Chapter 3 Social Problems

The younger the age a person begins drinking, the higher the probability that they will develop a drinking problem. True False

True

Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of disease and death in the world. True False

True

Use of all tobacco products is higher for high school graduates than college graduates. True False

True

One method to reduce alcohol and tobacco use is to simply increase the cost of the product. True False

True

Prescription painkillers are legal and so are the counterfeit pills created to mimic their effects. True False

True

Research demonstrates that child abuse contributes to alcohol and drug abuse in adulthood. True False

True

Secondary school students are more likely to report using e-cigarettes than conventional cigarettes. True False

True

Structural functionalists emphasize the importance of parenting in deterring drug abuse. True False

True

The conflict perspective analyzes the impact of social inequalities and oppression on drug use. True False

True

The recreational use of marijuana is legal in some states. True False

True

Marijuana is the most common substance used by people who are killed in traffic accidents. True False

False

The United States' war on drugs reflects a harm reduction position toward solving drug problems. True False

False

The popular D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program has been universally praised for its effectiveness. True False

False

Unlike synthetic drugs, the production of marijuana and opium has no appreciable negative effect on the environment. True False

False

Alcohol use and smoking among secondary school students have decreased over the last two decades. True False

True

Alcoholics Anonymous is a twelve-step program. True False

True

Biological theories focus on a connection between genes and a predisposition toward drug use. True False

True

Heroin use has increased among middle-class Americans in recent years. True False

True

In some countries, drug violations can result in the death penalty. True False

True

_____ theories propose that some individuals are predisposed to drug abuse. a) Biological b) Psychological c) Symbolic interactionist d) Conflict

a) Biological

Individuals whose incomes are below the poverty line and people of color may abuse drugs as a result of alienation from society because of unpleasant and low-paying jobs. Which of the following types of sociological explanations is illustrated here? a) Conflict theory b) Symbolic interactionist perspective c) Biological theory d) Structural-functionalist perspective

a) Conflict theory

_____ involves removing the penalties for certain drugs. a) Decriminalization b) Deregulation c) Medicalization d) Legalization

a) Decriminalization

_____ promotes a medical rather than criminal approach to drug use by encouraging users to seek treatment and adopting preventive practices. a) Decriminalization b) Legalization c) Harm reduction d) Deregulation

a) Decriminalization

Which of the following is considered drug abuse? a) Drug use that leads to arrest, divorce, or hospitalization b) Drug use that occurs on an infrequent basis c) Drug use that results in an altered state of being d) Drug use that does not violate acceptable social standards

a) Drug use that leads to arrest, divorce, or hospitalization

Janie injects an illegal drug as a painkiller that is an opium derivative. Which drug does she use? a) Heroin b) Methamphetamine c) Marijuana d) Cocaine

a) Heroin

_____ is the most commonly used illicit drug in the world. a) Marijuana b) Opium c) Cocaine d) Heroin

a) Marijuana

Which of the following drugs was legally available in the United States in the 1800s and the early 1900s? a) Opium b) Ecstasy c) Meth d) Rohypnol

a) Opium

Becker (1966) studied how marijuana users learn to ingest and enjoy the effects of marijuana. Which theoretical perspective does this study fit? a) Symbolic interactionist perspective b) Conflict perspective c) Structural-functionalist perspective d) Social pathology

a) Symbolic interactionist perspective

According to psychological theories of drug use, who is most susceptible to drug use? a) Victims of child abuse b) Those who feel they are invulnerable to stress c) Wealthier people d) Those who experience life as too easy

a) Victims of child abuse

The most widely used and abused drug in America is a) alcohol. b) heroin. c) marijuana. d) tobacco.

a) alcohol

As OxyContin and other painkillers become more difficult to obtain, users often turn to less expensive and more available drugs such as _____. a) heroin b) alcohol c) methamphetamine d) marijuana

a) heroin

An example of anomie at the societal level that could lead to increased drug and alcohol consumption is a) inconsistencies in media messages regarding drug and alcohol use. b) manipulation of symbols for political and economic means. c) an adolescent whose parents are experiencing divorce. d) estrangement from work, family, and friends as a result of oppression.

a) inconsistencies in media messages regarding drug and alcohol use.

The popular D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program was redesigned in 2009 because a) it was not effective in reducing drug use. b) it was misused by the police. c) it was found to be unconstitutional. d) it benefited only the wealthier kids.

a) it was not effective in reducing drug use.

