Substance Abuse

Paper Summary:

This paper addresses the reasons behind pathological behavior such as substance abuse. It looks at ideas by social theorists such as Emile Durkheim and Victor Shaw who have paved the way for our understanding on the issue. The paper examines Durkheim's "The Rules of Sociological Method" where he questions what is normal and what is pathological. It also shows his views on crime and criminal behavior. The paper then discusses Victor Shaw's theories on functionalism and how it fits into Durkheim's ideas. The paper concludes with suggestions on approaching substance abuse in the 'real world'.

Paper Outline:
Durkheim on what is Normal and what is Pathological
Crime and Criminals: Durkheim says it's all Normal
Shaw on Functionalism through the writings of Durkheim and Others
Durkheim Justifies his Method and his Rules of Distinction
Duty and Morality
Theoretical Explanation of Substance Abuse
Policy Suggestions on Approaching Substance Use and Abuse in the Real World

From the Paper:

"Durkheim (1982, 101) says "crime is necessary" because it is "linked to the basic conditions of social life." And it is "useful," too, "for the conditions to which it is bound are themselves indispensable to the normal evolution of morality and law." That may be a little hard for a prosecutor to swallow as he prepares a case against a college student who not only uses cocaine, for example, but sells cocaine to fellow students to support her habit. But for Durkheim's part, he states (1982, 101-102) that individual originality, in order to evolve, "must be allowed to manifest itself." And, so that the "idealist who dreams of transcending his era" must be allowed to "display" himself, so, too, must "the criminal" be allowed to fall short of his era. That would seem more philosophical than sociological, but soon after those remarks Durkheim says "crime itself may play a useful part..." in the evolution of society. "

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