criminology film review

7/27/2019 Criminology Film Review

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Reflection Paper

Criminology SS3300(B)

Name: Po Tak Long Darren

SID: 51822820

Word Count: 2492

At the outset of the film, the protagonist, Hin, rushes out of a moving taxi to

urinate on a street corner. From the narration, we know that this is the result of

frequent dosage of Ketamine, which renders the constriction of gall bladder.

Hin is a secondary school student. Unlike other fortunate ones, he does not

have a joyful family life. His parents are constantly fighting, which annoys him andmakes him want to stay away from them. At school, Hin sleeps in class as he finds

lessons boring. After school, since he does not bother to spend time at home with his

family, he hangs out with his friends most of the time.

Normally, it is perfectly fine to look for support from your friends when you

are unhappy. However, if the means of cheering you up has bad influences on you,

there is a problem. Hins friends are all troubled by similar issues: boredom and

unhappiness. To escape from reality, they offer Hin to take drugs, which he rejects at

first. Later on, at Hins birthday party, he was offered to try some drugs again. He

rejected again. However, when provoked by his friend, saying that he is too scared to

try it, he immediately took the Ketamine to show his bravery.

In the interview, Hin says that he thought taking Ketamine was trendy since

most of his friends take it. He also thought that taking Ketamine would not lead to any

serious consequences. However, as his body began to adapt to the drug, he needed

more doses to elicit the euphoric feeling. By that time, he was already heavily

addicted.

Back to the film, as buying drugs costs money, Hin runs out of money pretty

soon. In order to sustain the habit, he took the job of selling drugs from his friend. At

peak, he could earn $2000-3000 a day, selling drugs to his friends and their friends.

However, he uses up most of the cash buying drugs for himself.


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One day, Hin is caught by the Police when he is distributing drugs. Believing

there will not be any harsh penalties, he takes drugs with his friends while on bail and

is caught again. He is sent to Hei Ling Chau rehabilitation centre where he is required

to do a lot of manual work such as grass cutting and leaves sweeping. He still shows

disdain seeing his mom when she shows up for visiting one day. However, as time

goes by, he begins to realize his wrongs. Had he not taken drugs, he would be

studying F.5 instead.

In the interview, he says during his time in the rehabilitation centre, he missed

his family and understood that the way he used to act before thinking about the

consequences, focusing on immediate satisfaction was wrong. He promised himself

not to meet his old friends who had bad influences on him anymore and to know a

person thoroughly before getting along with him in the future.

Hins case is just a drop in the ocean. According to the governments survey,

there are 13,909 reported drug abusers in Hong Kong last year. Ketamine remained

the most common psychotropic substance abused, with the number of abusers up

2.2% to 5,212. Of these abusers, 53.9% were under 21. Among them, the most

common reasons for taking drugs were to identify with peers (55.8%), to relieve

boredom, depression or anxiety (51.8%) and for curiosity (39.9%). Such figures are

alarming. In the following paragraphs, we will be looking at the reasons behind drug

abuse based on the film mentioned above and ways to tackle the aggravating social

problem.

First, we will inquire into various theories from different perspectives seeking

to identify the underlying issues of Hins drug abuse.

According to Jeremy Benthams Utilitarianism Theory, human actions are

measured according to their likelihood of bringing pleasure or pain. In performing an

act, people weigh the probabilities of present and future pain. In Hins case, as he says

in the interview, he focuses on immediate satisfaction without thinking about the

consequences, which means he believes the pleasure of taking drugs outweighs any

future harm. As we all know, that is a mistaken belief.

Then we look at the psychological perspective. Sigmund Freuds

Psychoanalytic Theory suggests that drug dependency can best be understood by


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examining how such a persons ego organization and sense of self serve or fail the

individuals attempts to cope, and how the specific effects of various substances

facilitate or impede such attempts. Drug-dependent individuals are predisposed to use

and to become dependent upon their substances mainly as a result of severe ego

impairments and disturbances in the sense of self, involving difficulties with drive and

affect defense, self-care, dependency, and need satisfaction. We will have to employ

psychoanalysis if we want to find out Hins defective ego. Apparently, his troubled

family life and lack of supervision contributes to the conflicts within himself.

For Banduras Social Learning Theory, he suggested that delinquent behavior is

learned through the same psychological process as any other behavior. If people

observe positive, desired outcomes in the observed behavior, then they are more

likely to model, imitate, and adopt the behavior themselves. In Hins case, one of his

friend who supplies drugs to his other friends is well respected, prompting him to

learn his behavior, i.e. taking and selling drugs.

