Social problems chapter 12
the problem of drug abuse
A. A relationship has been correlated between drug abuse and crime and violence. 1. Alcohol related problems have been associated with intimate partner violence. 2. Alcohol use has been associated as a cause and a consequence of child abuse. 3. Drug abuse has cost businesses billions of dollars annually in lost productivity and in healthcare. a). Problems with drug use have been linked to the quality and organization of work, drinking subculture at work, and the safety of the workplace. 4. Binge drinking among college students has been called a major public health concern because of the increase in high-risk behaviors they engage in while intoxicated such as risky sexual activity and reckless driving. 5. Approximately five percent of Americans have reported using ecstasy which can cause irreparable brain and memory functions damage. a). While men and women are equally likely to use ecstasy, white students and gay/lesbian/bisexual students are more likely than African-American, Asian- American and heterosexual students to use it.
sociological perspectives on drug use
A. Biological and psychological theories conclude that drug abuse is based in the individual and is genetic or inherited. B. Functionalists believe that while there are a set of social norms that identify the appropriate use of drugs, society also provides norms regarding the excessive use of drugs. 1. Emile Durkheim believed that under conditions of rapid cultural change, there would be an absence of common social norms and controls, as state he called anomie. C. Conflict theorists maintain that powerful political and business interest groups are able to manipulate our images of drugs and its uses and furthermore argue that certain groups have been unfairly targeted in the war on drugs. D. Feminists suggest there has historically been a lack of sensitivity and understanding when exploring the impact of drugs and alcohol on that of both women and other marginalized groups. E. Interactionists believe that drug abuse is learned through others and that we must explore how individuals or groups are labeled "abusers" and how society responds to them.
What is drug abuse
A. Drug abuse is the use of any drug or medication for a reason other than which it was intended, or in a manner or in quantities other then directed, which can lead to clinically significant impairment or distress. B. Drug addiction refers to physical and/or psychological dependence on a drug or medication. C. Five specific drugs are talked about: Alcohol, tobacco/nicotine, marijuana, methamphetamine, and cocaine. 1. Alcohol is the most abused drug in the United States. a). Alcohol abuse is highest for American-Indians and Alaska native adults and lowest for Asian-Americans and Pacific Islander adults. b). Hispanic adolescents have the highest rate of heavy drinking while African- American adolescents have the lowest rate. c). People who begin drinking before age fifteen are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than those that wait until after age twenty. 2. Tobacco/nicotine is the most frequently used addictive drug in the United States. a). In 2010, approximately 69.6 million Americans reported using a tobacco product. b). The prevalence of smoking is highest among Native-Americans and Alaska Natives. c). Smoking among teenagers has been on the rise since 1991. 3. Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States. a). Approximately forty percent of the population aged twelve or older have tried marijuana at least one time. 4. Methamphetamine is the most prevalent synthetic drug manufactured in the United States. a). An increase in use has been attributed to the ease of manufacturing it. 5. Cocaine was used by 2.4 million Americans in 2005. a). Cocaine use is highest for persons aged 18 to 25.
policy and social action
A. Three federally funded programs have been established to help fight the War on Drugs: The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), and the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). 1. NIAAA was established in 1970 to develop and conduct comprehensive health, education, research and planning programs for the prevention and treatment of alcohol abuse. 2. NIDA was established in 1974 to bring the power of science to bear on drug abuse and addiction. 3. ONDCP was established in 1988 to set national priorities, comprehensive research based strategies, and certify federal drug control budgets. B. The contemporary debate about the legalization of drugs emerged in 1988. 1. Decriminalization refers to keeping criminal penalties, but reducing the severity of the penalties or reducing the kinds of behavior which are included under the law. 2. Legalization refers to removing drugs from the control of the law entirely. 3. The legalization of drugs is generally opposed by most influential groups including the American Medical Association and Drug Enforcement Agency. C. As conflict and symbolic interaction theories reveal, there are a lot of inequalities in how drug laws are enforced. 1. Recognizing that certain groups are more susceptible to drug addition, some states are changing their approach to illegal drug use from a crime base to a treatment base. D. The ultimate goal of the individual approach to drug addiction is to enable the user to achieve lasting abstinence from the drug.
alcohol and drug use as a social issue
I. Chapter introduction: Alcohol and drug abuse as a social issue. A. America declared war on drugs forty years ago. 1. Federal law now requires drug offenders to serve at least eighty-seven percent of their sentence. 2. Tougher sentencing has failed to decrease the availability of drugs and reduce illicit drug use
