Deck 8: Deviant Drug Use

Question 1

What is a drug?

Answer 1

A drug is a substance that, when ingested or otherwise introduced into the body, has a physiological effect. It can be used to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent disease, or it can be used to enhance physical or mental well-being. Drugs can be derived from natural sources such as plants and animals, or they can be synthesized in a laboratory.

There are various types of drugs, including:

1. **Prescription drugs**: Medications that are provided under the direction of a licensed healthcare professional. They are used to treat specific medical conditions and are regulated by government agencies to ensure safety and efficacy.

2. **Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs**: Medications that can be purchased without a prescription. They are typically used to treat common ailments like colds, headaches, or minor pains and are also regulated but to a lesser extent than prescription drugs.

3. **Recreational drugs**: Substances taken for pleasure rather than for medical reasons. These include alcohol, tobacco, and illegal substances like cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine. The use of recreational drugs can be associated with addiction and legal issues.

4. **Herbal remedies**: Natural products used in traditional medicine. They are often available without a prescription but can still have significant effects on the body.

5. **Performance-enhancing drugs**: Substances used to improve any form of activity performance in humans. These are often associated with sports and can include anabolic steroids and certain stimulants.

Drugs can have a range of effects on the body and mind, from mild to life-altering, and their use must be carefully managed to avoid adverse reactions, interactions with other medications, and the potential for abuse and addiction. The development, testing, regulation, and marketing of drugs are subject to strict protocols and regulations by authorities like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to ensure public health and safety.

Question 2

What are some of the effects of different types of drugs? Explain the difference between tolerance and dependence.

Answer 2

Different types of drugs can have various effects on the body and mind. For example, stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamine can increase alertness and energy, but also lead to increased heart rate, high blood pressure, and potential for addiction. Depressants like alcohol and opioids can slow down brain function, leading to relaxation and pain relief, but also carry the risk of respiratory depression and overdose. Hallucinogens like LSD and psilocybin can cause altered perceptions and hallucinations, but also have the potential for triggering anxiety and panic attacks.

Tolerance refers to the body's reduced response to a drug over time, requiring higher doses to achieve the same effects. This can lead to increased risk of overdose and addiction. Dependence, on the other hand, is a state where the body has adapted to the presence of a drug and requires it to function normally. Dependence can be physical, leading to withdrawal symptoms when the drug is stopped, or psychological, leading to cravings and compulsive drug-seeking behavior. While tolerance and dependence are related, they are not the same. Tolerance is a physiological response to a drug, while dependence involves both physiological and psychological factors.

Question 3

What is gamma alcoholism and what are its stages? In what ways may culture influence rates of problem drinking?

Answer 3

Gamma alcoholism, also known as stage 3 alcoholism, is the most severe and advanced stage of alcoholism. It is characterized by a loss of control over drinking, physical dependence on alcohol, and the presence of withdrawal symptoms when not drinking. People in this stage often experience significant negative consequences in their personal and professional lives as a result of their drinking.

The stages of gamma alcoholism are typically described as follows:

1. Early Stage: This stage is characterized by occasional binge drinking and the development of a tolerance to alcohol. Individuals may start to experience blackouts or memory lapses related to their drinking.

2. Middle Stage: In this stage, individuals begin to drink more frequently and may start to experience physical and psychological symptoms of alcohol dependence. They may also start to neglect their responsibilities and relationships due to their drinking.

3. Late Stage (Gamma Alcoholism): This is the most severe stage, where individuals have lost control over their drinking and experience significant negative consequences as a result. They may suffer from severe physical and mental health issues and have difficulty functioning without alcohol.

Culture can influence rates of problem drinking in several ways. Cultural attitudes towards alcohol, as well as the availability and social acceptance of alcohol, can play a significant role in shaping drinking behaviors. For example, in cultures where heavy drinking is normalized or even encouraged, rates of problem drinking may be higher. Additionally, cultural norms around socializing and coping with stress can also impact drinking behaviors. For example, in cultures where alcohol is commonly used as a coping mechanism or as a central part of social gatherings, rates of problem drinking may be elevated. It's important to consider these cultural factors when addressing issues related to problem drinking and developing interventions to support individuals struggling with alcoholism.

Question 4

Describe the process of heroin addiction. In what ways are drug use and criminal behavior linked?

Question 5

What role does group context play in marihuana use?

Question 6

Describe some of the steps taken by the US government to curb illegal drug use.

Question 7

A drug's effects are the same and are experienced by all who use them.

Question 8

Narcotics produce sensory experiences that represent a "reality" not verifiable to those who are not under the influence of the drug.

Question 9

Stimulants cause increased activity, alertness, and excitation.

Question 10

One who uses drugs experimentally does it to share a pleasurable experience with friends.

Question 11

In most states a blood-alcohol level of 0.03 percent or more is presumed to be too high for driving a motor vehicle.

Question 12

Approximately 10 percent of drinkers drink 50 percent of the alcohol consumed annually.

Question 13

The decrease in arrests for alcohol-related offenses is evidence that fewer people are getting drunk today than in the past.

Question 14

The idea that alcoholism is a disease that can be treated is supported by approximately 90 percent of Americans.

Question 15

For males, one of the most predictive variables that may lead to problem drinking is alienation and maladjustment.

Question 16

There are approximately a half-million total users of heroin in the United States alone.

Question 17

Compared to other drugs, heroin is a physiologically harmless drug.

