Substance Use and Abuse: Sociological Perspectives

(Hardback)

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Description

Examines substance use and abuse from a variety of sociological perspectives. While the issues of substance use and abuse have been addressed from a variety of perspectives and approaches, the fundamental social issues have not been covered in any systematic way. This book represents the first academic effort to apply major sociological theories to the field of substance use and abuse in order to provide readers with a solid knowledge base from which they may develop more informed ideas about prevention, intervention, treatment, law enforcement, and social reactions to this ubiquitous social problem. Using a systematic framework, Shaw reviews the existing literature, explains key concepts, addresses fundamental issues, and discusses the policy implications for public health, social control, community, and work. This comprehensive sociological treatment of substance use and abuse is essential reading for educators in public policy, sociology, criminology, and deviance. Applying the major sociological theories of anomie, career, conflict, functionalist, rational choice, social control, social disorganization, social learning, social reaction, and subculture perspectives, Shaw provides an important overview of the issues involved with substance use and abuse. By utilizing such an approach, he demonstrates that public views, governmental policies, intervention strategies, and prevention programming can be informed by the different sociological theories. This unique consideration and analysis illustrates that no single view on substance use and abuse is absolute or sacred. Therefore, considering the issues from a variety of sociological perspectives will bring greater understanding to a pervasive social problem that continues to plague American society.

Reviews

[a] usable guide to the theoretical terrain underlying drugs and alcohol research, Each chapter provides a clear overview of the intellectual traditions of each perspective and offers concrete suggestions for incorporating theoretical concepts in applied research methods. In particular, the book has potential as a reference source to help sociologists doing applied drug research submit more theoretically grounded papers to academic journals.-Contemporary Sociology
Shaw has insightfully and successfully compiled all the major sociological theories and perspectives for explaining drug use and abuse into one volume....Essential. Anyone researching and seeking theoretical explanations about drug use.-Choice
"a usable guide to the theoretical terrain underlying drugs and alcohol research, Each chapter provides a clear overview of the intellectual traditions of each perspective and offers concrete suggestions for incorporating theoretical concepts in applied research methods. In particular, the book has potential as a reference source to help sociologists doing applied drug research submit more theoretically grounded papers to academic journals."-Contemporary Sociology
"Shaw has insightfully and successfully compiled all the major sociological theories and perspectives for explaining drug use and abuse into one volume....Essential. Anyone researching and seeking theoretical explanations about drug use."-Choice
"[a] usable guide to the theoretical terrain underlying drugs and alcohol research, Each chapter provides a clear overview of the intellectual traditions of each perspective and offers concrete suggestions for incorporating theoretical concepts in applied research methods. In particular, the book has potential as a reference source to help sociologists doing applied drug research submit more theoretically grounded papers to academic journals."-Contemporary Sociology

Author Bio

VICTOR N. SHAW is Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, California State University, Northridge.