Sociology of Addiction

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Sociology of Addiction
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• 1970s
• Examines drug use in its social context
• Viewed as a product of social conditions and
  relationships that cause problems
• Usually found in deprived socioeconomic
  environments
• Viewed as a process of disintegration ? the more
  dependent and compulsive, the more isolated and
  antisocial

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SOCIALIZATION

• The process by which we are taught culture the
  way we are raised
• Addiction
• Failed socialization ? socially accepted norms
  are not acquired
• Negative socialization ? socially unacceptable
  norms are acquired (a form of rebellion)

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CORRELATIONS

• an association between two variables
• Does NOT indicate causation
• Positive r more X, more Y
• Negative r more X, less Y

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Family Influences

• 1970s ? family breakdown/divorce
• If loss occurs after age 12, major influence
• 1990s ? family structure no longer regarded as a
  contributing factor
• Relationships ?addicted youths describe parents
  as over-protective or non-caring
• Interpret with caution!! (data collected AFTER
  youths have already been labeled)

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Family Influences contd

• Modeling of Parents ? link most powerful with
  same sex parent strong r
• Strong, secure attachments insulate child from
  negative peer pressure
• Permissive and authoritarian parenting styles
  associated with substance abuse
• Authoritative parenting style associated with
  healthiest outcomes

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Peer Influences

• Stronger if parental influences weak
• Substance use closely tied to peer group
  membership
• Influences do not play a role in leading to
  addiction

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Media Influences

• Leads us to look for quick fix
• Narrow representations of reality may lead to
  feelings of inadequacy
• Advertising exploits most vulnerable
• Most dramatic impact on eating disorders ?
  unrealistic ideals of beauty

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Sociological Theories of Drug Abuse1 ANOMIE

• normlessness ? 2 features
• 1) Lack of social constraints on individual
  behaviour
• 2) Weak cohesion (i.e. personal rewards trump
  concern for the wider society)
• N.A. culture ? economic success absolute value
• Many experience a contradiction b/w goals and
  means ? results in strain and estrangement ?
  ultimately leads to a state of anomie

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4 Ways of Responding

• Conformity ? scale down aspirations, live by
  conventional norms
• Rebellion ? reject conventional norms, seek to
  recreate norms (i.e. hippy commune)
• Innovation ? use of illegitimate means to gain
  success (i.e. drug trafficking)
• Retreatism ? abandon conventional norms in favour
  of more attainable goals (i.e. getting high)

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Retreatism

• Fear of failure hypothesis unconsciously,
  despair seems familiar and inevitable, and
  success seems foreign and unattainable
  (Abidinsky pp. 174)
• Attempt to cope with a failure to integrate
• An addicted lifestyle is less painful than living
  with the social void/ rejected identity
• Drug dependence serves as a strategy to remove
  the individual from competitive situations in
  which defeat is almost certain. (ibid pp. 176)

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2 SOCIAL CONTROL

• The strength of an individuals bond to society
  is a determining factor
• Strength of social bonds is determined by
  internal and external constraints
• Internal constraints ? our capacity to feel
  guilt/remorse
• External constraints ? societys capacity to
  instill fear of punishment/disapproval
• Cost-Benefit analysis measured in terms of risk
  and reward

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3 Subcultures/Cultural Deviance

• Patterns of values and norms are unique, and over
  time, become entrenched or traditional
• i.e. lower socio-economic/youth culture
• Trouble
• Toughness
• Smartness
• Excitement
• Autonomy