Social Deviance
Chapter 8: Drug Use and Addiction
Chapter Goals
Be able to explain drug taking as deviance Understand the difference between legal and illegal drugs Know about marijuana, opiates, and cocaine as major forms of illegal drugs Understand ways to prevent deviant drug use
Drug Taking as Deviance
"drugs" is a loosely defined term that covers a range of substances from aspirin to alcohol and cocaine to cough syrup The purpose for taking a drug is one criterion of deviant use A drug is a socially defined and labeled by society. Often, people in power decide what is a bad vs good drug Deviant character of using a particular drug depends on the social norm For example: Cocaine was an acceptable drug in the 1850s that was used as a stimulant in wine products; however, it has since become the forefront for the war on drugs Social attitudes about drugs: During the 19th century, people regarded drug addiction as a personal problem Most attitudes identifying drug use as deviance developed during the 20th century The change in public opinion for some drugs seem to have followed public acceptance between drug use and disvalued lifestyles For example: cigarette smoking was commonly accepted and tolerated until recent changes in laws have disvalued the behavior by banning smoking in public places Public Policy and the War on Drugs Two aspects of the overall context of drug use: a. Public concern over drugs varies b. Links between drug-taking behavior and the general behavior patterns of people in the U.S. Judgments of deviance will likely target use of drugs perceived as popular among less powerful groups a. Lower-class individuals b. Workers in socially marginal occupations c. Students d. People not fully assimilated into U.S. society
Legal Drug Use
Drug use also involves legal substances with socially approved applications Pharmacies provide prescription drugs to consumers Women are more likely than men to consume prescription drugs
Over the Counter (OTC) drugs are available to consumers without a written prescription from a physician
Types of Illegal Drugs
Drugs fall into categories depending on their general effects on the body. For example: Depressants and stimulants each have different effects on the users. Morphine and heroin are derived from opium and produces a highly toxic, or poisonous, effects that require diluting before use. Methadone (also known as dolophine) is a synthetic narcotic analgesic originally developed in Germany during World War II. Cocaine is a stimulant drug that is commonly inhaled or snorted through the nose. Cocaine can also be freebased when combined with volatile chemicals. Crack is a derivative of cocaine that is produced by mixing it with water and baking soda or ammonia. Marijuana is derived from leaves and tender stems of the hemp plant. This stimulant allows the user to experience euphoria, intensified feelings, and a distorted sense of time and space. Barbiturates are a sedative hypnotic drug that exert a calming effect on the central nervous system. Methamphetamine (sometimes called crank) is a derivative of leg