Question 1

If you met someone,let's say,at a party,who asked you which of the drugs currently consumed in the United States is most harmful and dangerous,which one would you pick to answer his or her question? The least dangerous or harmful? Why? Justify your answer.

Accepted Answer

The most harmful and dangerous drug currently consumed in the United States is opioids, specifically prescription painkillers and heroin. Opioids have caused a significant increase in overdose deaths and addiction rates in recent years, making them a major public health crisis. They are highly addictive and can lead to respiratory depression, which can be fatal. Additionally, the misuse of prescription opioids often leads to the use of heroin, further exacerbating the problem.

On the other hand, the least dangerous or harmful drug currently consumed in the United States would be marijuana. While it is not without risks, especially when used by adolescents or individuals with a predisposition to mental health issues, marijuana has a lower potential for addiction and overdose compared to opioids. It also has potential medical benefits, such as pain relief and appetite stimulation.

In justifying this answer, it is important to consider the impact of each drug on public health and individual well-being. Opioids have caused a significant number of deaths and have led to widespread addiction, while marijuana has a lower risk of harm and has potential medical benefits. It is crucial to prioritize the prevention and treatment of opioid addiction while also considering the potential benefits and risks of marijuana use.

Question 2

According to the text,which of the following data sources on drugs is so seriously flawed as to be completely worthless to researchers?

Accepted Answer

A)   ADAM-II
B)   DAWN
C)   MTF
D)   NSDUH
E)   none of the above data sources is so seriously flawed as to be completely worthless to researchers E

Question 3

If you were to present data on drug use to a legislature or legislative committee attempting to revise the drug laws,which data source or sources would you use? Why? Explain.

Accepted Answer

I would use a combination of data sources to present a comprehensive and well-rounded view of drug use to a legislature or legislative committee.

First, I would utilize data from government agencies such as the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). These agencies collect and analyze data on drug use trends, prevalence, and impact on public health. Their data is often considered reliable and authoritative, making it a valuable source for informing legislative decisions.

Additionally, I would incorporate data from academic research studies and peer-reviewed journals. These sources provide in-depth analysis and insights into the various aspects of drug use, including its social, economic, and health implications. By including this data, I can provide a more nuanced understanding of the complexities surrounding drug use and its impact on society.

Furthermore, I would also consider using data from international organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Their global perspective and comparative data can offer valuable insights into how different drug policies and approaches have been implemented and their outcomes.

By using a combination of these data sources, I can present a comprehensive and evidence-based overview of drug use to the legislature or legislative committee. This approach ensures that decision-makers have access to a wide range of information and perspectives, allowing for a more informed and balanced discussion on revising drug laws.

Question 4

Consider the proportion of the population who,according to surveys,use opiates versus the number who die of an opiate-related overdose.Consider likewise the proportion of users of alcohol,marijuana,and cocaine relative to the contribution of these drugs to the mortality statistics.Which drugs stand out with respect to a high or low toxicity relative to the number of episodes of their use? Justify your conclusion by citing facts and figures.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Consider the proportion of the population who,according...

Question 5

Most sociological researchers conclude about illicit,illegal,unconventional behavior such as drug use that:

Accepted Answer

A)   all people lie so sociologists should ignore and dismiss their answer about it in surveys
B)   research should include subjecting their respondents to a lie detector test so that they can verify what they say is true and valid
C)   in order to induce respondents to tell the truth,it is necessary to give them a sum of money as an inducement
D)   the researcher is likely to receive somewhat inaccurate answers in a survey,but they are approximately or relatively correct,and triangulation helps correct that
E)   none of the above

Question 6

Most researchers who conduct surveys:

Accepted Answer

A)   select their samples in a haphazard fashion so that all the biases will cancel one another out
B)   select their samples so that they do not look like or reflect the population at large
C)   try to select samples so that everyone in their universe,the population at large,has an equal chance of appearing in the sample
D)   select every member of the entire population-a total enumeration-so that their data will accurately reflect data about the universe they wish to generalize about
E)   None of the above

Question 7

When we look at drug harms-drugs that are associated with untoward,harmful effects such as hospital admissions and deaths by overdose-which of the following is on a list of the "big four" substances,those that rank high on both lists?

Accepted Answer

A)   marijuana
B)   PCP
C)   cocaine
D)   oxycodone
E)   methamphetamine

Question 8

Which of the following data sources is the result of a survey conducted among a sample of households in the United States?

Accepted Answer

A)   ADAM-II
B)   DAWN
C)   MTF
D)   NSDUH
E)   none of the above

Question 9

Judging from the available data sources,are one or more of these drugs "out of line" with their legal status,that is,legal drugs that are so dangerous that they need to be more tightly controlled,and illegal drugs that are so much less dangerous than the laws indicate,that a relaxation of the penalties seems warranted? Explain your reasoning.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Judging from the available data sources,are one...

