The Allure of Drugs: Origins of DrugTaking Behavior

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The Allure of DrugsOrigins of Drug-Taking
Behavior

• FWS 235

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Why do people chose to use?

• What makes adolescents try drugs?
• What makes college students try new drugs?
• What makes adults try drugs they have never tried
  before?
• Experimentation, change of mood/state?

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Drug use and abuse

• What makes drug use responsible or irresponsible?
• These things start to happen when an individual
  abuses drugs (legal or illegal)
• Loss of self
• Loss of goals and reality
• Neglect of responsibilities
• Failing relationships
• Failing health

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A drug for every pain

• America seems to feel that a drug can cure every
  ailment.
• Drugs are valued in America from youth to adults.
• The drug industry is a multi-million industry
  that produces new drugs every year.
• Media-does it sell drugs? (songs, TV, magazines,
  movies, etc.

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Behavioral Analysis

• Predisposing factors
• - Demographics, culture, personal psychological
  characteristics, coping strategy, changes in
  society, genetics
• Enabling factors
• Availability of drugs, accessibility, social and
  institutional deficiencies, peer pressures
• Reinforcing factors
• - Positive first experiences, approval of use,
  media influence, self-fulfilling prophecy of drug

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What can families do?

• Strong family support
• Family modeling
• Strong drug-free role models
• Censor media?
• Consequences for drug use

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Etiological factors

• What do you think causes experimentation and
  dependence on drugs?
• Genetics
• Biological
• Psychological
• Psychiatric disorder
• Environment (parents, culture, stress)

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Reflection

• What positive activities would you suggest for
  people to fulfill their need for a high?
• How can the youth rebellion be channeled for more
  productive endeavors?