Understanding Psychology (10th Ed)

 Module 
16 
Drug Use: The Highs and Lows of Consciousness 
161
most diffi cult of all behaviors to modify, even with extensive treatment (Lemonick, 
2000; Mosher & Akins, 2007; Ray & Hutchison, 2007). 
Because of the diffi culty in treating drug problems, there is little disagreement 
that the best hope for dealing with the overall societal problem of substance abuse 
is to prevent people from becoming involved with drugs in the fi rst place. However, 
there is little accord on how to accomplish this goal. 
Even drug reduction programs widely publicized for their effectiveness—such 
as DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education)—are of questionable effectiveness. 
Used in more than 80% of school districts in the United States, DARE consists of a 
series of 17 lessons on the dangers of drugs, alcohol, and gangs taught to fi fth- and 
sixth-graders by a police offi cer. The program is highly popular with school offi cials, 
parents, and politicians. The problem? Repeated careful evaluations have been unable 
to demonstrate that the DARE program is effective in reducing drug use over the 
long term. In fact, one study even showed that DARE graduates were more likely to 
use marijuana than was a comparison group of nongraduates (Des Jarlais et al., 2006; 
Kalb, 2001b; Lucas, 2008; West & O’Neal, 2004).
Stimulants: Drug Highs
It’s 1:00 a.m ., and you still haven’t fi nished reading the last chapter of the text on which 
you will be tested later in the morning. Feeling exhausted, you turn to the one thing 
that may help you stay awake for the next two hours: a cup of strong black coffee. 
If you have ever found yourself in such a position, you have resorted to a major 
stimulant , caffeine, to stay awake. Caffeine is one of a number of  stimulants  , drugs 
whose effect on the central nervous system causes a rise in heart rate, blood pressure, 
and muscular tension. Caffeine is present not only in coffee; it is an important ingre-
dient in tea, soft drinks, and chocolate as well (see Figure 3).
 
Caffeine produces several reactions. The major behavioral effects are an increase 
in attentiveness and a decrease in reaction time. Caffeine can also bring about an 
improvement in mood, most likely by mimicking the effects of a natural brain chem-
ical, adenosine. Too much caffeine, however, can result in nervousness and insom-
nia. People can build up a biological dependence on the drug. Regular users who 
stimulants
Drugs that have an arousal 
effect on the central nervous system, 
causing a rise in heart rate, blood 
pressure, and muscular tension.
FIGURE 3 
How much caff eine do 
you consume? This chart shows the 
range of caff eine found in common 
foods and drinks. The average coff ee 
drinker in the United States consumes 
about 200 milligrams of caff eine each 
day, or around three cups of coff ee. 
(Blakeslee, 1991.)
25 
0 125 
50 150 
75 175 
100 200 
225 
Milligrams 
Decaffeinated coffee
Percolated coffee
Drip-brewed coffee
Instant coffee
Brewed tea
Instant tea
Cocoa
Many soft drinks
Red Bull (8.2 oz)
Weight-loss drugs, diuretics 
and stimulants 
Pain relievers 
Cold/allergy remedies
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