Chapter 13 Drug Abuse

1
Chapter 13 Drug Abuse

• Definitions of drug abuse
• Misconceptions about drug abuse
• Types of drugs
• The subculture of drug dealers drug users
• Legislative approaches
• Current issues

2
What is drug abuse?

• Complexity of defining drug
• Illegal or illicit
• Prescription drugs (happy drugs)
• Common drugs (I.e. caffeine, nicotine)
• Alcohol

3
Defining Abuse

• Use of any dangerous or illegal substance?
• Frequency of use? Overuse?
• Physical or psychological dependence?
• Social and legal changes (I.e. Prohibition)

4
Misconceptions About Drug Abuse

• Myth drug use is widespread skyrocketing
• Fact Overall trend of illegal drugs was
  stabilization or decline (some exceptions)

5
Misconceptions

• Myth some drugs are so powerful they lead to
  instant addiction. (enslavement hypothesis)
• Fact Attitudes, motivations, setting,
  expectations affect drug use.

6
Misconceptions

• Myth some soft drugs provide a gateway into
  hard drugs
• Fact many pot smokers have never tried hard
  drugs like heroine

7
Misconceptions

• Myth drugs cause crime, especially property
  crime and theft
• Fact most drug users do not commit property
  crime and theft

8
Misconceptions

• Myth most Canadians introduced to illegal drugs
  by evil pushers
• Fact first-time users often introduced to drugs
  by friends

9
Categories of Drugs

• Stimulants
• Depressants
• Hallucinogens
• Categories are not mutually exclusive (I.e.
  marijuana- stimulant/depressant)

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Stimulants

• Keep users alert, excited, able to resist
  fatigue, elevate mood
• I.e. cocaine, caffeine, nicotine

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Depressants

• Slow functioning of central nervous system,
  induce sleep, reduce anxiety, produce euphoria
• Heroin, PCP morphine, aspirin

12
Hallucinogens

• Produce perceptual distortions (hearing colors,
  seeing sounds, timelessness)
• I.e. LSD, MDMA (ecstasy)

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Factors Influencing the effects of drugs

• Dosage
• Purity/potency
• Drug mixing (multiplier effect)
• Method of administration
• Degree of habituation

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Subculture of Illegal Drug Use

• A Five Stage Approach?
• Experimental
• Recreational
• Situational
• Intensified
• Compulsive

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Factors Associated with becoming a Drug User

• Social nature of drug use
• Becoming socialized
• Weighing Costs Benefits (health/expense)
• Aging out

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Becoming a Dealer

• The Lure of Profit
• Supporting own habit
• Finding distributors
• Marketing
• Customer satisfaction
• Dealing with narcs
• Respecting turfs

17
Legislative Approaches in Canada

• 19th Century few legal restrictions
• 20th Century
• 1908 Opium Act
• 1929 Opium Narcotic Drug Act
• 1961 Narcotics Control Act increased sanctions
• 1970s 90 offences for marijuana/hashish

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Legislative Approaches

• 1980s The War on Drugs
• Controlling Supply
• Target Smugglers (ports of entry)
• Appropriation of drug funds
• Restrictive banking laws
• Political pressure on producer countries

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The War on Drugs

• Controlling Demand
• Education Programs (Informed Choices)
• Treatment Counselling Programs

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Current Issues Debates

• Decriminalization
• Legalization esp. marijuana (The Amsterdam
  model?)
• Broadening medicinal uses esp. palliative care
  uses
• Public health initiatives (in prisons, inner
  city)
• Other legislative approaches (increasing age
  limits for alcohol)