Summary of Psychology of Addictions - PSY215 (Chapters 1-8, 11)
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Course
PSY215 (PSY215)
Institution
Ryerson University (Ru
)
This document contains a comprehensive set of detailed notes taken from the textbook for PSY 215 (Psychology of Addictions; Chapters 1-8, 11). The notes summarize key concepts, theories, and findings discussed in the chapters required for the course, providing a structured and accessible resource f...
Putting Drugs in Perspective
• Failed Approaches to Alcohol/Drug Abuse
○ Scare tactics – a politically biased approach that alienated young people
▪ Example: Reefer Madness - so absurd the audience viewed it as humorous
○ War on Drugs- declared by President Richard Nixon
▪ Most information exaggerated
▪ The information was perceived as "not credible "
▪ Reverse effect, heightened curiosity, ultimately increased experimentation with
drugs
▪ Assumed that if young people were frightened by adverse reactions to drug use, they
would be too scared to try the drug- info was exaggerated, overgeneralized and
sensationalized
○ It was then believed if the government could reach the children before they became
dependent on drugs, they could prevent a future generation of drug causalities
▪ Emphasis on credible, drug-specific information - The kids will be smart and educated,
and wisely decide not to do drugs
▪ Again, reverse was true: Heightened curiosity combined with alleviated fears
associated with drug use leading to more drug use
○ Government began to focus on the drug suppliers but neglected the demand side
▪ Became blind to the many causes of drug dependence and result in an adherence to a
simple magical solution that was advantageous
□ Tried to stop drug trafficking, wit little effort toward the demand side of the
problem
○ There is no known best way to overcome this problem- no good enough answer because
there is no simple solution
○ The Myth of the "Simple,' Magical Solution
▪ “Just Say No”–Simplistic view of a complicated problem
□ Suggests teens can overcome the drive to alter consciousness, peer influence,
the disease of alcoholism and the main factors influencing abuse by just saying
no
□ An immediate solution alleviates anxiety, shame and emotional discomfort
• Alcohol: The Most "Problematic" Drug
○ Alcohol IS a drug; often overlooked
○ Binge drinking is considered to be more than 5 drinks
○ Most problematic in terms of sheer numbers
○ 3rd most leading preventable cause of death in the U.S. and can cause liver cirrhosis, various
cancers, unintentional injuries and violence
○ Half of all adult drinkers binge drink
○ Caffeine is the most widely abused drug, followed by nicotine and then alcohol
• Alcohol Related Problems
○ Drinking & Driving, Property Damage, Academic Failure, Suicide, Legal Consequences, Sexual
Violence , Personal Injuries, Overdose, Blackouts, Hate-related Incidents, High Risk Sexual
Activity(unprotected sex)
• Binge Drinking on College Campuses
○ 40-45% of college students binge drink
○ Binge drinking increased significantly among women
○ Approximately 1,400 students die each year of
Half of all sexual assaults involve alcohol
Psychology of Addictions Page 1
, ○ Half of all sexual assaults involve alcohol
○ First six weeks of Freshman year are crucial
▪ Most dangerous with respect to drinking due to increased stress levels associated with
a new environment and the pressure to be accepted
○ More than half of alcohol consumed by adults in the U.S. is in the form of binge drinks
○ Those aged 18-30 ranked highest in binge use and heavy alcohol use with the 21-25 year
olds as the highest binge drinkers and heavy alcohol users
○ Leads to high risk behaviours
○ Sexual Assault and Rape on College Campuses - The Role of Alcohol
▪ Alcohol is most commonly associated with sexual assault- at least half of all cases
▪ Males exhibit impaired sexual function but have increased physical aggression
▪ Females are at increased vulnerability to penetration but does not reduce the odds of
injury
▪ Female assaults are positively associated with experiencing incapacitated sexual
assault since entering college as well as being a victim of incapacitated sexual assault
▪ Sexual assault is defined as any act that includes forced touching or kissing, verbally
coerced intercourse, or physically forced vaginal, oral or anal penetration
▪ Rape is any behaviour that involves some type of vaginal, oral or anal penetration due
to force or threat of force, a lack of consent, or an ability to give consent due to age,
intoxication, or mental status
○ Drinking and Driving Among Young Drivers
▪ Risk of an accident with blood alcohol level of 0.08 to 0.10% varies from 11%-52%
▪ Highest driver fatality rates where alcohol is involved are found among the youngest
drivers
▪ Greater crash risk associated with
□ A lack of driving experience
□ Overconfidence
□ The presence of other teenagers in the care
• Alcohol and Violence Among the General Population
○ 62% Assaults
○ 52% Rapes
○ 38% Child Abuse
○ 69% Drowning
○ 68% Manslaughter Charges
○ 49% Murders
○ 50% Traffic Fatalities
○ Up to 50% Spousal Abuse
○ 20-35% Suicides
○ Alcohol involved in 20-50% of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)
▪ Result in impaired judgement, cognitive impairment, loosened inhibitions, and
numerous physical effects that lead to violence
▪ Many women entering treatment have a history of physical violence with a family
member
○ Alcohol Related Injuries and Deaths
▪ Accidental injury is the leading cause of death among older adolescents and young
adults and binge drinking is involve in many
▪ Young people under 21; may involve homicides and suicides