Question 18

Political pressure concerning the link between marijuana use and race and crime lead to its inclusion in the Harrison Narcotics Act of 1914.

Question 19

Deviance associated with cocaine use can be more readily attributed to its illegality than to its effects.

Question 20

Compulsive, repetitive drug use associated with increased dosages to overcome tolerance and physical dependence stemming from withdrawal symptoms is known as __________.

Question 21

About _______ persons are killed each year in automobile accidents involving alcohol.

Question 22

One _____ from others how to drink and why to drink as well as when drinking is appropriate and when it is not.

Question 23

The one thing that truly "cures" heroin dependence is _____.

Question 24

A psychoactive drug's capacity to alter one's mental state depends upon:

A) the drug's chemical properties
B) the user's expectations concerning the drug's effects
C) the user's experience with the drug
D) all of the above
E) none of the above

Question 25

Which of the following is not a category of psychoactive drug?

A) depressants
B) marihuana
C) hallucinogens
D) neutralizers
E) stimulants

Question 26

"Tolerance" to a psychoactive drug has been built up when:

A) dosages must be increased to obtain effects of earlier lesser dosages
B) the drug can be taken without ill effects
C) overdosage becomes nearly impossible
D) all of the above
E) none of the above

Question 27

Which of the following terms referring to psychoactive drugs are highly controversial because of their impreciseness?

A) stimulants and hallucinogens
B) addiction and drug abuse
C) withdrawal symptoms and tolerance
D) barbiturates and amphetamines
E) none of the above

Question 28

Alcohol is:

A) a stimulant
B) an hallucinogen
C) a depressant
D) a neutralizer
E) none of the above - - it is in its own category

Question 29

From their cross-cultural study of small, homogeneous societies, MacAndrew and Edgerton conclude that behavior under the influence of alcohol is primarily a function of:

A) toxicity of the alcohol used
B) gender and body size
C) social expectations concerning drunken behavior
D) the amount of alcohol used
E) genetic disposition

Question 30

According to anthropological studies, drunken behavior:

A) is uniform from one society to another
B) is caused primarily by chemical action on the brain
C) varies according to society and time
D) a and b above
E) none of the above

Question 31

Which of the following statements is false?

A) While most Americans drink alcohol, only a small proportion have trouble with alcohol
B) Significant proportions of most "street crimes" involve alcohol drinking
C) Many states have recently decriminalized public intoxication, but the proportion of arrests for alcohol-related offenses remains high
D) Aside from the risks of auto and industrial accidents, alcohol does not pose a significant health problem
E) All of the above

Question 32

Jellinek's description of the alcoholism syndrome is most closely associated with which model of alcoholism?

A) disease model
B) labeling model
C) learning theory
D) mental pathology model
E) subcultural theory

Question 33

The assumption that "alcoholism is a disease":

A) has proven to be of great value in developing a theory of alcohol misuse
B) has altered the social response toward problem drinkers
C) has been proven by recent research
D) is contrary to the notion that alcoholics are uncontrolled drinkers

Question 34

The dominant assumption in the vast literature on problem drinking assumes that such drinking:

A) is a symptom of individual maladjustment
B) stems from cultural definitions of alcohol use
C) results from loose ethical values
D) is related to interest group conflict

Question 35

Jews have low rates of problem drinking because:

A) they associate excessive drinking with non-Jews
B) they learn how to drink
C) their friendship patterns expose them to few excessive drinking situations
D) all of the above
E) none of the above

Question 36

The best cure for dependence on heroin appears to be:

A) methadone maintenance programs
B) aging
C) psychotherapy
D) long-term imprisonment
E) religious training

Question 37

Which of the following is true about heroin?

A) among psychoactive drugs it is one of the most dangerous to human organs and the nervous system
B) Once dependent on the drug, one cannot use it on an occasional basis without becoming dependent again
C) Heroin users commit a disproportionately high number of crimes
D) All of the above
E) None of the above

Question 38

Prior to 1900 the typical opiate user in the United States was:

A) a lower class Chinese male
B) a lower class black male
C) a middle class white female
D) an upper class white male

Question 39

According to your textbook, the Harrison Act of 1914 resulted from:

A) a combination of prejudice against the Chinese and a desire to obtain China's good will
B) evidence of a crime wave by Chinese directly linked to their opium smoking
C) a combination of prejudice against black jazz musicians and a concern over heroin's spread into the white middle class
D) evidence of widespread over-prescribing of opium by American physicians

Question 40

The American medical establishment assumed at the bill's passage that the Harrison Act of 1914 was designed to:

A) prohibit opiate use
B) regulate opiate use
C) regulate physicians' relationship with addicts
D) prohibit prescriptions containing opiates

Question 41

According to available evidence, which drug is most dangerous to one's health?

A) alcohol
B) marihuana
C) heroin
D) caffeine

Question 42

According to your textbook, pressure to pass anti-marihuana legislation grew primarily out of:

A) evidence that the drug was a physical health hazard
B) the medical profession's concern that the drug led to mental disorders
C) the assumption that the drug was linked with minority group crime
D) pressure from other countries which were passing similar legislation

Question 43

It appears that many, if not most, of the social problems associated with the use of opiates and marihuana result from:

A) attempts to regulate the drugs by the criminal law
B) the physiological harm inherent in the drugs' use
C) organized crime's control of the drug market
D) the drugs' release of social inhibitions in users