Hin is probably in stage three of conventional level (interpersonal accord and

conformity driven) of Kohlbergs Stages of Moral Development. In this stage,

individuals are receptive to approval or disapproval from others as it reflects society's

accordance with the perceived role. Since Hin values his friends and how they view

him is important to him, he is likely to act according to what pleases his friends to

earn their approval.

Furthermore, according to Hans J. Eysenck, deviants have higher scores in

psychoticism (aggressive, ego-centric, and impulsive); Extroversion (sensation-

seeking, dominant and assertive); and Neuroticism (having low self-esteem, excessive

anxiety, and wide mood swing). In the film, the way Hin slams the door shut and

turns the music loud when his mother speaks to him exhibits aggressive and

egocentric traits; and his familial problems and poor school results may contribute to

neuroticism, leading to his deviant behaviors.

Next, we will look at theories from the sociological perspective.

According to Robert King Merton also adopted the idea ofanomie to developStrain Theory, defining it as the discrepancy between common social goals and the
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_King_Mertonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strain_theory_(sociology)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strain_theory_(sociology)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_King_Merton


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legitimate means to attain those goals. In other words, an individual suffering from

anomie would strive to attain the common goals of a specific society yet would not be

able to reach these goals legitimately because of the structural limitations in society.

As a result the individual would exhibit deviant behavior. The strife for happiness and

comfort is a common goal among people in society. However, since Hin has problems

at home and in school that limits him in achieving such goal. Thus, he turns to drug

taking, which is an illegitimate means.

Edwin Sutherland developed theDifferentialAssociation Theory proposing that

through interaction with others, individuals learn the values, attitudes, techniques, and

motives for criminal behavior. Since Hin hangs out with his drug-taking friends all

the time, it is inevitable for him to learn develop such habit.

According to Albert K. Cohens Subcultural Theory, the features of the

delinquent subculture includes the following: Anti-utilitarian (in many cases, there

was no profit motive in thefts or other crimes. The main intention was to foster peer

bonding through sharing the experience of breaking the laws); short-termism (the

gang lived for the moment, looking for instant gratification) and group autonomy

(everything was aimed at consolidating group loyalty). They could all be seen in the

film, where his friends provoked Hin saying everyone of them takes drugs, he is

scared in not doing so (foster peer bonding); Hins confession in the interview, saying

he only focused on instant gratification through taking drugs; and Hins friend sweet-

talking him into taking drugs, saying they only offer him drugs because they treat him

as a good friend (consolidating group loyalty).

Moreover, since Hin has weakness in the attachment with his parents, according

to Travis Hirschis Social Control Theory, such weakness is associated with his

delinquent behavior.

There are mainly six factors contributing to drug abuse: peer-group pressure,

to escape from boredom or harsh reality, lack of parental guidance, mistaken belief

that occasional abuse will not lead to addiction, acquisition of habit during overseas

visit and curiosity. In the film, the first four of the above factors could be found in

Hin.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Structuralismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deviant_behaviorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deviant_behaviorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Structuralism


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Peer pressure is a primary cause of drug abuse among adolescents. Teens who

are undergoing their puberty are particularly vulnerable to succumbing to peer

pressure. At this stage of life, teenagers face numerous life-altering challenges and

begin to be responsible for their own decisions. According to the Developmental

Tasks Necessary for Pro-social Development during Childhood and Adolescence

Model, adolescents strive for independence. At such crossroad of life, teenagers,

when faced with challenges, in order to prove that they can make their own decisions

without relying on adults, often turn to their peers than their own families for help.

Moreover, as they grow improvingly aware of their self-images, they tend to conform

to the norms of their peers in order to be approved and liked. Habitual and personal

traits are learned during such process: those that render them popular or accepted are

preserved; on the other hand, those that do not, are discarded. This is a perfectly

normal psychological process called social learning.

The norms of a social group is adopted by its members in order to gain

popularity and acceptance. In many cases, such process could be pro-social and

beneficial to the person who adopts them. After all, it is reasonable to say something

is good when everyone does it, e.g. everyone studies before exams. However, a

group may take in various forms to an individual. It can mean the society as awhole, friends, or a particular group of friends, etc. So one learns different set of

norms from different groups which they are in. And when one values one group than

the others, the norms they learn from that particular group outweigh the norms they

learn from other groups. According to theManifestations of Disruptive and Antisocial

Behaviors in Childhood and Adolescence Model, adolescents are likely to associate

with deviant peers. If an individual adopts the norms in a group consists of deviant

peers, problems arise. In this case, we are talking about a group that consists of drug

abusers.

Hins group of friends all takes drugs. As adolescence is a time of

experimentation with new identities and experiences, teenagers follow the norms of a

group in order to be popular, including the good and bad aspects. So does Hin.

