18: Substance Abuse
- Page ID
- 332607
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)- 18.1: Drug Use in History
- This page explores the historical prevalence of drug use, tracing its origins from ancient societies to modern America. It highlights the integration of substances like opium, cocaine, and marijuana into daily life and folk medicine, while addressing the impact of racial biases on drug regulation.
- 18.2: Drugs and Drug Use Today
- This page explores various drug classifications, effects, and usage trends, distinguishing between legal substances like alcohol and tobacco, which cause significant health issues and deaths, and illegal drugs like marijuana and cocaine. It highlights the cultural significance of alcohol, its economic impact, and the risks associated with its abuse, including familial issues. The prevalence of illegal drug use, particularly among youth, is discussed along with the impact of tobacco advertising.
- 18.3: Social Patterning of Drug Use
- This page examines the impact of sociodemographic factors—gender, race, education, and religiosity—on drug use behaviors. It highlights that men generally use alcohol and illegal drugs more than women, who tend to misuse prescription drugs. Racial differences show varying trends in drug use, with Native Americans exhibiting the highest rates. Educational attainment influences substance use, particularly with alcohol and tobacco, while higher religiosity correlates with lower drug use.
- 18.4: Explaining Drug Use
- This page explores the complex nature of drug addiction through biological, psychological, and sociological lenses. It notes a genetic predisposition for addiction, highlights personality traits that influence drug use, and examines the impact of social structures and cultural contexts.
- 18.5: Drug Policy and the War on Illegal Drugs
- This page explores various U.S. strategies addressing drug use, including treatment, prevention, harm reduction, and criminalization. It critiques the war on drugs for worsening societal issues, highlighting the ineffectiveness of initiatives like DARE. It emphasizes the need to reevaluate drug policies, noting successful decriminalization in countries like Portugal, which led to improved treatment rates and lower HIV infections.
- 18.6: Addressing the Drug Problem and Reducing Drug Use
- This page critiques the war on drugs, arguing that arresting individuals for possession is ineffective and harmful. Experts advocate for a shift to treatment-focused approaches, including drug decriminalization and legal opiate prescriptions. The Global Commission on Drug Policy calls for fundamental reform, highlighting benefits of legalizing and taxing marijuana. The chapter emphasizes the necessity of reevaluating current drug policies.
- 18.7: End-of-Chapter Material
- This page explores the historical context and societal impact of drug use, indicating that legal substances often cause more harm than illegal ones. It emphasizes the influence of social factors over individual characteristics in addiction, covering various theories on drug use. The critique of the war on drugs is presented, along with alternatives such as treatment and decriminalization. It encourages personal engagement through volunteering and advocating for responsible drinking.

