Substance use & abuse : cultural and historical perspectives / Russil Durrant, Jo Thakker.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Durrant, Russil.

Contributor:

Thakker, Jo.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Substance abuse--Social aspects.

Substance abuse.

Drug abuse--Social aspects.

Drug abuse.

Physical Description:

xi, 311 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Other Title:

Substance use and abuse

Place of Publication:

Thousand Oaks, Calif. : Sage Publications, [2003]

Summary:

Substance use and abuse are two of the most frequent psychological problems clinicians encounter. Mainstream approaches focus on the biological and psychological factors supporting drug abuse. But to fully comprehend the issue, clinicians need to consider the social, historical, and cultural factors responsible for drug-related problems. Substance Use and Abuse: Cultural and Historical Perspectives provides an inclusive explanation of the human desire to take drugs. Using a multidisciplinary framework, authors Russil Durrant and Jo Thakker explore the cultural and historical variables that contribute to drug use. Integrating biological, psychosocial, and cultural-historical perspectives, this innovative and accessible volume addresses the fundamental question of why drug use is such a ubiquitous feature of human society. Designed for upper-division undergraduate and graduate students in psychology, counseling, sociology, social work, and health departments, Substance Use and Abuse: Cultural and Historical Perspectives will also be of significant interest to drug clinicians, researchers, and social scientists.

Contents:

Levels of Analysis and the Multidisciplinary Nature of Psychoactive Drug Studies 3

Toward an Integrated Model of Substance Use and Abuse 6

2. The Nature and Scope of Substance Use and Abuse 13

Who Uses Drugs? 15

Taxonomy of Drug Use Contexts 20

The Harm and Benefits of Drugs 23

From Use to Abuse 26

3. An Evolutionary Perspective 34

The Nature and Role of Evolutionary Explanations 36

Has Drug Use Been Selected For? 38

Drugs and the Brain 40

Drug Use, Sexual Selection, and Life History Theory 45

From Use to Abuse 51

An Integrated Evolutionary Model of Substance Use 54

4. Drugs in History 59

What Can History Tell Us About Substance Use and Abuse? 60

A Brief History of Drugs 63

Early History 64

Drugs and the Birth of the Modern World 68

A New Order: Drugs in the Twentieth Century 79

5. The Forces of History: Explaining Patterns of Use and Abuse 89

The Functions of Drugs in Historical Perspective 90

Pharmacology 94

New Forms, New Modes, New Substances: The Impact of Technological Change on Drug Use 95

Availability 98

Economic and Political Factors 100

Legislation and Public Policy 104

Social Factors 106

A Complex Web: Multiple Influences on Patterns of Drug Use 113

6. Drugs and Culture 119

Conceptual and Methodological Issues 121

Indigenous Patterns of Drug Use 126

Oceania 127

Asia 130

Africa and the Middle East 132

The Americas 136

Drugs and Multiculturalism 142

Ethnic Groups 143

Migrants and Drug Use 149

Other Cultural Groups 150

7. The Role of Culture: Explaining Patterns of Use 156

Drugs and Culture 157

The Function of Drugs in Cultural Perspective 157

Alien Poisons Versus Culturally Integrated Substances 160

Production, Supply, and Availability 162

Culture and Drugs 163

Genetic Factors 164

Norms, Values, and Roles 166

Beliefs, Expectations, and Concepts 169

Socialization and Social Identity 172

Social-Structural Factors 177

Social Organization, Social Control, and Power 177

The Minority Experience: Marginalization, Poverty, Prejudice, and Social Change 179

Integrating Cultural Explanations 183

8. Conceptualizing and Treating Substance Use Problems: A Cultural-Historical Perspective 191

The Pre- and Early History of Addiction 192

Treatment for Alcohol and Drug Problems in the Nineteenth Century 197

The Changing Face of Drug Addiction: 1914-1960 199

The Alcoholism Movement 202

Contemporary Developments 204

Culture and Classification 208

Implications 211

9. Prevention, Treatment, and Public Policy: An Integrated Perspective 216

Assessment 223

Biological and Psychosocial Treatment Approaches 226

Cultural Issues 229

Natural Recovery 232

A Holistic View of Treatment 234

Legal Sanctions, Regulations, and Restrictions 238

Harm Reduction 243.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 251-289) and indexes.

ISBN:

0761923411

076192342X

OCLC:

51613907