Identify, compare and contrast two of the four sociological perspectives as to how they understand and explain the causes and solutions for drug and alcohol problems in the United States. Which of the perspectives that you selected do you find most useful in understanding this social problem and why?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Answers will vary according to the perspective that students select however, students should be able to identify the major points of the perspectives and their similarities and differences. They should also be able to point out how one of these perspectives will apply to them and provide evidence from their experience or anticipated experience.
•          Functionalists point out the importance of norms and social structure in drug abuse. Students may select terms such as anomie and role strain.
•          Conflict or feminist theorists focus on how economic, ethnic, and gender inequalities and power structures create drug policies and moral crusades. Feminists point out that scientific literature did not even broach the problem of women's addiction until the 1970s. Both perspectives point out the inequalities resulting from policy decisions such as the war on drugs.
•          Interactionists highlight the social construction of drug abuse as well as the ways in which drug use and alcohol consumption is learned (students should include the term differential association highlighting the importance of groups and contact). They can also show how groups such as Native Americans are stigmatized by labels that hide the complexity of the impact of alcoholism and the fact that a large segment of the Native population does not drink.