In Hins case, the lack of parental guidance and boredom in life lead to his

grouping with deviant counterparts, and peer-pressure from the group prompts Hin to


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take drugs. The mistaken belief that occasional abuse will not lead to serious

consequences only aggravates the problem.

Lastly, we will see if there is any way to prevent or tackle drug abuse among

teenagers.

There are various methods to achieve such aims. We will begin by looking at

the legislations in Hong Kong.

The Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Chapter 138) regulates pharmaceutical

preparations (except traditional Chinese medicines) in use in Hong Kong with respect

to the manner in which they can be possessed, sold, manufactured and prescribed, and

the conduct of personnel and businesses involved in their trade. Also, the Poisons List

Regulation lists, in its Part I A, over 930 drugs, which are subject to more regulatory

control than other over-the-counter drugs. The control measures are stipulated in

another subsidiary legislation, the Pharmacy and Poisons Regulations. The listed

drugs are commonly known as Part I Poisons. It is an offence not using them in

accordance with the provisions of the Ordinance.

Furthermore, The Dangerous Drugs Ordinance (Cap. 134) controls over the

dealing, possession, import, supply and manufacture of all narcotic drugs and nearly

all psychotropic substances listed in the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs

and the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances. The maximum penalty for

major drug offences such as trafficking and manufacturing of dangerous drugs is life

imprisonment and a fine of $5 million. Under Section (8), any person has in his

possession; or smoke, inhale, ingest or inject a dangerous drug shall be guilty of an

offence and shall be liable on conviction upon indictment to a fine of $1 million and,

subject to section 54A, to imprisonment for 7 years; or on summary conviction to a

fine of $100,000 and, subject to section 54A, to imprisonment for 3 years.

Moreover, The Control of Chemicals Ordinance (Cap. 145) controls all

chemicals listed in the 1988 UN Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs

and Psychotropic Substances. The maximum penalty is 15 years' imprisonment and a

fine of $1 million.

Apart from the setting up of legislations, education is also very important, asmentioned in the above paragraphs, one of the major reasons for drug abusing is the
http://www.legislation.gov.hk/blis_ind.nsf/CurAllEngDoc?OpenView&Start=117&Count=30&Expand=134http://www.legislation.gov.hk/interlaw.htmhttp://www.legislation.gov.hk/interlaw.htmhttp://www.legislation.gov.hk/interlaw.htmhttp://www.legislation.gov.hk/interlaw.htmhttp://www.legislation.gov.hk/interlaw.htmhttp://www.legislation.gov.hk/interlaw.htmhttp://www.legislation.gov.hk/interlaw.htmhttp://www.legislation.gov.hk/interlaw.htmhttp://www.legislation.gov.hk/blis_ind.nsf/CurAllEngDoc?OpenView&Start=117&Count=30&Expand=134


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mistaken belief that occasional dosage may not lead to serious consequences. Take

Ketamine for example, we have to let its users understand has serious side effects

such as cognitive impairments including memory problems and urinary tract diseases.

Officials should give talks in schools various schools in Hong Kong to educate

youngsters about the consequences of drug abuse and to teach them the right value.

There are also a number of treatment and rehabilitation agencies operating in

Hong Kong to help tackle the issue.

The main types of drug treatment and rehabilitation programs include:

compulsory placement scheme operated by the Correctional Services Department;

voluntary out-patient methadone treatment program provided by the Department of

Health; voluntary in-patient programs ran by the Caritas - Hong Kong, the Society for

the Aid and Rehabilitation of Drug Abusers (SARDA), the Hong Kong Christian

Service and other non-government organizations including Christian therapeutic

agencies; counseling service for psychotropic substance abusers provided by Caritas -

HUGS Centre, PS33 of the Hong Kong Christian Service, Cheer Lutheran Centre and

Evergreen Lutheran Centre of Hong Kong Lutheran Social Service, Tung Wah Group

of Hospitals - CROSS Centre, Evangelical Lutheran Church Hong Kong Enlighten

Centre and Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council Neo-Horizon; and seven

substance abuse clinics operated by the Hospital Authority.

The media should also help in curbing this aggravating trend by reporting

more about the consequences of abusing drugs and propose a proper value to its

readers. Parents should make efforts by providing their children with a home with

love and care to prevent them from meeting deviant friends as well.

Teenage drug abuse is a serious problem in Hong Kong; the government

should combat this problem sternly. Hopefully, our next generation can live in a drug-

free society.
http://www.nd.gov.hk/6.htmhttp://www.nd.gov.hk/6.htm


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criminology film review

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