisting sexual assaults.

A syndrome characterized by serious physical and mental handicaps as a result of maternal drinking during pregnancy.

Organizations in which approximately 35-500 individuals reside for up to 15 months to abstain form drugs, develop marketable skills, and receive counseling.

A recent public health position that advocates reducing the harmful consequences of drug use for the user as well as for society as a whole.

One of two strategies in the U.S. war on drugs, demand reduction focuses on reducing the demand for drugs through treatment, prevention, and research.

One of the two strategies in the U.S. war on drugs, supply reduction concentrates on reducing the supply of drugs available on the streets through international efforts, interdiction, and domestic law enforcement.

The reduction of government control over, for example, certain drugs.

Making prohibited behaviors legal; for example, legalizing drug use or prostitution.

The removal of criminal penalties for a behavior, as in the decriminalization of drug use.

A social action group committed to reducing drunk driving.

Sociologically, the term drug refers to any chemical substance that (1) has a direct effect on the user�s physical, psychological, and/or intellectual functioning; (2) has the potential to be abused; and (3) had adverse consequences for the individual and/or society. Drug abuse occurs when acceptable social standards of drug use are violated, resulting in adverse physiological, psychological, and/or social consequences.

Structural functionalists argue that drug abuse is a response to the weakening of norms in society, leading to a condition know as anomie or normlessness. From a conflict perspective drug use occurs as a response to the inequality perpetuated by a capitalist system as societal members respond to alienation from their work, family, and friends. Symbolic interactionism concentrates on the social meanings associated with drug use. If the initial drug use experience is defined as pleasurable, it is likely to recur, and over time the individual may earn the label of "drug user."

Alcohol is the most commonly used and abused legal drug in America. The use of tobacco products is also very high, with 25 percent of Americans reporting that they currently smoke cigarettes. Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug, with 162 million marijuana users, representing 4.0 percent of the world�s population.

The consequences of drug use are fourfold. First is the cost to the family, often manifesting itself in higher rates of divorce, spouse abuse, child abuse, and child neglect. Second is the relationship between drugs and crime. Those arrested have disproportionately higher rates of drug use. Although drug users commit more crimes, sociologists disagree as to whether drugs actually "cause" crime or whether, instead, criminal activity leads to drug involvement. Third are the economic costs (e.g., loss of productivity), which are in the billions. Last are the health costs of abusing drugs, including shortened life expectancy; higher morbidity (e.g., cirrhosis of the liver and lung cancer); exposure to HIV infection, hepatitis, and other diseases through shared needles; a weakened immune system; birth defects such as fetal alcohol syndrome; drug addiction in children; and higher death rates.

Although there are many ways to treat drug abuse, two methods stand out. The inpatient-outpatient model entails medical supervision of detoxification and may or may not include hospitalization. Twelve-step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) are particularly popular, as are therapeutic communities. Therapeutic communities are residential facilities where drug users learn to redefine themselves and their behavior as a resp9onse to the expectations of others and self-definition.

First, there are government regulations limiting the use (e.g., the law establishing the 21-year-old drinking age) and distribution (e.g., prohibitions about importing drugs) of legal and illegal drugs. The government also imposes sanctions on those who violate drug regulations and provides treatment facilities for other offenders. Second, there are collective action groups - for example, Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Finally, there are local and statewide initiatives geared toward holding companies responsible for the consequences for their product - for example, class action suits against tobacco producers.

False

Marijuana

Conflict Theory

The most common use of tobacco products

False

1

True

Domestic Law Enforcement

True

False