▪ 55% of unintentional alcohol-related deaths of youth occur under age 21; traffic
deaths, drowning, burns and falls
• Systemic Problems of Drugs
○ The U.S. Federal Governments Role in the Drug Problem
▪ 65,000 are waiting to enter public alcohol/drug treatment programs
▪ Funding is needed for prevention programs for high risk youth, focusing on
kindergarten to grade 6
Psychology of Addictions Page 2
, kindergarten to grade 6
▪ Need to be innovative
○ Racist Approaches to the Drug Problem
▪ Prejudice and oppression of people o color, a scapegoating of minorities, and a
neglect of substance-abuse problems in the inner city
▪ The historical association of drugs with minority groups includes;
□ Opium with Chinese
□ Cocaine with Blacks
□ Alcohol with Catholic immigrants
□ Heroin with urban immigrants, African Americans
□ Marijuana and PCP with Latinos
▪ Assumed that minorities couldn’t control the use of alcohol or drugs because they
were lazy and physically, emotionally and morally weak
▪ The modern war began once white men and teenagers became to use drugs
○ Socioeconomic Inequities that Undermines the American Dream
▪ Some become so embittered by socioeconomic injustices that they give up, become
alienated from society and lack a personal commitment to strive in life- use alcohol
and drugs to numb and shut down these feelings
▪ Poverty is a risk factor for chemical dependency
▪ Violent crime, school-age childbearing, school failure and high risk families need early
intervention
○ Academic Failure and the Role of the U.S. Educational System
▪ Academic inadequacies & inequities lead to a failure to motivate & educate young
people
▪ Complacency among educators/administrators due to lack of support/innovation
▪ Lack of incentives ; Good teachers leave
□ Teachers make the same amount of money whether they are "good" or 'bad" at
what they do
□ "motivational disease"
▪ Reforms needed to turn system around
□ Parent-involvement, shared decision making, accountability, alternative schools,
site based management
▪ Poor administration, teacher burnout, lack of funding, a bureaucratic system that
promotes complacency
□ Lack of support from principles
○ Denial and Minimization of Alcohol/Drug Problem in the Family
▪ Family members tend to deny/minimize problems
□ The stigma still exists
▪ Children growing up with alcoholic/addict parents are 4-8 times more likely to develop
substance abuse problems
□ Emotional and physical abuse, sexual violation and other trauma are at a greater
risk of occurring when parents abuse drugs
▪ Destigmatize: families must accept the need for treatment and buy into the disease
model of addiction
□ Decrease shame
• Emerging Issues and Trends in Alcohol/Drug Use
○ Usage among High School students: some drugs replacing others, trends come and go
○ Marijuana use has resurged among teens (low perceived risk)
○ Ecstasy (MDMA) use declining
○ Prescription opiates, cocaine & heroin, continues to hold steady
• Usage Among High School Students
○ Increases in use of marijuana and ecstasy and decreases in LSD, hallucinogens and Ritalin
○ Adderall may be replacing Ritalin use
Marijuana is less harmful and easy to get = increases in use
Psychology of Addictions Page 3
, ○ Marijuana is less harmful and easy to get = increases in use
○ Marijuana's Resurgence
▪ Rising past 2 years- mostly in grades eight, ten and twelve and in all demographic
subgroups and different prevalence periods
○ Ecstasy (MDMA) Use
○ Other Drug Use
▪ Crack cocaine, heroin, Vicodin, OxyContin held steady
• Medical Marijuana
○ Approved for cancers, chronic pain, severe pain, epilepsy, disorders of muscle spasms and
nausea
○ Some approved by anorexia, arthritis, cachexia, migraines, hep C, Crohns disease,
Alzheimer's, PTSD
• The Major Perspectives on Alcohol/Drug Use
• The Moral-Legal Perspective
○ Viewpoint: Law Enforcement & Criminal Justice Systems; all drugs are against the law
○ Major Focus: “Keep specific drugs away from people and people away from specific drugs.”
○ Approach: Reduce availability of drugs; Punish as a deterrent in addressing the supply of
drugs, not the demand
○ Drawback: Addresses the supply side, but not the demand
○ Not effective on its own- NEED to address the demand
▪ Suppliers are not motivated to stop even with the risk, therefore it is ineffective
• The Medical-Health Perspective
○ Viewpoint: Medical and health treatment fields (doctors, nurses, etc.)
○ Major Focus: “Drug/alcohol use is a public health problem.”
○ Approach: Treatment focuses on physical damage
○ Drawback: Assumes that people seek good health, and that health info influences behavior
○ Information alone doesn’t change attitudes
• The Psychosocial Perspective
○ Viewpoint: Mental Health and Alcohol/Drug Treatment Fields
○ Major Focus: Prevent, intervene and treat alcohol/drug & co-occurring disorders
○ Approach: Provide services from housing, finances, to quality of life; early intervention
○ Drawback: Public agencies are underfunded, understaffed, problems are many, and, at
times overwhelming
▪ Most people do not want help because they see no problem
• The Social-Cultural Perspective
○ Viewpoint: Social agencies and institutions
○ Major Focus: Assumption that alcohol/drug abuse is due to frustration and hopelessness
with people’s lives; if users had hope that they could attain the American Dream, they
would be motivated to achieve a constructive place in society
▪ Depressed with no goals- therefore they take drugs
○ Approach: Adapt the environment to meet the individual’s needs
○ Drawback: Agencies are poorly funded and societal change is slow
Psychology of Addictions Page 4
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