Ch 21: Substance Use & Abuse
About This Chapter
Substance Use & Abuse - Chapter Summary
In this chapter, our instructors describe common substances of abuse and discuss substance use, abuse, and dependence. You will be introduced to common illegal drugs and their names, legal substances of abuse, and commonly used over-the-counter (OTC) medications. This chapter discusses physical consequences, both short and long-term, of various kinds of drug use.
You'll learn about tobacco and its potential for addiction as well as its short-term effects. Long-term consequences of smoking will also be explored as will dependence on stimulants. As you progress through this chapter, you can study the effects of substance use on health and chronic conditions and learn about approaches used to treat individuals with substance use problems. After completing this chapter, you should be able to:
- Discuss nicotine and its addictive properties
- Define substance use, abuse and dependence and distinguish among them
- Recognize dependence on stimulants, including amphetamines and cocaine
- Identify the safety and efficacy of OTC medications
- Recognize the physical consequences of drug abuse
- Explain the common modalities used to treat individuals with substance abuse disorders
The lessons are presented in short, engaging videos that capture and hold your interest. They are supplemented with self-assessment quizzes and lesson transcripts. You will be presented with key terms for the important concepts presented, and video timelines you can use to find exactly the spot you wish to review on any of the videos. All of these lessons were designed and written by experts in the field.

1. The Effects of Alcohol: Physiological, Behavioral & Long-Term
If you've ever wondered why men seem to tolerate alcohol better than women or what alcohol does to the body and mind, then tune into this lesson for more information.

2. Tobacco Use: Addiction and Short-Term Effects
In this lesson, you will learn about why it is that smoking is so addictive and what the short-term consequences of tobacco use will result in. You will also find out how nicotine plays an important role in all of this.

3. Smoking: Long-Term Consequences
In this lesson, we will look at why smoking is so harmful to your health from a chemical perspective. After that, we will discuss exactly what smoking causes in the long run. You'll be surprised to learn that lung cancer is the least of your concerns.

4. Common Illegal Drugs and Their Names
The names law enforcement may formally use for illicit substances aren't likely to be the names of the drugs out on the streets. This lesson will teach you about some famous drugs and their more common street names.

5. Substance Use, Abuse, and Dependence: Definition and Causes of Substance Disorders
Substance use, abuse, and dependence are often confused with each other. In this lesson, we'll look at the differences between the three and common causes of addiction.

6. Substance Dependence: Definition, Treatment & Symptoms
In this lesson, you will learn what substance dependence is, what it looks like, and how it is commonly treated. You will also learn the DSM-IV criteria that define substance dependence.

7. Stimulant Dependence: Amphetamines and Cocaine
Many people take stimulants like caffeine in small doses every day. But what happens when someone becomes dependent on stimulants? In this lesson, we'll look at the effects of stimulants, including two commonly abused stimulants, cocaine and amphetamines.

8. GRAS & GRAE: Safety & Efficacy of Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medications
This lesson will explain what the term 'generally recognized as safe and effective' (GRASE, GRAS/E, GRASE/GRAE) means and how that is determined. We will also discuss over-the-counter medication approval.

9. Treating Substance-Related Disorders: Biological, Behavioral and Psychodynamic Approaches
Millions of people suffer from alcohol and drug addiction. How do people get over addiction? In this lesson, we'll look at four different approaches to substance use treatment.

10. Drug Abuse and Addictions Counseling
This lesson looks into current and fundamental knowledge of drug abuse and addiction counselors by exploring the terminology and typology of addiction and substances.
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Other Chapters
Other chapters within the NYSTCE Health Education (073): Practice and Study Guide course
- Human Growth & Development
- Childhood Growth & Development
- Adolescence Growth & Development
- Adult Growth & Development
- Pregnancy, Prenatal Care & Childbirth
- Introduction to Health & Wellness
- Introduction to Disease & Illness
- Mental Distress, Depression & Suicide
- Basic Principles of Nutrition
- Carbohydrates in Nutrition
- Lipids in Nutrition
- Protein in Nutrition
- Water as a Nutrient
- Minerals & Nutrition
- Vitamins in Nutrition
- Eating Disorders & Treatments
- Benefits of Physical Fitness
- Health Risk Education
- Injury Prevention Strategies
- Environmental Health & Protection
- Human Sexuality & Health
- Communication Processes & Skills
- Family & Social Systems
- Discrimination, Aggression & Conflict
- Media & Advertising of Health Information
- Resources for Health Information
- Health Care Systems
- Governmental Health Regulations
- Understanding Health Education Programs
- Education Strategies & Methods
- Assessments in Health Education Programs
- NYSTCE Health Education Flashcards