Essay Questions
2. What are the characteristics of substance abuse?
Key Points:
- Drugs and alcohol both have negative effects on our health and ability to function, especially when used repeatedly.
- The two substance-use disorders – abuse and dependence.
- Physical dependence versus psychological dependence.
- Effects of substance abuse/dependence.
- Characteristics of substance abuse/dependence.
- Causes of substance abuse/dependence (e.g. biological, psychosocial).
- Disentangling causes and consequences.
- The abstinence violation effect.
- The notion of the ‘addictive’ personality.
- The multiple risk factor perspective
