SWRK 1035 Substance Abuse

Week One

AGENDA
Introductions Contact Information Review of Course Outline Chapter One: Definitions and Discussion on Drug Use and Abuse

Introductions

Contact Information bmcbride2@georgebrown.ca

Review of Course Outline

Course Description Text Book Course Outcomes Assignment/Test Policy
Evaluation System Course Expectations What constitutes an A Professors Expectations Topical Outline

Chapter One: Drug Use and Abuse

Did You Know: A drugs street name sometimes describes the actual effect of that drug.
Drugs tend to have a greater effect on women than men because men have less body fat. Expectancies about alcohols effects may be a more powerful determinant of its effects.

Chapter One: Drug Use and Abuse

Did You Know: People who have developed tolerance to one drug also will have tolerance to certain other drugs. The highest rates of alcohol and other drug use are found among 18- to 25year-olds

Chapter One: Drug Use and Abuse

The scientific study of drugs concerned with all information about the effects of drugs on living systems is called pharmacology.
Pharmacology is considered a subsection of biology and is allied with physiology and biochemistry. Why is this important for Social Service Workers?

Chapter One: Drug Use and Abuse

Drug Broadly defined as any chemical entity or mixture of entities not required for the maintenance of health. A drug alters biological function or structure when administered.

Chapter One: Drug Use and Abuse

Drug abuse Any use of drugs that causes physical, psychological, legal, or social harm to 1. the individual user or 2. to others affected by the drug users behaviour.

Chapter One: Drug Use and Abuse

Drug effects
The action of a drug on the body. Drug effects are measured in different ways.

Drug Classification
Pharmacologists have attempted to define drugs by creating classifications systems for drugs.
These classifications systems are used for research and practical purposes and are based on the primary properties of drugs to communicate a drugs nature and the ways it can be used.

Diagnostic Statistical Manual

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has published the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)
The DSM provides a formal criteria system for the diagnosing and treatment of psychological disorders.

Diagnostic Statistical Manual

Key Categories Substance Dependence Substance Abuse Drug Tolerance Drug Withdrawl

Substance Dependence
A strong compulsion or urge to continue taking a particular drug.
There are two types of dependence: 1. Physical dependence 2. Psychological dependence

Drug Tolerance
Generally, an increased amount of a drug is needed to achieve intoxication Or A diminished drug effect occurs if the same amount of a drug is used. Different types of tolerance involve different mechanisms: Dispositional Acute Functional Protracted Behavioural Cross

Acute Tolerance
Cocaine is a short-acting drug The pleasurable effects will wear off quickly Users are then prone to take another dose The second dose even if the same amount generally produces a reduced pleasurable high due to the rapidly developing acute tolerance

Withdrawal
A definable illness that occurs with a cessation or decrease in use of a drug.
Many studies have shown that relief from withdrawal is a powerful motivator of continued drug use.

Withdrawal symptoms
Different drugs have different withdrawal symptoms. The range can involve: psychological symptoms: anxiety, depression, and cravings withdrawal syndromes. These symptoms are highly individual.

The Drug Experience

Contemporary research has shown that the drug experience is a product of more than just the drugs pharmacological action.
There are three sets of factors: 1. Pharmacological factors 2. Characteristics of the drug user 3. Social and environmental factors

The Drug Experience Pharmacological factors include: The drug dosage: A measure of the quantity of a drug consumed.
The route of drug administration: The way that drugs enter the body (e.g., oral or intravenous).

The Drug Experience Characteristics of the Drug User

Differences among people account for most of the differences in how they react to a given dose of a drug.
User characteristics are divided into two types: 1. Biological 2. Psychological

The Drug Experience Characteristics of the Drug User

Biological Characteristics Inherited Differences: Major differences in how people react to drugs are genetically based. 1. Initial sensitivity: The effect of a drug on a first-time user. 2. Gender and Weight 3. Age

The Drug Experience Characteristics of the Drug User

Psychological Characteristics Drug experience has often been studied in research on personality and drug use.
Personality One personality characteristic that has been connected to drug use is sensation seeking.

The Drug Experience Characteristics of the Drug User

Sensation seeking The need for varied, novel, and complex sensations and experiences. And
The willingness to take physical and social risks for the sake of such experiences.

The Drug Experience

Those who enjoy bungee jumping would probably score high on a measure of sensation seeking A constant personality characteristic associated with drug abuse especially from a young age [11 to 13]

The Drug Experience Addictive Personality

The hypothesis that particular personality characteristics are common to all people with substance abuse disorders.
Although the idea has some appeal, it is noteworthy that those identified as having a substance abuse problem have considerable personality differences.

The Drug Experience Drug Expectancies and Beliefs

Can exert powerful influences on the drug experience. One prominent factor is what a person expects to achieve when using a drug. This anticipation is called a drug expectancy.

The Drug Experience

Alcohol-related expectancies Have been investigated by conducting studies in which some participants are told they are drinking alcohol but actually receive a nonalcoholic placebo beverage.

The Drug Experience

Social and Environmental Factors
A persons experiences are strongly influenced by social and environmental (setting) factors.

Alcohol consumption is regarded as a recreational and social drug associated with enjoyment with friends and decreased inhibitions

Drug Addiction
An overwhelming involvement with a drug. feels a need to have it develops a tolerance to it, and has a strong tendency to resume use of it after stopping for a period.

Table 1.3 page 12

Alcohol and Drug Use In Canada

Polydrug Use
Some individuals use more than one drug regularly and may use different drugs together on the same occasion.

Looking at Subgroup Differences

In small groups explore the topics of subgroups [i.e. cultural influences; access to services and information; challenges for recovery and support] Subgroups:
First Nations Queer Youth homeless Transgender seniors

Next Week
Chapter two: History of Drug Use In-class Case Note practice exercises