Impoverished Environment & Drug-related behaviour

Focus Question: Ch9 (p.221-222) + Ch12 (p.292) + Readings
Discuss the following statement: 'Living in an impoverished environment can result in proportionally more time and/or effort being allocated to drug-related behaviours'.

The statement: 'Living in an impoverished environment can result in proportionally more time and/or effort being allocated to drug-related behaviours' is supported by numerous research, which demonstrated that the association of impoverishment environment and drug abuse. Inhalant users who were from low incomes families had higher rate of having drug or alcohol dependence in the past year (Wu, Howard, Pilowsky, 2008). Furthermore, it was found that female heads of household who were had alcohol and other drug abuse were associated with the employment issues (i.e., loss of jobs, lower income and less working hours), problematic situational factors (e.g., health, low self-esteem) and human capital deficits (e.g., poorly educated) (Chandler, Meisel, Jordan, Rienzi, Goodwin, 2004).

Behavioural Economics may help in explaining drug-abuse behaviours in the impoverishment environment. Drug-related behaviours may cut down the opportunities of individuals for getting other reinforcers and thus lead to a higher proportion time spent on the drug abuse. In other words, people live in impoverishment environment are more likely to have more drug reinforcers by significant people e.g., family members, or peers who have drug-abuse behaviours too. In contrast, positive reinforcers are limited, e.g., good education or income. Without strong competition of other reinforcers, individuals become harder to quit and consequently maintain drug abuse habit (Laraway et al., 2000).

Stein, Dixon and Nyamathi (2008) investigated the impact of psychosocial and situational Variables on substance abuse among homeless adults. Lower self-esteem served as the predictor in greater emotional distress, lower positive coping, greater negative coping, and more alcohol use. Meanwhile, social support was associated with less emotional distress and more positive coping. Thus, it was concluded that substance abuse programs and housing support need to address issues like psychological factors and environmental factors.

References:

Chandler, D., Meisel, J., Jordan, P., Rienzi, B. M., & Goodwin, S. N. (2004).
Substance Abuse, Employment, and Welfare Tenure. Social Service Review, 78, 628-651.

Laraway, S., Snycerski, S., Byrne, T. & Poling A. (2000). Introduction to behavioral pharmacology. In A. Poling and T. Byrne (Eds.). Drug Abuse. Reno N.V.: Context Press, pp. 219-248.

Mazur, J. E. (2006). Learning and Behavior. (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Stein, J. A., Dixon, E. L., & Nyamathi, A. M. (2008). Effects of psychosocial and situational variables on substance abuse among homeless adults. Psychology of addictive behaviours, 22(3), 410-416.

Wu, L. T., Howard, M. O., & Pilowsky, D. J. (2008). Substance use disorders among inhalant users: Results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. Addictive Behaviors, 33, 968-973.