Verified Document

Classifications Of Drug Users Term Paper

Classification of Drug Users Drug usage, often identified synonymously with drug dependence, is an individual's utilization of drugs (oftentimes in excess amounts) that provides him/her an experience of psychological and/or physical gratification. Individual who subsist to drug dependence or usage are called drug users, and every drug user is identified and classified into various types. Types of drug users, as discussed in this paper, are mainly determined through frequency of drug dependence or usage.

Ideally, drug users may be identified based on their frequent use -- that is, a drug user may be a first timer, a regular user, or a 'drug addict,' although these classifications may be too simplistic and vague. Andy Mooneyhan, in his discussion of drug and drug dependence, classified drug users into three, namely: experimenters, compulsive, and floaters/chippers drug users. These classifications identify drug users not only on the frequency of their drug usage, but also takes into account the

Parts of this document are hidden

View Full Document
svg-one

These drug users also use drugs occasionally, and may be likened to 'first timers,' who has just been acquainted with the activity and kind of drug used.
Although the Experimenter engages in drug usage occasionally, s/he, according to Goode, "is not really a drug user." This is because the individual has just been acquainted with the said activity, and to identify him/her as a drug user may not be apt for the individual since s/he has just started out; however, it cannot also be said that the Experimenter is a non-user, having engaged himself/herself with a drug activity. Thus, Goode identifies the Experimenter as a "cross" between a non-drug user and regular drug user, taking into consideration the possibility that s/he may become a…

Sources used in this document:
Bibliography

Goode, E. "The Marijuana Users." The Psychedelic Library Web site. Accessed: 10 April 2004. Available at http://www.psychedelic-library.org/mjsmokers2.htm.

Leshner, A. (2001). "Oops: How a Casual Drug Use Leads to Addiction." National Institute of Drug Abuse Web site. Accessed: 10 April 2004. Available at http://www.nde.state.ne.us/sdfs/ATOD/Oops-Leshner.pdf.

Mooneyhan, A. Center for Learning Studies, Arkansas State University Web site. Accessed: 10 April 2004. Available at http://www.clt.astate.edu/amooneyhan/Drug/chapterone.htm.
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now