Theories of Deviance on Drug Abuse

Drug abuse exists throughout multiple levels of society. We see it take tremendous tolls on our communities, families, and social institutions, but to pinpoint the origins of drug abuse is no doubt an overwhelming task. Nonetheless, we know that all humans have the capacity of becoming victim to drugs. Substance abuse thus becomes a societal phenomenon, having large connections to cultural and social origins. By exploring theories of social deviance, we can begin to understand factors – such as age, race, class, gender and location – influencing drug usage.

Robert K. Merton’s strain theory of deviance argues that some deviant behavior, such as drug addiction, is caused by the relinquishment by certain individuals of socially-acceptable goals. He classifies these people as “retreatists.”

To arrive at the point of accepting addiction as one’s fate, a person has to have attempted, but failed, to achieve socially acceptable goals by both legal and illegal means, and has resolved to give up on these goals period, replacing them with the satiation of their respective drug or alcohol addictions.

Social control theory, as developed by Travis Hirschi, argues that drug abuse and associated forms of deviance are caused by the lack of social controls that motivate conformity. Rather than being inspired by the draw of drug subcultures, drug abuse is rather caused by the failure of conventional culture to keep the individual away from drugs. Those who have little attachment to traditional culture are vulnerable to the influence of drug culture.

Drug abuse is highest among people in their late teens and
twenties. (DrugFacts) This age demographic associates
drug abuse as means of experimentation, fitting in
or escaping stress.

The higher the individual’s investment in the dominant culture, the more one would risk by engaging in the deviance of drug culture. Social Control theory begins with the assumption that what needs to be explained is conformity to social conventions rather than deviance from them. Social control theorists are concerned with why people shackle their natural impulse to violate laws and norms, and comply with them instead. Their suggestion is that people form “bonds” to conventional people, beliefs, institutions, and activities. Once people invest in these, they avoid risking the security of their investments by staying out of trouble with the law. Drug abuse is one type of risky, law-violating behavior that “invested” people try to avoid. If one does not have these bonds, or they are weak, the risk associated with such deviant behavior feels less severe, and indulgence becomes more likely. On the other hand, self-control theory argues that deviant behavior is caused by a childhood upbringing that failed to instill a sense of discipline and self-control. The result is a pattern of behavior that is hedonistic, high-risk, and short-sighted, all psychological attributes of the compulsive drug abuser. The ability to police one’s own actions is diminished, and the addict is incapable of abstaining from drug abuse.  

Rave culture, a youth-oriented subculture that
blends music, art and social ideals. (Scott)

The popularity of raves have hugely caught on across the U.S. This culture embodies light shows and loud, electronic dance parties. Rave culture aims to blends music with social ideals such as peace, love, and unity - all while entailing a wide range of drug abuse. This culture is slowing spreading across teenagers and young adults - groups that gather and promote a modern approach of illicit drug abuse. The behaviors within this culture are influenced by the establishment of peer groups, as explained though the of social learning.
Social Learning theory argues that behaviors are structured by positive and negative reinforcements. In certain social groups, individuals who abuse drugs are rewarded and those who abstain are punished. If these rewards are privileged more than the potential punishments that come from the larger society, the individual will develop, and continue to reinforce, patterns of drug abuse. This is an extension of differential association theory of deviance developed by Edwin Sutherland, which argues that individuals associate with different social units, influencing their decision to abuse drugs over abstaining for the purpose of acting within the confines of the law. So when the individual differentially perceives the value of deviant behavior as outweighing that of the consequences of violation of the law, they will engage in those activities. Subcultural theory is similar to the two theories above, but also attempts to include the positive identification with the values and norms of drug-using subcultures by individuals. 

Social Learning theory argues that deviant behavior is not inherent, but rather learned from interaction with social groups. One has to first have access to drugs and the social groups that abuse them. Belief systems acquired from the peer group promoting drug abuse become internalized by the individual as he or she begins to identify themselves as a possible abuser. If the effect of the drug is pleasurable to the user, it then becomes likely that they will repeat abuse.  This theory relies heavily on the notion that these behaviors are learned rather than natural.

Denise Kandel developed the socialization theory, which focuses on the compatibility of an individual’s preexistent values and norms with subcultures that abuse drugs. If a teenager has been already socialized into seeing drug abuse as a natural component of adult life, by witnessing parents or other respected adults using drug for example, then they are more susceptible to select social circles that engage in similar behavior. These individuals will also tend towards peer groups composed of individuals with similar backgrounds and experiences, which adds further reinforcement of such behavior.

Conflict theory is a macro level theory that attempts to explain deviance by way of class, income, politics, and geography. It is not a coincidence that many of our society’s hard drug abusers come from impoverished areas. With fewer and fewer well-paying jobs available to untrained or uneducated workers, drug dealing has become a very attractive source of income for those in poverty-stricken areas. With the increase in drug dealing comes the increase of drug availability.

Illicit Drug Use among Persons Aged 12
or Older, by Race/Ethnicity

Furthermore, neighborhoods with high incidence of drug distribution tend to be less ordered ad community-oriented, making enforcement of anti-drug laws more difficult. Even if attempts are made by law-abiding citizens in such communities to aid in enforcement. Conflict theory argues that social class, power, income, and neighborhood all affect the degree to which a community is afflicted by drug epidemic. Economics and politics become the primary causal factors in the spread of drug abuse. Poverty helps to create a market for drug dealing, on the demand side with people attempting to mentally escape from the sad circumstances of their lives, and on the supply side, with drug dealing becoming a source of needed income for many in these communities. Combined with the unfortunate lack of community solidarity against these intrusions by the drug culture, as well as the lack of effective political power that its residents hold, these neighborhoods become hotbeds for drug dealing, drug abuse, and crime.
Drug abuse occurs everywhere and can be attributed to an infinite number of elements. Looking at these factors through the lens of different theories of deviance can give one a better understanding of what influences someone to take part in this behavior. Whether drug abuse is caused by unequal opportunity, improper socialization, social interactions, or one’s upbringing, it happens and having a better understanding of it will enable you to do something about it.

References:

Conley, Dalton. (2011). You May Ask Yourself: An Introduction to Thinking like a Sociologist. NY: W. W. Norton.

Goode, Erich. "The Sociology of Drug Use." 21st Century Sociology. 2006. Pp. 415-424. 

Goode, Erich. Drugs in American Society. 2011. 8th edition, McGraw-Hill. 

National Institute of Drug Abuse. Drug Facts: Nationwide Trends. (2012). 

http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/nationwide-trends

Scott, M. S. (2002). The Problem of Rave Parties. Center for Problem-Oriented Policing. http://www.popcenter.org/problems/rave_parties/

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Office of Applied Studies. (June 21, 2007). The NSDUH Report: Illicit Drug Use, by Race/Ethnicity, in Metropolitan and Non-Metropolitan Counties: 2004 and 2005. Rockville, MD. http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/2k7/popDensity/popDensity.htm