NCJ Number
72674
Editor(s)
D R Maloff,
P K Levison
Date Published
1980
Length
192 pages
Annotation
Conference papers and discussions are presented on the general subject of controls that limit or amplify substance use and its effects.
Abstract
The material presented gives attention to a wide range of substance use behaviors that fall between abstinence and excessive use and to the variables that influence these behaviors. People learn appropriate substance use from familiar or respected others who encourage and reward particular behavior patterns. When, where, with whom, and how much one uses a substance is to some degree regulated by group norms and sanctions. Similarly, social learning and group norms provide guidelines for how to behave 'under the influence' and suggest what substance effects to expect. These and similar issues are examined in one of the papers. The second presentation discusses issues related to the acquisition of data on controlled substance use. This relates to how knowledge of control factors in the United States can be upgraded and extended. The third paper, 'Redemption of the Overuser,' examines how society defines and attempts to control overusers and transform them into abstainers or controlled users. The fourth paper develops the thesis that genetic factors in the ethanol intake control system can be studied in animal models to aid the understanding of alcohol intake patterns in humans. Conference comments and general discussions on each paper are presented. References for each presentation are listed, and, where appropriate, tabular and graphic data are provided.