Recreational Drugs Policy

2020 ◽  
pp. 113-134
Author(s):  
Keith Dowding
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
The Other ◽  
Social Effects ◽  
Recreational Drug ◽  
Recreational Drugs ◽  
The Social ◽  
Recreational Drug Use ◽  
The Usa ◽  
History Of ◽  
Drug Decriminalization

This chapter examines the history of regulating recreational drugs in the USA, UK and Australia. It shows that the criminalization of recreational drugs is a relatively recent phenomenon, based not on citizen welfare but on fears that drugs affect the nation’s ability to wage war, whilst some early legislation was openly racist. It argues that the continued justification of drug criminalization is moralistic and has racist underpinnings. It suggests that whilst the social problems of recreational drug use are serious, they are no more serious than those of alcohol or gambling, and legalization has many advantages over continued criminalization. It examines the results of drug decriminalization in Portugal, and the likely practicality and social effects should recreational drugs be legalized. It argues that such legalization would also require careful regulation, much as we have for drugs manufactured for medical purposes. It compares the policy stance of governments on recreational drugs to that on the other issues discussed in this book.

Does the Presence of On-Site Medical Services at Outdoor Music Festivals Affect Attendees’ Planned Alcohol and Recreational Drug Use?

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Alison Hutton ◽  
Matthew Brendan Munn ◽  
Sydney White ◽  
Peter Kara ◽  
Jamie Ranse
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Great Majority ◽  
Safety Net ◽  
Medical Services ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Recreational Drug ◽  
Recreational Drugs ◽  
Mandatory Requirement ◽  
Recreational Drug Use

Abstract Background: Dedicated on-site medical services have long been recommended to improve health outcomes at mass-gathering events (MGEs). In many countries, they are being reviewed as a mandatory requirement. While it is known that perceptions of risk shape substance use plans amongst outdoor music festival (OMF) attendees, it is unclear if attendees perceive the presence of on-site medical services as a part of the safety net. The aim of this paper is to better understand whether attendees’ perceptions of on-site medical services influence high-risk behaviors like alcohol and recreational drug use at OMFs. Method: A questionnaire was distributed to a random sample of attendees entering and attending two separate 20,000-person OMFs; one in Canada (Festival A) and one in New Zealand (Festival B). Responses focused on demographics, planned alcohol and recreational drug use, perceptions of medical services, and whether the absence of medical services would impact attendees’ planned substance use. Results: A total of 851 (587 and 264 attendees for Festival A and Festival B, respectively) attendees consented and participated. Gender distribution was equal and average ages were 23 to 25. At Festival A, 48% and 89% planned to use alcohol and recreational drugs, respectively, whereas at Festival B, it was 92% and 44%. A great majority were aware and supportive of the presence of medical services at both festivals, and a moderate number considered them a factor in attendance and something they would not attend without. There was significant (>10%) agreement (range 11%-46%; or 2,200-9,200 attendees for a 20,000-person festival) at both festivals that the absence of medical services would affect attendees’ planned use of alcohol and recreational drugs. Conclusions: This study found that attendees surveyed at two geographically and musically distinct OMFs had high but differing rates of planned alcohol and recreational drug use, and that the presence of on-site medical services may impact attendees’ perceptions of substance use risk. Future research will aim to address the limitations of this study to clarify these findings and their implications.

A Subcultural Study of Recreational Ecstasy Use

2004 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Gourley
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Research Methods ◽  
Social Involvement ◽  
Recreational Drug ◽  
The Social ◽  
Recreational Drug Use ◽  
Shared Understandings

This article looks at the extent to which subcultural theories of deviance are still relevant to understanding recreational drug use, given the relatively widespread nature of drug use among today’s youth. In order to determine this, the social and subcultural use of the recently popular drug ‘ecstasy’ (MDMA) is examined using the research methods of semi-structured interviewing and observation. The data suggest that ecstasy use is a manifestation of a broad social involvement in a subculture of drug use. It is argued that subcultural theories of deviance provide an important understanding of ecstasy use in today’s society. A main conclusion drawn from the data is that the meaning of drug use has to be looked at in the context of the norms of behaviour and shared understandings of the drug-using subculture in which they are learnt.

