Talking About Drug UseGeneral Principles of Drug UseImportant TermsHave Things Really Changed?Extent of Drug UsePopulations of UsersTrends in Drug UseMonitoring the FutureTrends in Drug UseNSDUHNational SurveysCorrelates of Drug UseAntecedents of Drug UseGateway SubstancesMotives for Drug UseInfluences on Drug UseDrug Use: An Overview Talking About Drug Use- Our concern about the use of a substance depends on Who is using it, how much is being used, and when, where, and why it is being usedGeneral Principles of Drug Use- Use is not abuse Most users of any given substance do not use it in ways that can be defined as abuse or dependence- Every drug has multiple effects Although a user might seek only one effect, drugs work at multiple sites in the brain and other organs- Amount matters Larger doses, more frequent doses, faster onset of effects can produce different effects comparedto small doses- User’s history and expectations affect drug-related effects An experienced user may experience different effects compared to an inexperienced user Expectations may make a drug effect more or less likely to occur- Drugs are not good or bad Drugs are chemicals on a shelf that are inactive until they enter the body Blaming the substance ignores all the factors that may lead to abuseImportant Terms- Drug Any substance, natural or artificial, other than food, that by its chemical nature alters structure or function in a living organism- Illicit drug A drug that is unlawful to possess or use- Deviant drug use Drug use that is not common within a social group and is disapproved of by the majority- Drug misuse Use of drugs or chemicals in greater amounts than, or for purposes other than, those prescribed by a doctor- Drug abuse Substance use in a manner, an amount, or in situations such that it causes social, occupational, psychological, or physical problems- Drug dependence  A more precise term than addiction A state in which an individual uses a drug so frequently or consistently that it would be difficult for the person to stop May be physiological and/or psychologicalHave Things Really Changed?Drug use is not new- Throughout history, drugs have been used for: Enhancing spiritual experiences Major economic roles Treatment for illnesses- Developments in the past century Rise of legal pharmaceuticals Rise of the “war on drugs”Extent of Drug Use- Not easy to get accurate and complete information on: Number of drug users How much of an illicit drug is imported and sold Usage of legal drugs such as alcohol, tobacco, and prescription drugs- Nevertheless, we do get some information from survey questionnaires Benefits: easy to use, inexpensive, efficient Drawbacks:o Bias in student population (e.g., dropouts not counted)o Potential inaccuracy of self-reports (among both users and non-users)Populations of Users- Wide range of rates and amounts of use Even within a substance-using population This is true of all drugs of abuse- This range of users has important implications for: Prevention efforts Treatment efforts Law enforcement The nature of dependenceTrends in Drug Use- Survey: Monitoring the Future Project (MTF) Gathers data from students  8th–12th grade and college Conducted annually for over 30 years- Types of data collected Prevalence of drug use Perceived risk and availability of various drugs- Shows trends over timeMonitoring the FutureTrends in Drug Use- Survey: National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) Gathers data from U.S. households (not just students) Face-to-face interviews Ages 12 and above Conducted annually for over 30 years- Types of data collected Prevalence of drug use Frequency of drug use- Shows trends over timeNSDUHNational Surveys- Data from MTF and NSDUH can be examined together- Finding similar patterns in two different studies, using different sampling techniques: A stronger indication that these trends are real and reflect broad changes in American society overtimeCorrelates of Drug Use- Correlate A variable that is statistically related to another variable, such as drug use  Important: Correlates are not causes- Risk factors for adolescent drug use include: Having friends who use drugs Engaging in antisocial activities- Protective factors include: Perception of strong sanctions against use Having parents as social support- Gender Example: Men use more drugs than women- Race and ethnicity Example: Whites are more likely to drink alcohol than African Americans- Level of education Example: College graduates are less likely to smoke tobacco than high school graduates- Personality variables Example: “Impulsive” individuals may use drugs at a higher rate- Genetics Example: Genetics may play a role in who will develop a substance use disorderAntecedents of Drug Use- Antecedent a factor that occurs before an event such as the initiation of drug use Not necessarily causes of drug use- Examples of antecedents Aggressiveness Conduct problems Poor academic performance Attachment to a drug-using peer group Parental and community norms that support drug useGateway Substances- Gateway One of the first drugs used by a typical drug user Alcohol and tobacco are sometimes considered gateway drugs- Gateway substances may not be the cause of future drug use- Gateway substances are perhaps best thought of as: Early indicators of a basic pattern of deviant behavior resulting from a variety of risk factorsMotives for Drug Use- There are several influences of drug use Identification with a deviant subculture Rebelliousness Fads and cultural trends Reinforcing properties of drugs Desire to experience an altered stateInfluences on Drug