issues chapter 1
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Chapter 1: Talking About Drug Use
Psychoactive drugs: effect thoughts, emotions and/or behavior and can alter consciousness
Four Principles:
1. Drugs are not good or bad
2. Every drug has multiple effects
3. Both the size and the quality of a drug’s effect depend on the amount
the individual has taken
4. The effects of any psychoactive drug depend on the individual’s history and expectations
“The Drug Problem”Talking About Drug Use
• To evaluate the extent of the drug problem and propose possible solutions, it helps to ask basic journalism questions:
• Who?
• What?
• When?
• Where?
• Why?
• How?
• How much?
Research on Substance Use
• Take into account source of information
• Not easy to get accurate information on:• Number of drug users
• How much is imported and sold
• Usage of even alcohol, tobacco, and prescription drugs
• What constitutes a trend?
• How do we get information?• Survey Questionnaires
• Benefits & drawbacks
Trends & Correlates• Trends
• Prevalence of use
• Perceived risk & availability
• Correlates
• Risk factors
• Protective factors
• Correlates or stereotypes & misinformation?
Antecedents of Drug Use
• Antecedent: a factor that occurs before an event such as the initiation of drug use
• Examples of antecedents commonly studied
• Aggressiveness
• Conduct problems
• Poor academic performance
• Attachment to a drug-using peer group
• Concept of “gateway drug”
Motives for Substance Use