Psychology Assignment | Online Assignment

Based on your understanding of the week’s materials and relevant research, address the following in a 4- to 5-page Microsoft Word document: How have federal and state regulations mirrored societal focus on substance use? What are the current legal standards with regards to substance treatment? Consider legal issues such as confidentiality, informed consent, referrals to treatment centers, insurance coverage, release of information, etc. ******This weeks lesson******* Social and cultural backgrounds of an individual may influence an individual’s drinking habits. In ancient times, various cultures used alcohol and drugs in religious ceremonies and for dietary, medicinal, social and recreational purposes (Crocq, 2007). North Africans and Middle Easterners commonly used marijuana and caffeine, South Americans used cocaine, Asians used opium, and Native US tribes used peyote (Crocq). The use of alcohol and drugs was integrated into the cultural practices and social institutions of these societies. Because these societies were primarily homogeneous in terms of religious and ethnic heritage and economic and political composition, their members adhered to the norms of those societies, which limited drug consumption in time, space, and function. On the other hand, many cultures had severe sanctions on drug and alcohol abuse. For example, differences in drinking patterns and the consequences of alcohol or drug use may exist among various ethnic and cultural groups. The differential consequences may, in part, be a function of different vulnerabilities and resiliencies conferred by biological and genetic factors (NIAAA, 2002). Patterns of Substance Use In addition to social and cultural values (i.e., previous section), substance use patterns have also differed with respect to gender. For instance, the Hispanic community has strong cultural prohibitions about women drinking. This cultural norm may account for the high number of Hispanic women (70%) who have less than one drink per month, if they drink at all (Barthwell, 1997). Overall, perceptions of substance use, as well as the use patterns, are impacted by the interplay of internal and external factors (e.g., culture, society, religion, gender, cognition, genetics, personality, values). Federal Laws to Control Substance Use The social demands to regulate substances has been strong for some time. For example, in 1906, it became illegal to manufacture, sale, or transport food, drugs, medication, or liquor that was not pure (Federal Food and Drugs Act, 1906). Then, in 1914, law was enacted that classified opium and heroin as major drugs and, thus, were made illegal (USCBP, 2015). In 1919, alcohol was federally banned though it was later appealed in 1933 (Library of Congress, 2017). Later in 1937, another piece of legislation was passed that placed a tax on marijuana; specifically, importers were required to register and pay a yearly tax on their product (USCBP). In 1970, the Controlled Substances Act was passed, which made it illegal to make, transport, distribute, or use certain substances. In the mid-1980s, legislation was passed that mandated minimum sentences for drug possession (i.e., Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986). In the 1990s, focus moved away from substance use/abuse toward other more pressing social concerns (e.g., international war, health care). Then, by 2016, approximately half of the United States had legalized marijuana for medical and/or recreational use (Governing, 2016).