scholarly journals Recreational Drug Use in People Living with HIV in Spain: Factors Associated with Drug Use and the Impact on Clinical Outcomes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanessa Castro-Granell ◽  
Noé Garin ◽  
Ángeles Jaén ◽  
José Luis Casado ◽  
Lorna Leal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Well Being ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Recreational Drug ◽  
Recreational Drugs ◽  
Antiretroviral Adherence ◽  
Recreational Drug Use ◽  
Living With Hiv ◽  
The Impact

AbstractWe analysed the impact of recreational drug use (RDU) on different outcomes in people living with HIV (PLHIV). A multicentre retrospective cohort study was performed with two cohorts of PLHIV included: people using recreational drugs (PURD) vs. people not using recreational drugs (PNURD). Overall, 275 PLHIV were included. RDU was associated with men having sex with men (OR 4.14, 95% CI [1.14, 5.19]), previous sexually transmitted infections (OR 4.00, 95% CI [1.97, 8.13]), and current smoking (OR 2.74, 95% CI [1.44, 5.19]). While the CD4/CD8 ratio increased amongst PNURD during the follow-up year, it decreased amongst PURD (p = 0.050). PURD presented lower scores of self-reported and multi-interval antiretroviral adherence (p = 0.017, and p = 0.006, respectively), emotional well-being (p < 0.0001), and regular follow-up (p = 0.059), but paid more visits to the emergency unit (p = 0.046). RDU worsens clinical, immunological, and mental health outcomes amongst PLHIV.

scholarly journals Brugada Phenocopy Induced by Recreational Drug Use

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adedoyin Akinlonu ◽  
Ranjit Suri ◽  
Priyanka Yerragorla ◽  
Persio D. López ◽  
Tuoyo O. Mene-Afejuku ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Sudden Death ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Recreational Drug ◽  
Recreational Drugs ◽  
Recreational Drug Use ◽  
The Right ◽  
Brugada Pattern

Recreational drugs are commonly abused in all age groups. Intoxication with these substances can induce silent but significant electrocardiographic signs which may lead to sudden death. In this case study, we present a 49-year-old male with no medical comorbidities who came to the emergency department requesting opioid detoxification. Toxicology screen was positive for cocaine, heroin, and cannabis. Initial electrocardiogram (EKG) showed features of a Brugada pattern in the right precordial leads, which resolved within one day into admission. This presentation is consistent with the recently recognized clinical entity known as Brugada phenocopy.

Sex, drugs, and genes: Illuminating the moral condemnation of recreational drugs

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annika Karinen ◽  
Laura Wesseldijk ◽  
Patrick Jern ◽  
Joshua M. Tybur
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Genetic Factors ◽  
Genetic Effects ◽  
Recreational Drug ◽  
Recreational Drugs ◽  
Disgust Sensitivity ◽  
The Past ◽  
Recreational Drug Use ◽  
Sexual Disgust ◽  
Moral Condemnation

Over the past decade, evolutionary psychologists have proposed that many moral stances function to promote self-interests, and behavioral geneticists have demonstrated that many moral stances have genetic bases. We integrate these perspectives by examining how moral condemnation of recreational drug use relates to sexual strategy (i.e., being more versus less open to sex outside of a committed relationship) in a sample of Finnish twins and siblings (N = 8,118). Twin modeling suggested that genetic factors accounted for 53%, 46%, and 41% of the variance in drug condemnation, sociosexuality, and sexual disgust sensitivity, respectively. Further, approximately 75% of the phenotypic covariance between drug condemnation and sexual strategy was accounted for by genes, and there was substantial overlap in the genetic effects underlying both drug condemnation and sexual strategy (rg = .41). Results suggest that some moral sentiments are calibrated to promote strategic sexual interests, which arise partially via genetic factors.

