drugs and our society drug taking behavior part 2

Drugs and Our Drugs and Our SocietySociety

Drug Taking BehaviorDrug Taking Behavior

Part 2Part 2

Personal and Social Personal and Social ConcernsConcerns1.1. Drugs impact every facet of our livesDrugs impact every facet of our lives

-- fetus / children / adolescents / college fetus / children / adolescents / college students / students / young adults / homemakers / poor people / the young adults / homemakers / poor people / the affluent / the elderlyaffluent / the elderly

2.2. Drugs are deeply embedded in the human psycheDrugs are deeply embedded in the human psyche-- there is a tendency to use drugs to deal with there is a tendency to use drugs to deal with all of our all of our problems and fearsproblems and fears-- pain / frustration / personal problems / social pain / frustration / personal problems / social

interactions / disappointmentsinteractions / disappointments3.3. Drug abuse is an expensive problemDrug abuse is an expensive problem

-- Office of National Drug Control PolicyOffice of National Drug Control Policy-- health and social costs: health and social costs: $67 billion $67 billion annuallyannually

Untreated alcohol and Untreated alcohol and drug usersdrug users

1.1. Fill anywhere from a low of 10% to a high of Fill anywhere from a low of 10% to a high of 50% of hospital beds nationwide50% of hospital beds nationwide

-- mostly for treatment secondary to the mostly for treatment secondary to the addictionaddiction

2.2. Of all persons admitted to general hospitalsOf all persons admitted to general hospitals

-- 20% to 40% have 20% to 40% have alcohol-relatedalcohol-related problems problems

3.3. The economic cost of alcohol abuse in the The economic cost of alcohol abuse in the United States is estimated at over $185 billionUnited States is estimated at over $185 billion

-- US Department of Health and Human US Department of Health and Human ServicesServices

-- medical / work loss / abuse / neglect / medical / work loss / abuse / neglect / criminalcriminal

Drug Abuse Warning Drug Abuse Warning NetworkNetworkDAWNDAWN

1.1. The federal government monitors ER The federal government monitors ER visits for drug abusevisits for drug abuse

-- both for non-lethal ER visits and fatal both for non-lethal ER visits and fatal arrivalsarrivals

2.2. Today, the most common are: Today, the most common are:

-- methamphetamine methamphetamine

-- cocaine cocaine

-- heroin heroin

-- an alcohol-combinationan alcohol-combination

3.3. Over 10,000 drug-abuse deaths annuallyOver 10,000 drug-abuse deaths annually

Jails and PrisonsJails and Prisons1.1. More than ¾’s of all prison inmates had More than ¾’s of all prison inmates had

been involved with drugs to some extentbeen involved with drugs to some extent

2.2. More than 500,000 people are in American More than 500,000 people are in American jails on any given day for violating a drug jails on any given day for violating a drug lawlaw

3.3. Almost $28 billion was spent in 2011 to Almost $28 billion was spent in 2011 to combat drug abusecombat drug abuse

4.4. Two-thirds of this money will be used for Two-thirds of this money will be used for domestic law enforcementdomestic law enforcement

-- in an attempt to reduce the drug in an attempt to reduce the drug supplysupply

-- this increases the importation of drugsthis increases the importation of drugs

Prescription Drug Use in Prescription Drug Use in the USthe US

1.1. Over 2 billion prescriptions are dispensed in Over 2 billion prescriptions are dispensed in the US every yearthe US every year

-- and most prescriptions have several refillsand most prescriptions have several refills

2.2. Prescriptions drugs total $85 billion yearlyPrescriptions drugs total $85 billion yearly

-- with over-the-counter drugs costing $13 with over-the-counter drugs costing $13 billionbillion

3.3. Pharmaceutical companies spend more on Pharmaceutical companies spend more on marketing than on research and developmentmarketing than on research and development

Student InvolvementStudent Involvement::

Watch television this evening and list the Watch television this evening and list the number and types of drug commercials seen.number and types of drug commercials seen.

Drug Abuse by the Drug Abuse by the ElderlyElderly

1.1. Among Americans 60 years of age and older, Among Americans 60 years of age and older, drug abuse is becoming an epidemicdrug abuse is becoming an epidemic

2.2. Older adults are not necessarily abusing illicit Older adults are not necessarily abusing illicit substancessubstances-- it is abuse of alcohol and prescription it is abuse of alcohol and prescription drugsdrugs-- this is one of the fastest growing health this is one of the fastest growing health problems problems in the United Statesin the United States

3.3. Misuse affects up to 17% of older AmericansMisuse affects up to 17% of older Americans-- 2.5 million have alcohol-related problems2.5 million have alcohol-related problems- - misuse of over-the-counter drugs with a misuse of over-the-counter drugs with a high high alcohol content, such as cough alcohol content, such as cough suppressantssuppressants

