Adolescent Drug Use in Maryland

This research describes drug use by youths in Maryland. Drugs, for the purpose of this research, are defined as the illegal use of controlled substances. Youths, as the term is used in this research refers to persons under the age of 18 years old and over the age of 11 years old regardless of gender. Within the context of these definitions, tobacco is a drug for purposes of this research. Where possible and appropriate, the geographic emphasis in this research is placed on the Baltimore region.

The Character of Drug Use in American Society

In contemporary American society, the "use of certain substances to modify mood or behavior under certain circumstances is generally regarded as normal and appropriate. Such use includes recreational drinking of alcohol, in which a majority of adult Americans participate . . ." (American Psychiatric Association 165). Problems for most people develop when "maladaptive behavioral changes associated with the more or less regular use of psychoactive substances that affect the central nervous system" appear (165).

Most "adults in the United States are light drinkers. About 35% abstain, 55% drink fewer that three alcoholic drinks a week, and only 11% consume an average of one ounce or more of alcohol a day" (American Psychiatric Association 173). The prevalence of drinking is highest and abstention lowest for both females and males in the 21-34 age range. Males are two-to-five times more like

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ree main patterns of chronic alcohol abuse or dependency are recognized (American Psychiatric Association 173). The first pattern involves the daily intake of large quantities of alcohol, while the second pattern involves regular heavy drinking that is limited to the weekends, and the third pattern is characterized by long periods of sobriety interspersed with "binges of heavy drinking lasting for weeks or months. It is a mistake to associate one of these particular patterns exclusively with 'alcoholism'" (173). Motivations for Youth Substance Abuse Among teenagers, alcohol consumption has been linked to sensation-seeking behavior (Wood, Cochran, Pfefferbaum, and Arneklev 173-193). Thrill-seeking, immediate gratification, and impulsivity held explain alcohol consumption among teenagers. The anticipated rewards of drinking for teenagers are fun, thrills, and excitement. Teenagers also are motivated to drink through an expectancy that social facilitation will be derived from the consumption of alcohol (Smith, Goldman, Greenbaum, and Christiansen, 32-40). The expectancy of social facilitation is linked to perceptions of physical attractiveness and sex appeal. The body of literature related to the association between alcohol

Category: Psychology - A