Do You Have a History of Recreational Drug Use?

2018 ◽  
Vol 113 (Supplement) ◽  
pp. S1286
Author(s):  
Joseph M. Mossad ◽  
Stephen J. Kwak ◽  
Karthikeyan Viswanathan ◽  
Maria Jose Jimenez Cerna
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Recreational Drug ◽  
Recreational Drug Use ◽  
History Of

scholarly journals Transient musical hallucinations in a young adult male associated with alcohol withdrawal

BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (S1) ◽  
pp. S267-S267
Author(s):  
Mao Lim ◽  
Graham Blackman ◽  
Anthony David ◽  
Fahmida Mannan
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Alcohol Withdrawal ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Auditory Hallucinations ◽  
Recreational Drug ◽  
Recreational Drug Use ◽  
History Of ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Serotonin Toxicity

AimsWe present the case of a 25-year-old male who presented to A&E with isolated musical hallucinations, in the absence of audiological or neurological disease.BackgroundMusical hallucinations (MH) are a form of complex auditory hallucinations whereby an individual experiences an instrumental and/or vocal melody in the absence of auditory stimuli.ResultThe patient had a history of recreational drug use and a family history of psychosis. Hallucinations, which were preceded by discontinuation of alcohol and re-initiation of citalopram for depression, resolved spontaneously after three days.ConclusionAetiological factors are discussed alongside the existing literature. Whilst the underlying mechanisms underpinning musical hallucinations remains elusive, the case illustrates the potential role of alcohol withdrawal, serotonin toxicity, recreational drug use and genetic vulnerability.

scholarly journals Transient Musical Hallucinations in a Young Adult Male Associated with Alcohol Withdrawal

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Graham Blackman ◽  
Mao Fong Lim ◽  
Fahmida Mannan ◽  
Anthony David
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Alcohol Withdrawal ◽  
Neurological Disease ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Recreational Drug ◽  
Recreational Drug Use ◽  
History Of ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Serotonin Toxicity

We present the case of a 25-year-old male who presented to A&E with isolated musical hallucinations, in the absence of audiological or neurological disease. The patient had a history of recreational drug use and a family history of psychosis. Hallucinations, which were preceded by discontinuation of alcohol and reinitiation of citalopram for depression, resolved spontaneously after three days. Aetiological factors are discussed alongside the existing literature. Whilst the underlying mechanisms underpinning musical hallucinations remain elusive, the case illustrates the potential role of alcohol withdrawal, serotonin toxicity, recreational drug use, and genetic vulnerability.

Attitudes Toward Doping and Recreational Drug Use among French Elite Student-Athletes

2004 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Peretti-Watel ◽  
Valérie Guagliardo ◽  
Pierre Verger ◽  
Patrick Mignon ◽  
Jacques Pruvost ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Academic Achievement ◽  
Cluster Analysis ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Student Athletes ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
Recreational Drug ◽  
Recreational Drugs ◽  
Recreational Drug Use ◽  
Sociology Of Deviance ◽  
Older Males

This study examined attitudes toward doping among 458 French elite student-athletes (ESAs) ages 16–24, their correlates, and their relationship with cigarette, alcohol, and cannabis use. We found a consensus among ESAs concerning negative aspects of doping. A cluster analysis showed, however, that statements dealing with benefits of doping were endorsed by two significant minorities of respondents. These ESAs were more frequently older males with a lower parental academic achievement and no sporting history in their family. Recreational drug use depended on whether or not ESAs endorsed statements related to nonsporting benefits of doping. Using an analytical framework from the sociology of deviance, our findings suggest that athletes who dope themselves pursue legitimate goals with illegitimate means but justify their behavior with a legitimate rationale. Further research is needed on the nonrecreational use of recreational drugs.

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