Great Britain historically used a _____, seeing drug abuse as a psychological disorder. a) medical model of drug use b) war on drugs approach c) supply reduction strategy toward drugs d) zero-tolerance policy toward drug use

a) medical model of drug use

The _____ is largely associated with White and rural populations, and the public attention to it has been generally sympathetic and focused on a medical model to understand its causes and solutions. a) opioid crisis b) crack crisis c) marijuana crisis d) methamphetamine crisis

a) opioid crisis

The most common nonmedical use of psychotherapeutic drugs is as a) pain relievers. b) tranquilizers. c) stimulants. d) sedatives.

a) pain relievers

Tobacco advertisers have been found to target _____ more than others. a) people of color and women b) White men c) the wealthy d) college students

a) people of color and women

Some sociologists argue that drug use and crime may be linked because both are related to a) poverty. b) mental disorders. c) education. d) intelligence.

a) poverty.

In the United States, most federal money spent on substance abuse goes toward a) prevention. b) regulation. c) repairing damages caused by abuse. d) research.

a) prevention

Which of the following perspectives is most concerned with the effects of labels like "crackhead"? a) symbolic interactionist perspective b) Conflict perspective c) Feminist perspective d) Functionalist perspective

a) symbolic interactionist perspective

_____ is the leading preventable cause of death and disease worldwide. a) Use of tobacco b) Alcohol use c) Heroin use d) Cocaine use

a) use of tobacco

In the United States, users of illegal drugs are disproportionately a) young, male, and people of color. b) young, male, and White. c) over the age of 40, male, and White. d) women and people of color.

a) young, male, and people of color.

How is the term "drug" used sociologically? a) A chemical substance that alters the structure or functioning of a living organism when it enters the bloodstream b) A chemical substance that has a direct effect on the user's physical, psychological, and/or intellectual functioning c) A chemical substance that positively or negatively affects the immune system of the human body d) A chemical substance that is physically addictive

b) A chemical substance that has a direct effect on the user's physical, psychological, and/or intellectual functioning

_____ is characterized by serious physical and mental handicaps as a result of maternal drinking during pregnancy. a) Down syndrome b) Fetal alcohol syndrome c) Sudden infant death syndrome d) Infant gateway syndrome

b) Fetal alcohol syndrome

Which of the following is a twelve-step program? a) Drug court b) Narcotics Anonymous c) National Institute of Mental Health d) Standard in-patient treatment

b) Narcotics Anonymous

Use of all tobacco products, including smokeless tobacco, cigars, pipe tobacco, and cigarettes, is highest for a) non-Hispanic White people. b) Native Americans and Alaska Natives. c) Black Americans. d) Hispanic people.

b) Native Americans and Alaska Natives

How would conflict theorists explain differences in sentencing disparities between crack and cocaine possession? a) Crack is more dangerous than cocaine. b) People of the upper classes are more likely to use cocaine and have access to lawmaking power. c) Cocaine is part of our culture. d) More people use crack than cocaine.

b) People of the upper classes are more likely to use cocaine and have access to lawmaking power.

_____ is a substance abuse pattern that occurs when a user becomes dependent on two or more drugs simultaneously, typically having one dominant drug addiction and then a secondary addiction to a drug that helps to counteract the negative effects of the primary drug. a) Chemical dependency b) Polydrug abuse c) Supply reduction d) Gateway drug

b) Polydrug abuse

Which of the following is required for acceptance into Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous? a) Loss of job or an arrest because of alcohol and/or drug use b) The desire to stop using drugs or alcohol c) Recommendations from a member of the organization d) Referral from a physician or mental health professional

b) The desire to stop using drugs or alcohol

To which of the following can criminalization of opium use in the United States be traced? a) The high rate of death among laborers who used opium while building U.S. railroads b) The use of opium among Chinese immigrant laborers who threatened White jobs c) The high rate of birth defects linked to the use of opium by pregnant women d) The fear that White American youth would learn the techniques and motivations to use opium

b) The use of opium among Chinese immigrant laborers who threatened White jobs

Approximately 7.1 million current users of alcohol belong to which demographic group? a) Young adults b) Underage c) Older adults d) Middle age

b) Underage

The most common drug-related crime is a) assault. b) driving while intoxicated. c) burglary. d) robbery.

b) driving while intoxicated

Anomie explains drug abuse at the individual level as a) learning from associates to define the ingestion of a particular drug as pleasurable. b) feelings of estrangement and turmoil over appropriate or inappropriate behaviors. c) the ability of those in power to define a person's use of a particular drug as drug abuse. d) the process by which a drug abuser becomes labeled "immoral" or "criminal."

b) feelings of estrangement and turmoil over appropriate or inappropriate behaviors.

