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