drug & beh txt 1-3

I. Comprehension Quiz

Answer each question in 2-3 sentences.

1. Explain how the media can influence public perception and potentially popularize drug use.

2. Describe the four principles of psychoactive drugs and provide a brief example for each.

3. What are the four pillars of Canada's Drug and Substances Strategy?

4. How do risk and protective factors influence adolescent drug use, and what are some examples of each?

5. Explain the relationship between religious involvement and drug use, according to the source.

6. Differentiate between acute and chronic toxicity, giving an example of each.

7. Distinguish between physical and psychological dependence, highlighting which is considered the primary driver of addiction.

8. Describe how economic factors can contribute to drug-related crime.

9. Explain the three key concerns (toxicity, dependence, and crime) that led to the emergence of drug laws in Canada.

10. Outline Health Canada's role in regulating pharmaceuticals.

II. Comprehension Quiz - Answer Key

1. The media often highlights specific drugs ("drug du jour"), potentially sensationalizing their effects and inadvertently making them seem appealing or prevalent. This can lead to increased curiosity and experimentation, especially among vulnerable populations.

2. The four principles are: (1) drugs are neither good nor bad (e.g., morphine can be a painkiller or abused); (2) every drug has multiple effects (e.g., alcohol affects the brain and liver); (3) effects depend on dosage (e.g., low dose of a stimulant vs. a high dose); and (4) effects depend on individual history and expectations (e.g., prior experiences influencing reactions).

3. The four pillars are prevention (reducing consumption and risks), treatment (supporting those with substance use disorders), harm reduction (minimizing negative consequences), and enforcement (strengthening laws against illicit drug activities).

4. Risk factors increase the likelihood of drug use (e.g., friends who use drugs, positive attitudes towards drug use), while protective factors decrease the likelihood (e.g., strong school sanctions, parental support). Cumulative risk means that the more risk factors an adolescent experiences, the greater the chance of drug use.

5. Religious involvement, including regular attendance and faith-based decision-making, is consistently correlated with lower rates of smoking, drinking, and drug use. Religious adolescents tend to prioritize values like trust, honesty, and hard work, which may contribute to lower risk behaviors.

6. Acute toxicity refers to immediate harmful effects from a single use (e.g., heroin overdose), while chronic toxicity refers to long-term effects from prolonged drug use (e.g., liver damage from alcohol).

7. Physical dependence is characterized by withdrawal symptoms upon cessation of drug use, while psychological dependence involves cravings, frequent use, and drug-seeking behaviors. Psychological dependence, driven by the reinforcing effects of the drug, is now considered the primary driver of addiction.

8. The high cost of illicit drugs on the black market can lead users to commit economic crimes, such as theft and property crimes, to obtain money to support their addiction. The inflated prices created by illegal markets exacerbate this issue.

9. The three concerns were toxicity (dangerous chemicals sold without warnings), dependence (habit-forming drugs sold without guidance), and crime (linking drug use to violent behavior). These factors influenced the enactment of the Opium Act of 1908, Canada's first drug law.

10. Health Canada's HPFB is responsible for ensuring the safety, effectiveness, and quality of pharmaceuticals, vaccines, vitamins, and medical devices. They oversee the new drug approval process, including clinical trials, and issue Notices of Compliance and Drug Identification Numbers for approved drugs.

III. Essay Questions

1. Discuss the evolution of drug laws in Canada, highlighting the social, economic, and political factors that have shaped these policies.

2. Compare and contrast the four pillars of Canada's Drug and Substances Strategy. In your opinion, which pillar is the most effective and why?

3. Analyze the role of media in shaping public perception of drug use. Provide specific examples and discuss the potential consequences of sensationalist reporting.

4. Critically evaluate the concept of "dependence," distinguishing between physical and psychological dependence. How has our understanding of dependence evolved over time, and what are the implications for treatment and prevention?

5. Discuss the relationship between drug use and crime. Does drug use cause crime, or are both the result of underlying factors? Consider the economic, psychopharmacological, and sociocultural dimensions of this relationship.

IV. Glossary of Key Terms

• Acute Toxicity: Harmful effects of a drug that occur immediately or shortly after a single use.

• Addiction: A complex condition characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use despite harmful consequences.

• Canada Drugs and Substances Strategy: Canada's national strategy to address drug and alcohol-related harm through prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and enforcement.

• Chronic Toxicity: Harmful effects of a drug that occur after prolonged or repeated use.

• Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA): Canadian federal law regulating the possession, production, distribution, and importation of controlled substances.

• Dependence (Physical): Physiological adaptation to drug use, characterized by withdrawal symptoms when drug use ceases.

• Dependence (Psychological): A state in which a person feels compelled to use a drug, often driven by the pleasurable effects or relief it provides.

• Drug: Any substance that, when taken into the body, alters its functioning physically and/or psychologically.

• Drug Treatment Court (DTC): Specialized court designed to address substance use disorders among offenders through treatment and rehabilitation programs.

• Harm Reduction: Policies and programs aimed at minimizing the negative health, social, and economic consequences associated with drug use without necessarily requiring abstinence.

• Health Canada: The federal department responsible for national health policy and for helping Canadians maintain and improve their health.

• Laissez-Faire: A policy or attitude of letting things take their own course, without interfering; in this context, minimal government regulation of drugs.

• National Health Products (NHP): Natural health products such as vitamins, minerals, herbal remedies, and homeopathic medicines, regulated by the Natural Health Products Directorate (NHPD) of Health Canada.

• Notice of Compliance (NOC): Official notification issued by Health Canada when a new drug meets the required safety, efficacy, and quality standards for sale in Canada.

• Opium Act of 1908: Canada's first drug law, which prohibited the import, manufacture, and sale of opium for non-medical purposes.

• Protective Factors: Characteristics or conditions that reduce the likelihood of drug use.

• Psychoactive Drug: A chemical substance that alters brain function, resulting in changes in perception, mood, consciousness, cognition, or behavior.

• Risk Factors: Characteristics or conditions that increase the likelihood of drug use.

• Tolerance: The diminishing effect of a drug with repeated use, requiring increased doses to achieve the same effect.