Kylee's baby was born with serious mental and physical handicaps because of Kylee's alcohol use. This baby has a) neonatal abstinence syndrome. b) fetal alcohol syndrome. c) Huntington's disease. d) the baby blues.

b) fetal alcohol syndrome

The most serious form of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a) caused by marijuana used during pregnancy. b) fetal alcohol syndrome. c) neonatal abstinence syndrome. d) caused by the use of e-cigarettes.

b) fetal alcohol syndrome.

Biological research on alcohol abuse has focused on the influence of _____ on alcohol addiction. a) blood type b) genetics c) stress d) physical body type

b) genetics

Recent state initiatives regarding drug use along with some federal initiatives supported by President Obama, such as needle exchange programs, are beginning to place more emphasis on _____ than in the past. a) supply reduction b) harm reduction c) demand reduction d) zero tolerance

b) harm reduction

According to the conflict perspective, alcohol is legal because it a) is one of the safest drugs available. b) is often consumed by those who have the power to define its acceptability. c) provides a pleasurable experience to people when they first try it. d) plays an important role in relieving social stress.

b) is often consumed by those who have the power to define its acceptability.

Proponents of _____ of drugs promote individual rights to make informed choices. a) deregulation b) decriminalization c) harm reduction d) legalization

b) legalization

In Great Britain today, a) heroin and cocaine are legally available for recreational use. b) officials are thinking of returning to a medical model of drug treatment rather than punishment. c) drug use is treated more harshly than it is in the United States. d) marijuana is viewed as a more dangerous drug than alcohol or tobacco.

b) officials are thinking of returning to a medical model of drug treatment rather than punishment.

Cocaine a) is produced from the poppy plant. b) produces feelings of excitation and alertness. c) is the most widely used illegal drug in North America. d) use has increased in recent years.

b) produces feelings of excitation and alertness.

The war on drugs has a) ended in the late 1990s. b) resulted in a significant amount of collateral damage. c) saved the U.S. government more money than the program costs. d) reduced other social problems such as unemployment, gang violence, and the spread of AIDS.

b) resulted in a significant amount of collateral damage.

Anti-cocaine sentiment in the United States emerged in the early 1900s in response to cocaine's heavy use among a) teenagers. b) urban Black individuals. c) European immigrants. d) pregnant women.

b) urban Black individuals

According to a survey conducted in 2020, how many current users of alcohol in the United States are underage (12-20 years old)? a) 5 million b) 3.3 million c) 7.1 million d) 8.3 million

c) 7.1 million

Which of the following is most likely to illustrate a psychological explanation of drug abuse? a) Inconsistent cultural norms b) The positive labeling of drug use c) A personality type that is prone to anxiety d) Feelings of alienation from society

c) A personality type that is prone to anxiety

What drug has been approved for medical use in 36 states and for recreational use in 15 states in the United States? a) Heroin b) Cocaine c) Marijuana d) Methamphetamine

c) Marijuana

Which of the following statements is true? a) Illegal drug use is most common in the Middle East. b) Women are more likely to smoke than men. c) Rates of smoking have declined over the years. d) Marijuana is illegal everywhere in the world.

c) Rates of smoking have declined over the years.

Which of the following statements is true regarding drug use and crime? a) Experimental studies show that individuals are 12 times more likely to commit a crime when under the influence of drugs. b) Surveys of prisoners show that nearly two-thirds were under the influence of drugs when they committed their offense. c) Sociologists disagree on whether drugs cause crime, criminal activity leads to drug involvement, or some other factor is related to crime and drug use. d) A meta-analysis of research studies shows no relationship between drug use and crime.

c) Sociologists disagree on whether drugs cause crime, criminal activity leads to drug involvement, or some other factor is related to crime and drug use.