Drugs in the WorkplaceDrugs in the Workplace1.1. Drug abuse costs American employers $120 Drug abuse costs American employers $120

billion annuallybillion annually

2.2. 8% of full-time workers used an illicit drug 8% of full-time workers used an illicit drug during the previous monthduring the previous month

-- 9% of part-time workers did9% of part-time workers did

3.3. 9% of workers drank heavily the previous 9% of workers drank heavily the previous monthmonth

4.4. Alcoholism results in 500 million lost work Alcoholism results in 500 million lost work days annuallydays annually

-- chemically dependent 3.6 times more chemically dependent 3.6 times more likely to have likely to have accidents in the workplaceaccidents in the workplace

How to Cope with Drugs in How to Cope with Drugs in the Workplacethe Workplace

1.1. Employee Assistance Programs (EAPS)Employee Assistance Programs (EAPS)

-- help workers deal with personal problems help workers deal with personal problems and and substance abusesubstance abuse

-- many are voluntarymany are voluntary

-- some are mandatory with a choice of being some are mandatory with a choice of being fired fired

2.2. EAPS use in companies has shown great promiseEAPS use in companies has shown great promise

-- it has reduced absenteeism by 29%it has reduced absenteeism by 29%

-- it has reduced injuries by 82%it has reduced injuries by 82%

-- it has increased the number of employees in it has increased the number of employees in rehabrehab

Drug TestingDrug Testing1.1. The President’s Commission on Organized The President’s Commission on Organized

Crime in 1986 advocated all federal workers Crime in 1986 advocated all federal workers be drug-testedbe drug-tested

-- federal contracts were to be withheld federal contracts were to be withheld from private from private companies who did not drug testcompanies who did not drug test

2.2. Just how effective is drug testing?Just how effective is drug testing?

-- among full-time workers (ages 18 to 49)among full-time workers (ages 18 to 49)

-- 35% tested at time of employment35% tested at time of employment

-- 20% were subject to random testing20% were subject to random testing

-- 28% if supervisor had reasonable 28% if supervisor had reasonable suspicionsuspicion

-- 23% following a work-related accident23% following a work-related accident

Drug Testing, cont.Drug Testing, cont.1.1. Illicit drug use higher in small businesses (1 – Illicit drug use higher in small businesses (1 –

24)24)

-- smaller companies are testing moresmaller companies are testing more

2.2. 70% of illegal drug users are employed full-time70% of illegal drug users are employed full-time

-- 77% of the above are heavy drinkers77% of the above are heavy drinkers

3.3. Highest rate:Highest rate:

-- construction workers: handlers, helpers, construction workers: handlers, helpers, laborerslaborers

4.4. Lowest rate:Lowest rate:

-- child protective serviceschild protective services

5.5. Police officers have high rates of heavy drinking Police officers have high rates of heavy drinking and alcoholismand alcoholism

Drugs and the FamilyDrugs and the Family1.1. Drug use has not been proven to increase Drug use has not been proven to increase

marital separation and divorcemarital separation and divorce

-- but an association does existbut an association does exist

2.2. Women with alcohol-dependent partners do Women with alcohol-dependent partners do have significantly more family and marital have significantly more family and marital problemsproblems

3.3. Women subjected to violence have higher rates Women subjected to violence have higher rates of alcohol dependenceof alcohol dependence

-- as well as other drug abuse problemsas well as other drug abuse problems

4.4. Adolescents who are emotionally close to their Adolescents who are emotionally close to their mothers are less likely to drink alcoholmothers are less likely to drink alcohol

-- closeness to father does not have same closeness to father does not have same effecteffect

Study of Married PeopleStudy of Married People1.1. People between the ages of 28 and 31 are less People between the ages of 28 and 31 are less

likely to use drugs if:likely to use drugs if:-- they married in their early 20’s and stay they married in their early 20’s and stay marriedmarried-- married in late 20’smarried in late 20’s-- those who had childrenthose who had children

2.2. Marriage and alcoholMarriage and alcohol-- reduced their use during first year of reduced their use during first year of marriagemarriage-- decreased significantly after parenthooddecreased significantly after parenthood-- women whose husbands died, more likely to women whose husbands died, more likely to useuse

3.3. Marijuana: more likely to delay marriage/childrenMarijuana: more likely to delay marriage/children

Parents in NeedParents in Need1.1. 6% of children have one parent in need of 6% of children have one parent in need of

illicit drug treatmentillicit drug treatment2.2. 4% have a parent who is dependent on 4% have a parent who is dependent on

illicit drugsillicit drugs3.3. 8% have a parent dependent on alcohol8% have a parent dependent on alcohol4.4. 50% have at least one parent who smokes50% have at least one parent who smokes5.5. Parental substance abuse: almost 2/3’s Parental substance abuse: almost 2/3’s

have a child in the welfare systemhave a child in the welfare system6.6. It is a prominent factor in child abuse and It is a prominent factor in child abuse and

domestic abusedomestic abuse-- 30% of all substantiated child abuse 30% of all substantiated child abuse casescases