Social Problems
#13 Drugs
This section will examine the social problems related to drug use in the USA and globally. We will discuss how the definition on dangerous drugs changed over the years,
Drug and Drug Use
Sociologists study drug use as a social phenomenon, not simply as an individual medical or psychological issue. They examine how social structures, cultural norms, institutions, group relationships, and inequalities influence who uses drugs, why they use them, how society responds, and what consequences follow.Drug use is not new to the human race. Drugs are dubstances that have psychological or physical effects it may involve the Intentional fermentation (alcohol) Dates back to the Stone Age drugs considered illegal today also may date back 1housands of years.
Historical Drug Uuse
Just for Fun
Have you ever heard of these ideas?
When doing the research for this topic I came across the ideas related to mushroom use over the years. OMG we will not talk about this in class, I just thought I'd share. You can write a 1 page reaction to these videos for 10 points extra credit. Please don't preach about your religion that is not the point. The point is expose you to the fact that there are many explanations of the social world that you may have never heard of.
Theories related to drug use
Differential Association Theory
Developed by Edwin Sutherland. This theory argues that people learn behaviors, including drug use, through interaction with others.
Social Learning Theory
People learn: Techniques, Attitudes, Justifications
for drug use through observation and reinforcement.
Labeling Theory
Howard Becker: Becker argued that deviance is not inherent in an act but is created through social reactions. For example who gets labeled a criminal in need of incarceration and who gets label
Strain Theory
Robert K. Merton:This perspective suggests that some individuals turn to drugs when experiencing stress, blocked opportunities, or social strain.
❓ Why are some drugs legal and others illegal?
❓ How do friends and family influence drug use?
❓ How do poverty and inequality affect addiction?
❓ How do laws shape public attitudes toward drugs?
❓ How do people become labeled as "drug users" or "addicts"?
The modern idea of illegal drugs did not fully emerge until the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when changing social attitudes, medical knowledge, immigration patterns, urbanization, and government regulation transformed how Americans viewed drug use.
Early Drug Use in the United States
During the Civil War, Opium and its derivative morphine was regularly given to soldiers as an anesthetic. The problem was that many soldiers became addicted and this dependance lasted long after the wounds healed. This addiction became known as “army disease”. In 1898, Bayer, the company known for producing aspirin, developed heroin and marketed as a non-addictive substitute for morphine. (The rest is history)
Labeling is very important when discussing drugs and drug use. During this session we will discuss
Drug Use and Abuse
During this session we will talk about the following topics:
Drug Use is the act of internally processing chemical substances other than food that have physical effects. Many of us use drugs of some kind even Advil is a drug.
Drug Abuse is the use of drugs despite adverse consequences. Addiction is a chronic condition that can include psychological and/or physiological compulsion toward drug seeking and use.
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Many illicit drugs come with adverse consequences are typically associated with street drugs such as cocaine or heroin. But seemingly harmless drugs can also damage a person’s health when used frequently and in large quantities. Illicit drugs are substances whose production, sale, possession, or use is prohibited by law in a particular country or jurisdiction.
Americans are finding new ways to get high. A current trend is the misuse of prescription drugs. According to the old CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 1.8 billion prescription drugs were ordered or provided in 2006. We will talk about the current numbers and some of the scandals related to prescription drugs.
Assignment #1 Discussion Post
on the Slaker Family
Do your own research and find out about the billionaire Slacker Family. Are they high status drug dealers or good businessmen? What should happen to the members of this family? Should they go to jail pay a fine, what? Based on your research are they responsible for the Opioid epidemic? Should they be able to keep the money they made selling drugs? They knew the drugs were deadly. Where are they today? What is the difference between this family and a common drug dealer?
Medicalization
The process by which we expand the use of medical terms and solutions to nonmedical problems. Medical personnel claim that certain social components are diseases in need of treatment. However everyone's drug use does not get medicalized.
Who gets jail and who gets treatment?
Global Drug Use and Abuse
We will briefly discuss global drug use. Generally many countries are dealing with growing drug use and abuse.
New and Diverse Drugs
‘Monkey dust’ drug unleashes ‘zombie’-like addicts in small town: ‘Like they have superpowers’
By Marc Lallanilla Published Sep. 5, 2023
Flakka Drug: Signs, Side Effects, and Dangers of Synthetic Cathinones
Wednesday, July 17, 2019
Bath Salts Drug
Medically reviewed by Melisa Puckey, BPharm. Last updated on May 9, 2025
Ketamine Abuse
Common or street names: Cat Tranquilizer, Cat Valium, Jet K, Kit Kat, Purple, Special K, Special La Coke, Super Acid, Super K, and Vitamin K
MDMA
Common or street names: Adam, Beans, Clarity, Disco Biscuit, E, Ecstasy, Eve, Go, Hug Drug, Lover’s Speed, Molly, Peace, STP, X, and XTC
Lost of possible drug options for your drug report.
Assignment #2- Drug Visual Essay
Select one drug and create a visual essay explaining the drug, Your essay should include information on the users, the biological effects, the cost, the high, the degree of use (is it in USA or other parts of the world) You could also discuss crimes or famous instances related to the drug. How is it used? How dangerous is your drug? Can it kill?
For this essay you should have at least 4 reference sources. Do not just copy this information from one website. Include a reference section at the end of your essay. Also provide reference information for the visuals you use in the essay.
Do not use AI to write this assignment. The goal of this assignment for you to practice academic research and visual presentation. Also, I want you to learn something about a contemporary drug problem.
For this assignment a visual essay is an essay with images and other visuals included to enhance the information. You can use actual images related to the drug, clip art, charts or graphs in your essay. There is no maximum number of images. Make sure it is enough to tell your story.
You can use titles to organize your essay. But do not just submit a paper of bullet points. I want paragraphs. The best way to approach this essay is to start with clear introductory paragraph with a clear thesis sentence* saying wht you plan to do in the paper.
I would like you to use Word or an equivalent program to create your essay. Word allows you to embed images into the text. Do not just include all the images at the end of the essay. Select the wrapping style that best fits your essay. Yes, you can use multiple wrapping styles.
Krokodil Drug Facts
Common or street names: Crocodil, Russian Magic, Poor Man's Heroin, Zombie drug
*A thesis sentence is the main idea or central argument of an essay. It tells readers what the paper will be about and what the writer intends to prove, explain, or discuss.
In other words, a thesis sentence is a clear statement that expresses the main point of a paper, usually appearing near the end of the introduction.
Why Is a Thesis Sentence Important?
A good thesis sentence:
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Guides the writer's organization of the essay.
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Tells readers what to expect.
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Keeps the paper focused on one main idea.
In Word you can find this option in the Layout menu. Then click wrapping.
Marijuana
We will discuss the history of "Mary Jane" and the truth about its use. We will look at deaths related to cannabis use and all the controversies related to medical marijuana.
This was 2011 information, what is the data for today?