According to research, there is evidence that when parents used a(n) _____ approach, teens were less likely to use drugs and alcohol. a) discipline b) silent c) active mediation d) restrictive

c) active mediation

Use of _____ kills more people than AIDS, tuberculosis, or violence. a) pharmaceutical drugs b) cocaine c) alcohol d) methamphetamine

c) alcohol

Heroin is a) increasing in popularity among American high school youth. b) a derivative of cocaine. c) an analgesic (painkiller). d) not physically addictive.

c) an analgesic (painkiller)

The most widely used illegal drug worldwide is a) amphetamines. b) opium. c) cannabis. d) cocaine.

c) cannabis

Which of the following terms refers to a condition of compulsive drug use? a) Drug abuse b) Illegal drug use c) Chemical dependency d) Illicit drug use

c) chemical dependency

Which of the following substances was used in the original formula for Coca-Cola? a) Opium b) Marijuana c) Cocaine d) Methamphetamine

c) cocaine

Which theoretical suggests that the criminalization of substances follows a pattern of social control of the powerless, political opponents, and/or people of color? a) Structural-functionalist perspective b) Social pathology c) Conflict perspective d) Symbolic interactionist perspective

c) conflict perspective

_____ is known as a crystallized illegal drug product produced by boiling a mixture of baking soda, water, and cocaine. a) OxyContin b) Marijuana c) Crack d) Heroin

c) crack

Approximately 1 in 20 people who have alcohol withdrawal symptoms will experience a condition known as _____, which occurs when the brain's chemistry has been significantly altered due to heavy, long-term alcohol use. a) demand reduction b) fetal alcohol syndrome c) delirium tremens d) overdose

c) delirium tremens

A _____ policy involves treatment and prevention. a) zero-tolerance b) supply reduction c) demand reduction d) legal sanction

c) demand reduction

The active ingredient in marijuana is THC, which in varying amounts can act as a sedative or a a) club drug. b) barbiturate. c) hallucinogen. d) stimulant.

c) hallucinogen.

Methamphetamine a) is also called crack. b) is not addictive. c) is a central nervous system stimulant. d) was not used or produced until the 21st century.

c) is a central nervous system stimulant.

Children of people with alcohol use disorder are a) likely to resist alcohol when they grow up. b) usually happier than might be expected. c) likely to suffer from mental health consequences that persist into adulthood. d) unhappy as children but do not seem to suffer from long-term effects.

c) likely to suffer from mental health consequences that persist into adulthood.

In recent studies, researchers tracked teens who had never used tobacco or marijuana and found that over a six-month period, those who checked _____ and text messages frequently had a higher likelihood of having started smoking tobacco or marijuana during that same time period. a) e-mails b) education forums c) social media d) brochures

c) social media

Research suggests males are more likely than females to drink heavily because of a) the likelihood of arrest. b) the personality type. c) socialization. d) genetic factors.

c) socialization.

A government approach to drug use that is a punitive strategy focusing on reducing the availability of drugs through international efforts, interdiction, and domestic law enforcement is called a) supply reduction. b) demand reduction. c) quality reduction. d) harm reduction.

c) supply reduction

Alcohol is least likely to be consumed in a) Australia. b) the United States. c) the Middle East. d) Europe.

c) the Middle East

The _____ is a government policy based on the belief that controlling drug availability will solve drug problems. a) harm reduction approach b) Drug-Free America Act c) war on drugs d) Obamacare plan

c) war on drugs

Which of these statements reflects the pharmacological use of the term "drug"? a) Anything that has a direct effect on the user's physical, psychological, and/or intellectual functioning b) Something that positively or negatively affects the immune system of the human body c) A substance that is physically addictive d) A substance that alters the structure or functioning of a living organism when it enters the bloodstream

d) A substance that alters the structure or functioning of a living organism when it enters the bloodstream

Which of the following conditions might produce anomie at the individual level? a) Drug use as part of a cultural tradition b) An adolescent being pressured by peers to try drugs c) Conflicting messages about drugs in the media d) An adolescent whose parents are experiencing a divorce

d) An adolescent whose parents are experiencing a divorce

Which of the following is an example of the harm reduction approach to drug use? a) Longer sentences for drug dealers b) Adding greater numbers of law enforcement officers to detect illicit drug use c) Disrupting drug production in other countries d) Distributing clean syringes to reduce the risk of HIV infection

d) Distributing clean syringes to reduce the risk of HIV infection

Which of the following involves collaboration between social workers and courts to provide a system of rewards and sanctions to treat addiction? a) Twelve-step programs b) In-patient treatment c) Therapeutic communities d) Drug courts

d) Drug courts

Children living with an addicted parent are a) unlikely to suffer ill effects. b) mostly drug-free as adults. c) affected socially but not academically. d) at risk for abuse.

d) Federally mandated 21-year-old drinking age laws

Which of the following is a psychotherapeutic drug? a) Heroin b) LSD c) Marijuana d) OxyContin

d) OxyContin

_____ is the nonmedical use of any prescription pain reliever, stimulant, sedative, or tranquilizer. a) Chemical dependency b) Harm reduction c) Substance use disorder d) Psychotherapeutic drugs

d) Psychotherapeutic drugs

Which of the following distinguishes physical dependency from psychological dependency? a) Legality b) Chemical dependency c) Drug addiction d) Withdrawal symptoms

d) Withdrawal symptoms

Many have argued that alcohol prohibition in 1920 was a) highly effective at reducing alcohol consumption. b) highly supported by the American population. c) modeled after a highly effective program in Canada. d) a "moral crusade" against immigrant groups.

d) a "moral crusade" against immigrant groups.