Question 10

Which of the following data sources results from drug-testing and interviewing a sample of arrestees?

Accepted Answer

A)   ADAM-II
B)   DAWN
C)   MTF
D)   NSDUH
E)   none of the above

Question 11

The samples of all of these data sources are huge,numbering in each case in the thousands.Would the data be as useful if their samples were smaller,say,just a few hundred? Explain why or why not.Several of these data sources are drawn exclusively from metropolitan areas,which means they do not represent-they are not a cross-section of-the American population as a whole.Does this limitation restrict their utility? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The samples of all of these data...

Question 12

Which of the following statements is true? Eating ice cream and rates of rape in an area are:

Accepted Answer

A)   statistically correlated but not causally related
B)   causally related but not statistically correlated
C)   both statistically correlated and causally related
D)   neither statistically correlated nor causally related
E)   none of the above

Question 13

Does the fact that marijuana is the most frequent drug that arrestees test positive for indicate that it is "criminogenic" in its impact,that is,that it causes criminal behavior? Why or why not? If alcohol had been tested for in ADAM-II,would this change the picture? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Does the fact that marijuana is the...

Question 14

If you could design a study on drug use that would overcome whatever limitations or weaknesses that the available data sources have,what would this study entail?

Accepted Answer

The answer of If you could design a study on...

Question 15

When drug test results were compared with self-reports on surveys of drug use,researchers found that:

Accepted Answer

A)   positive testees were more likely to self-report drug use than negative testees.
B)   positive testees were less likely to self-report drug use than negative testees.
C)   positive and negative testees were equally as likely to self-report drug use.
D)   the degree of correspondence between the results of drug tests and self-report surveys was zero-they had a random relationship with one another.
E)   the degree of correspondence between the results of drug tests and self-report surveys remains unknown-and unknowable.

Question 16

MTF collects data in:

Accepted Answer

A)   jails and prisons
B)   school classrooms
C)   hospitals and morgues
D)   the households of respondents
E)   none of the above

Question 17

Each of the data sources discussed in this chapter has both strengths and limitations.What are they? Is there a single "best" data source,or does that depend on the purposes to which you wish to put the data.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Each of the data sources discussed in...

Question 18

According to the discussion in the text,most researchers feel that:

Accepted Answer

A)   sampling is typically an even more important problem than lying
B)   lying is an even more important problem than sampling
C)   sampling and lying are equally important problems for the researcher
D)   neither sampling nor lying is important than the researcher
E)   none of the above

Question 19

The drug or drug type most likely to be associated with the number of emergency department visits that take place in the U.S.in recent years is:

Accepted Answer

A)   methamphetamine
B)   PCP
C)   MDMA (Ecstasy) 
D)   opiates/narcotics
E)   LSD

Question 20

Which of the following data sources is drawn from records of untoward drug effects,both fatal and non-fatal?

Accepted Answer

A)   ADAM-II
B)   DAWN
C)   MTF
D)   NSDUH
E)   none of the above

Exam 6: Studying Drug Use

If you met someone,let's say,at a party,who asked you which of the drugs currently consumed in the United States is most harmful and dangerous,which one would you pick to answer his or her question? The least dangerous or harmful? Why? Justify your answer.

According to the text,which of the following data sources on drugs is so seriously flawed as to be completely worthless to researchers?

If you were to present data on drug use to a legislature or legislative committee attempting to revise the drug laws,which data source or sources would you use? Why? Explain.

Most sociological researchers conclude about illicit,illegal,unconventional behavior such as drug use that:

Most researchers who conduct surveys:

When we look at drug harms-drugs that are associated with untoward,harmful effects such as hospital admissions and deaths by overdose-which of the following is on a list of the "big four" substances,those that rank high on both lists?

Which of the following data sources is the result of a survey conducted among a sample of households in the United States?

Which of the following data sources results from drug-testing and interviewing a sample of arrestees?

Which of the following statements is true? Eating ice cream and rates of rape in an area are:

Does the fact that marijuana is the most frequent drug that arrestees test positive for indicate that it is "criminogenic" in its impact,that is,that it causes criminal behavior? Why or why not? If alcohol had been tested for in ADAM-II,would this change the picture? Why or why not?

If you could design a study on drug use that would overcome whatever limitations or weaknesses that the available data sources have,what would this study entail?

When drug test results were compared with self-reports on surveys of drug use,researchers found that:

MTF collects data in:

Each of the data sources discussed in this chapter has both strengths and limitations.What are they? Is there a single "best" data source,or does that depend on the purposes to which you wish to put the data.

According to the discussion in the text,most researchers feel that:

The drug or drug type most likely to be associated with the number of emergency department visits that take place in the U.S.in recent years is:

Which of the following data sources is drawn from records of untoward drug effects,both fatal and non-fatal?