Illegal Drug Use And Impact Assessment Answer

Key Topics

• Tobacco Smoking and Social Construction
• Illegal drug use and Impact on Society
• Comparison
• References

Students are asked to compare and contrast two different “deviant” activities. The assessment includes examining two different acts of deviance and comparing/contrasting
the deviant nature of each. The topic is Tobacco smoking versus illicit drug use.

Tobacco Smoking and Social Construction

The social context of tobacco smoking is increasing in today’s perspective along with the non-denial importance of physiological dimensions causing addiction, so, the social context becomes a factor so visualised in the concentration of smokers who are both socially as well as economically marginalised groups due to the uneven distribution by way of social as well as geographic setting. Hence, an understanding will finally help in addressing the diverse sources which will cause resistance and possible control use of tobacco in smoking. As it is a known fact that social context can be efficiently revealed through media, so if the influences can be configured and then applied to the circumstances where the tobacco smoking prevails, then impact on the society can be heightened. So, if the changing norms which cause to affect the behavioural change within an individual, if can be achieved through legislation, by imposing fines or punishments, then the smoking related behaviours will surely, come down, but most importantly the fear of fatal diseases like that of lungs cancer can also prove to be beneficial (McLeroy KR, 1988).

Illegal drug use and Impact on Society

Social constructionist creates those value which seems natural and quite obvious to people who seeks to comply with it, in a subconscious state. So, at every point of time, do not reflect reality, so remains as a pretence, and thus, finally becomes a common standard practice. Illegal drug use if used as a social construct, is created through bias produced by cultural dependency and the desegregation of the use, is often used as survival mechanism of power, becomes irrelevant when comes to decision making or for the purpose of social construction. So, to criminalise drug use is to create a stigma among the drug users and in so doing the behaviours are considered as illegal as well as antisocial, if opposed to public policy. So, the underlying idea is to cause deterrence among the illegal drug users, so that they are morally condemned and on violation of the rules and the regulation deserves fines and punishment. (Jarlais, 2001).

Comparison

There is the role of family along with the social network norms which creates an association with underlying likelihood of tobacco smoking. Though the relations could be changed if the sociodemographic factors are considered. The social characteristics of an individual, within the low socioeconomic status with lack of social support, become associated with an increasing likelihood of tobacco smoking (Jennifer B Ungera, 1999). On the other hand, use of illicit drugs have contributed to both individual and also have upsurge the international tensions. Reduction in the cohesiveness of the family created social marginalisation and have thereby increased crime. Trafficking of illegal drugs is a recognised criminal activity and is also treated as a funding for the terrorism (Lee, 1997). So, basically both Tobacco smoking and Illegal drug abuse is causing a dependency towards individual in use of it, and both are decidedly coming in to prominence from socioeconomic deprivation, but, overall both are of deviant nature and are causing the individual to behave in such a way which are falling outside the scope of societal norms (J M Wallace, 1999).

References

J M Wallace, J., 1999. The epidemiology of alcohol, tobacco and other drug use among black youth. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 60(6), pp. 800-809.
Jarlais, A. N. M. M. S. R. F. D. L. H. S. J. S. G. I. D. C. D., 2001. Potential risk factors for the transition to injecting among non?injecting heroin users: a comparison of former injectors and never injectors. Addiction, 96(6), pp. 847-860.
Jennifer B Ungera, X. C., 1999. The role of social networks and media receptivity in predicting age of smoking initiation: A proportional hazards model of risk and protective factors. Addictive Behaviors, 24(3), pp. 371-381.
Lee, P. C. a. R., 1997. The Andean Cocaine Industry- Consequences of the Illegal Drug Trade.. the Negative Economic, Political and Social Effects of Cocaine on Latin America. Study for the Bureau of International Narcotics Matters of the United States Department of State., 53(3), p. 459.
McLeroy KR, B. D. S. A., 1988. An ecological perspective on health programs. Health Education and Behaviour, Volume 15, pp. 351-377.