The Truth About Drugs (Truth About)

207 Pages·2005·0.92 MB·English

by  Mark J.

THE TRUTH ABOUT
DRUGS

THE TRUTH ABOUT
DRUGS
MARK J. KITTLESON, PH.D.
Southern Illinois University
General Editor
WILLIAM KANE, PH.D.
University of New Mexico
Adviser
RICHELLE RENNEGARBE, PH.D.
McKendree College
Adviser
Bruce Ragon
Principal Author
The Truth About Drugs
Copyright ©2005 by BOOK BUILDERS LLC
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by
any information storage or retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the
publisher. For information contact:
Facts On File, Inc.
132 West 31st Street
New York NY 10001
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
The truth about drugs / Mark J. Kittleson, general editor; William Kane, adviser;
Richelle Rennegarbe, adviser; Bruce Ragon, principal author.
p. cm.
Includes index
ISBN 0-8160-5299-9 (hc: alk. paper)
1. Drugs of abuse—Encyclopedias. 2. Drug abuse—Encyclopedias. I. Kittleson, Mark J.,
1952– II. Ragon, Bruce
RM316.T78 2004
362.29—dc22 2004015217
Facts On File books are available at special discounts when purchased in bulk quan-
tities for businesses, associations, institutions, or sales promotions. Please call our
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Text design by David Strelecky
Cover design by Cathy Rincon
Graphs by Sholto Ainslie and Patricia Meschino
Printed in the United States of America
MP Hermitage 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
This book is printed on acid-free paper.
CONTENTS
List of Illustrations vii
Preface ix
How to Use This Book xi
Addictive Behaviors and Drugs 1
A to Z Entries 7
Club and Designer Drugs 9
Crack Cocaine 15
Dependence and Addiction 23
Depression and Drugs 27
Driving Under the Influence of Drugs 31
Drug Abuse, Causes of 35
Drug Use, History of 42
Drugs and Criminal Activity 52
Drugs and Development 58
Drugs and Disease 69
Drugs and Drinking 74
Families, Communities, and Drug Abuse 78
Gangs and Drugs 86
Homicide 89
Illegal Drugs, Common 94
Inhalants 103
Injection Drugs 106
Law on Drugs, The 109
Media Messages and Counteradvertising Campaigns 117
Morbidity and Mortality 123
Over-the-Counter Drugs 127
Overdose and Drugs 132
Peer Pressure and Drugs 138
Rehabilitation and Treatment 142
Risk Factors and Risk Taking 149
School Performance and Drug Abuse 154
Sexual Behavior and Drug Abuse 159
Steroids, Anabolic 164
Workplace Drug Abuse 168
Hotlines and Help Sites 173
Glossary 177
Index 183
LIST OF
ILLUSTRATIONS
AND TABLES
Perceived Availability of Drugs Among Teens 82
Percentage of Youth Gangs Involved in Street
Drug Sales, by Region 88
Motives for Murder in the U.S., 1990 92
Teenagers Who Have Used Illicit Drugs 102
AIDS Cases Among Injection Drug Users 109
Drug Schedules 112
References to Drug and Alcohol Use in Rap Music 120
Number of Deaths Attributed to Drug Abuse,
1992–1998 125
Prescription and OTC Drug Admissions by Sex 131
Risk of Overdose in Combination with Other Factors 136
Other Rehabilitation Programs 147
Academic Performance and Drug Use 155
Positive Results in Workplace Drug Tests 171
vii

PREFACE
In developing The Truth About series, we have taken time to review
some of the most pressing problems facing our youth today. Issues such
as alcohol and drug abuse, depression, family problems, sexual activ-
ity, and eating disorders are at the top of a list of growing concerns. It
is the intent of these books to provide vital facts while also dispelling
myths about these terribly important and all-too-common situations.
These are authoritative resources that kids can turn to in order to get
an accurate answer to a specific question or to research the history of
a problem, giving them access to the most current related data avail-
able. It is also a reference for parents, teachers, counselors, and others
who work with youth and require detailed information.
Let’s take a brief look at the issues associated with each of those
topics. Alcohol and drug use and abuse continue to be a national con-
cern. Today’s young people often use drugs to avoid life’s extraordi-
nary pressures. In doing so they are losing their ability to learn how
to cope effectively. Without the internal resources to cope with pres-
sure, adolescents turn increasingly back to addictive behaviors. As a
result, the problems and solutions are interrelated. Also, the speed
with which the family structure is changing often leaves kids with no
outlet for stress and no access to support mechanisms.
In addition, a world of youth faces the toughest years of their lives,
dealing with the strong physiological urges that accompany sexual
desire. Only when young people are presented the facts honestly,
without indoctrination, are they likely to connect risk taking with cer-
tain behaviors. This reference set relies on knowledge as the most
important tool in research and education.
ix