The structural-functionalist perspective is more likely than the conflict or symbolic interactionist perspective to view drug abuse as a) a response to the inequality perpetuated by the capitalist system. b) the consequence of a psychological predisposition to experience pleasure from drugs. c) learned through interaction in small groups. d) caused by the weakening of norms in society.

d) caused by the weakening of norms in society

Hashish a) comes from the coca plant. b) is less potent than marijuana. c) is processed from opium. d) comes from the top of the marijuana plant.

d) comes from the top of the marijuana plant.

If an individual internalizes the label of a "drug user," they are likely to a) quit using drugs of any kind. b) seek treatment for drug abuse. c) substitute legal for illegal drugs. d) continue and sometimes escalate drug use.

d) continue and sometimes escalate drug use.

Alcohol use and smoking among secondary school students _____ over the last two decades. a) stayed the same b) increased c) fluctuated dramatically d) decreased

d) decreased

Using marijuana for medical purposes is an example of a) legalization. b) decriminalization. c) medicalization. d) deregulation.

d) deregulation.

Drug courts are designed to a) develop guidelines for the legal sale and distribution of drugs. b) assist the families of drug-addicted felons. c) ensure the prosecution of drug-related crimes. d) divert drug offenders to treatment programs.

d) divert drug offenders to treatment programs

A drug that is believed to lead to the use of other drugs is referred to as a(n) a) club drug. b) illicit drug. c) starter kit. d) gateway drug.

d) gateway drug

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services defines _____ as those drinking five or more drinks per occasion on five or more days in a one-month period. a) drunks b) alcoholics c) partiers d) heavy drinkers

d) heavy drinkers

In the current debate over the legalization of marijuana, many are concerned that it a) will be used in ordinary food and drink products. b) will be used to facilitate sexual assault. c) could increase the death rate due to high levels of overdose. d) is a gateway drug.

d) is a gateway drug.

In the Netherlands, the use of such drugs as marijuana and hashish a) is viewed as a moral sin but not an illegal act. b) carries a penalty of life in prison. c) is prosecuted as a criminal misdemeanor, not a felony offense. d) is treated as a health issue, not a crime issue.

d) is treated as a health issue, not a crime issue.

Worldwide, 80 percent of the people who smoke cigarettes are from a) the Middle East. b) the United States. c) high-income countries. d) low- and middle-income countries.

d) low- and middle-income countries.

Over half of Americans believe _____ should be legal. a) methamphetamine b) opium c) cocaine d) marijuana

d) marijuana

Using treatment and prevention strategies is a way of dealing with drug use from a(n) a) penalty approach. b) war on drugs perspective. c) interdiction approach. d) medical model perspective.

d) medical model perspective.

Although _____ are legal (but highly regulated), the high demand for these drugs to treat chronic pain has driven a surge in the production of illegal counterfeit pills. a) hallucinogens b) synthetic drugs c) stimulants d) prescription painkillers

d) prescription painkillers

Children who live with at least one parent in need of treatment for drug and alcohol dependency are more likely to a) be unaffected by the parent's behavior. b) live in a conflict-free environment. c) avoid a similar fate when they are adults. d) suffer physical illness.

d) suffer physical illness.

The theoretical perspective that emphasizes that symbols can be manipulated and used for political and economic agendas is a) conflict theory. b) structural-functionalism. c) postmodernism. d) symbolic interactionism.

d) symbolic interactionism

According to the symbolic interactionist perspective, people who use drugs do so because a) they have a biological predisposition to drug addiction. b) they have been exploited and alienated by a capitalistic society. c) the society is in a state of anomie. d) they have learned to label the drug-using experience in positive terms.

d) they have learned to label the drug-using experience in positive terms.

Research shows that a) there is not much that can be done to prevent youth from smoking. b) smoking at young ages is relatively harmless. c) despite concern, there is no evidence that tobacco advertising creates increased demand. d) youth develop attitudes about smoking and tobacco at an early age.

d) youth develop attitudes about smoking and tobacco at an early age.