Theoretical Perspectives on Drug Use Why do People Take Drugs Moral model of drug use 3 broad perspectives Biological theories Genetic factors Demonology oldest theory the devil made you do it This belief underlies the way some people still think about drug abuse Drug abusers can be seen as morally deficient who b c of personal inadequacies overindulgence weakness of will some other character flaw have succumbed to drug use drug taking behavior is a matter of personal choice that we made Studies of mice rats found that some have a genetic propensity to become dependent upon cocaine but others are more susceptible to the dependence of opiates Most studies concerning genetic factors in humans have focused on alcoholic people Kids of alcoholics are 4x more likely to become an alcoholic Identical twins are more likely to have similar risk for alcoholism than fraternal twins Adopted kids w 1 biological parent that s an alcoholic are 3x more likely to be alcoholics even when raised in a low risk environment We have yet to identify a single gene that may be responsible for the emergence of alcoholism it s likely that several genes play a role May include genes associated w liver enzymes that metabolize alcohol genes affecting specific patterns of brain chemistry Physiological factors Metabolic processes in the body People may differ in the extent to which chemicals in the body are broken down changed in some way to allow us to function normally Chronic heroin abuse might be due to a metabolic defects in the bodies of heroin abusers Similar to type 1 diabetics Heroin abusers are normalizing their body Heroin dependent people appear to behave as if they have a metabolic imbalance w respect to opiates Neurochemical systems in the brain Amphetamines cocaine heroin alcohol nicotine may be very different from pharmacological standpoint but the way people react to them are remarkably similar Use results in a pattern of compulsive behavior based on an intense craving for repeating the experience Similarities among these drugs are numerous enough to entertain the idea that there s a common neurochemical system in the brain that links them all together It can be said that dopamine related processes in the nucleus accumbens underlie the reinforcing effects of abused drugs Dopamine research in drug dependency can help to understand why some people may be more susceptible to drug taking behavior Ritalin study 23 drug free men w no history of drug abuse given Ritalin 12 experienced a pleasant feeling 9 felt annoyed distrustful 2 felt nothing Measurements of dopamine receptors in the brains of these men showed Those w the least concentration of dopamine receptors were the ones experiencing the pleasant effects Hypothesis those w the fewest dopamine receptors might be the most vulnerable to drug abuse Psychological theories Behavioral theories Emphasize the role of learning through reinforcement Drug taking behavior leading to drug abuse is a consequence of having modified one s behaviors in specific ways as a result of being rewarded Overarching principle any behavior that is followed by a reward reinforcement is more likely to be repeated in the future Repeated rewards will result in a continuing pattern of behavior that can be weakened when reinforcement is removed People using a drug w a high reinforcement potential typically report that they care more about obtaining using the drug than anything else Reinforcers related to drug taking behaviors exceed competing reinforcers What aspect of reinforcement is emphasized among drug abusers can determine the pattern of drug taking behavior Positive reinforcement euphoria seekers Negative reinforcement maintainers Specific cues situations have the capability of stimulating powerful drug cravings brought on by memories of past pleasurable reinforcing experiences Personality theories Emphasize a constellation of personality traits that distinguish drug abusers from non abusers General theme antisocial personality disorder anxiety depression are more common among Crucial aspect the situations social relations social structure EX Heroin Vietnam During the Vietnam war many US troops used abused heroin which was very pure Easy access to heroin in the context of being in a strange dangerous environment encouraged them to turn to heroin for escape relief Only 1 in 9 soldiers continued to use heroin after returning home every society includes a set of cultural goals means to achieve them when goals means leads to a decision not to use drugs that are outside mainstream of Anomie strain theory someone is unable to obtain economic success the result is a feeling of frustration anomie Conformity our culture Innovation Ritualism Retreatism Rebellion A survey of 9 000 high school kids found that feelings of anomie were important predictors of drug goals means people who have developed a dependence on alcohol drugs goals means hippie subculture ex goals means involves illegal behavior like a drug dealer goals means burnt out factory worker ex use This theory oversimplifies a complex problem People who have attained economic success have become dependent on drugs drug abusers Sociological theories Social control bonding theory doing so all human beings are natural rule breakers social bonds keep us from 4 types of bonds attachment commitment involvement belief Empirical tests of predictions made by social control theory w regards to drug use are mixed Main weakness underestimates the importance of the role of delinquent friends while overestimating the importance of involvement in conventional social activities Differential association theory drug use the likelihood of drug use increases Process of learning to use drugs also involves learning the techniques learning how to enjoy the when one s attitudes beliefs favoring drug use exceed those against experience Labeling theory Virtually everyone has experimented w drugs at some point Primary deviance Often go unnoticed those who commit these acts don t generally regard themselves as temporary exploratory easily concealed nonconformity deviants aren t labeled as such by others Once the drug use is discovered made public the situation changes At this point drug users are labeled as deviant often seen in a new light by others The user begins to internalize the newly acquired label continue to use drugs b c other expect them to The drug user changes their self perception to fit the expectations of others Behavior now
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