Social Problems, 13eD. Stanley EitzenMaxine Baca ZinnKelly Eitzen Smith

Chapter 13Drugs

Drugs

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Learning Objectives

13.1 Explain the politics behind the definition of drugs and the current United States drug laws.

13.2 Discuss the most commonly abused illegal and legal drugs and how drug use varies by class, race, and gender.

13.3 Give examples which demonstrate how the U.S. “war on drugs” is racist.

13.4 Discuss alternatives to the current war on drugs.

13.1 – The Politics of Drugs

• Historical Legality of Drugs

• Factors Influencing Drug Laws and Enforcement

LO 13.1 - Historical Legality of Drugs

• No consistency in acceptable drug use in society

• Harrison Narcotics Act of 1914– From a medical to a criminal problem

A bottle of opium from the nineteenth century, when it was legal.

LO 13.1

LO 13.1 - Factors Influencing Drug Laws and Enforcement

• Cultural Reasons– Certain drugs have negative stereotypes– Marijuana– Symbolic rejection of mainstream values

• Interest Groups

LO 13.1

According to the textbook, current drug laws reflect __________.

A. the drug’s potential harm

B. successful political lobbying

C. an emphasis on “high-class” drugs

D. a rejection of mainstream values

LO 13.1

According to the textbook, current drug laws reflect __________.

A. the drug’s potential harm

B. successful political lobbying

C. an emphasis on “high class” drugs

D. a rejection of mainstream values

LO 13.1

Opiates have always been illegal.

A. True

B. False

LO 13.1

Opiates have always been illegal.

A. True

B. False

13.2 - Drug Use in U.S. Society

• Commonly Abused Illegal Drugs

• Legal but Dangerous Drugs

• Drug Use Patterns by Class, Race, and Gender

• Why Use Drugs?

LO 13.2

LO 13.2 - Commonly Abused Illegal Drugs

• Marijuana

LO 13.2 - Commonly Abused Illegal Drugscontinued

• Hallucinogens

LO 13.2 - Commonly Abused Illegal Drugscontinued

• GHB (Gamma Hydroxybuterate)

• Narcotics

LO 13.2 - Commonly Abused Illegal Drugscontinued

• Cocaine

• Methamphetamine

LO 13.2 - Video: Opium Addiction

http://abavtooldev.pearsoncmg.com/sbx_videoplayer_v2/simpleviewer.php?projectID=APcontent&clipID=opium_addiction.flv&ui=2

Chicago police, DEA agents, and other law enforcement officials in Chicago, June 28, 2012, where they showed off more than 8 tons of marijuana authorities found in a tractor-trailer. The marijuana was grown in Mexico and shipped to Chicago for street gangs to sell.

LO 13.2

Regular methamphetamine use can causedramatic physiological damage both insideand outside the body, as shown in thesephotos of the changed facial appearance ofthis young woman.

LO 13.2

LO 13.2 - Legal But Dangerous Drugs

• Legality and social construction

• Nicotine– Leading preventable cause of death– 45.3 million adult Americans smoke cigarettes – Advertising

• Alcohol– Leading cause of accidents– Problems from abuse

LO 13.2

LO 13.2 - Drug Use Patterns by Class, Race, and Gender

• Use of illicit drugs is not uniform in society

• Women are less likely to use than men

• IV drug users are predominantly poor

• Drug consumption patterns exist within racial and ethnic groups

LO 13.2

LO 13.2 - Why Use Drugs?

• Medical Pressures– U.S residents spend more on prescription

drugs than residents in any other developed country

• Cultural Pressures– “Quick fix” society

The reputation ofprofessional baseballhas been tarnished withaccusations of steroidabuse.

LO 13.2

LO 13.2 - Explorer Activity: Alcohol and Drug Abuse: The Downward Spiral: Drug Use and Socioeconomic Status

http://www.socialexplorer.com/pearson/plink.aspx?dest=http%3a%2f%2fwww.socialexplorer.com%2fSpiceMap%2f%3fv%3d29202ad2051249b2

Please log into MySocLab with your username and password before accessing this link.

LO 13.2

The __________ pressure for a “quick fix” in our society means many people turn to drug use.

A. medical

B. structural

C. stereotypical

D. cultural

LO 13.2

The __________ pressure for a “quick fix” in our society means many people turn to drug use.

A. medical

B. structural

C. stereotypical

D. cultural

LO 13.2

Tobacco is the leading cause of accidental death.

A. True

B. False

LO 13.2

Tobacco is the leading cause of accidental death.

A. True

B. False

13.3 – U.S. Official Policy: A War on Drugs

• Introduction

• Consequences of Official Drug Policies

• Is the Drug War Racist?

LO 13.3 - Introduction

• Drug war is fought on two fronts:– Stopping the flow of drugs (interdiction)– Criminal prosecution in the U.S.

LO 13.3

LO 13.3 - Consequences of Official Drug Policies

• Drug laws in the United States are irrational and do not achieve goals– By making drugs illegal, the cost rises– Laws encourage crime because someone has

to supply illicit drugs– Police corruption

LO 13.3 - Is the Drug War Racist?

• More Whites using illicit drugs, yet Blacks are more likely to be imprisoned for drug offenses

• War against crack is waged mainly in minority neighborhoods

• Laws differ in severity of punishment

• Medical treatment for White offenders and imprisonment for Blacks

LO 13.3

LO 13.3

According to the textbook, drug laws in the United States are __________.

A. logical and effectual

B. appropriate and applied equally

C. irrational and do not meet goals

D. necessary and well researched

LO 13.3

According to the text, drug laws in the United States are __________.

A. logical and effectual

B. appropriate and applied equally

C. irrational and do not meet goals

D. necessary and well researched

LO 13.3

After drug arrests, Whites are more likely to receive treatment, whereas Blacks are more likely to be incarcerated.

A. True

B. False

LO 13.3

After drug arrests, Whites are more likely to receive treatment, whereas Blacks are more likely to be incarcerated.

A. True

B. False

13.4 - Alternatives

• Regulation of Trade or Use Through Licensing and Taxation

• Noninterference

• Address the Social Causes of Drug Use

LO 13.4 - Regulation of Trade or Use Through Licensing and Taxation

• Benefits of legalization:– It ensures the products’ conformity to standards of

purity and safety. – It dries up the need for vast criminal networks that

distribute drugs. – It provides the government with revenues. – Prison space and police activities would be reserved

for the truly dangerous.

LO 13.4 - Noninterference

• Decriminalization of Drugs– Proponents say drug use will happen

anyways– Critics argue that decriminalization would

spread the use of drugs

LO 13.4 - Address the Social Causes of Drug Use

• Drug use is correlated with poverty, education, gender, social location, and race/ethnicity

• Billions spent on regulating borders, not on addressing the social causes of drug use

LO 13.4

Which of the following is a benefit of drug legalization?

A. maintaining a criminal network

B. ensuring product purity

C. government revenue loss

D. additional prison space creates jobs

LO 13.4

Which of the following is a benefit of drug legalization?

A. maintaining a criminal network

B. ensuring product purity

C. government revenue loss

D. additional prison space creates jobs

LO 13.4

According to the textbook, the answer to drug problems in the United States is additional money for border patrols.

A. True

B. False

LO 13.4

According to the text, the answer to drug problems in the United States is additional money for border patrol

A. True

B. False

LO 13.4Question for Discussion

Discuss how the war on drugs is racist.