DRUG AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE

DEVIANCE:
Deviant behaviour and drug abuse, managing deviance,
forms of deviance,
 Deviance is defined as non-conformity to social, cultural or behavioral
norms.
The sociological perspective suggests that deviance can only be
defined in the presence of rules.
Deviance is the consequence of applying certain rules to behaviors or
action.
Sociological Definition of Deviance
Stresses social context, not individual behavior.
Recognizes that not all behaviors are judged similarly by all groups.
Recognizes that established rules and norms are socially created.
Main Forms Of Deviance
1. Societal deviance
This is an act which most of society would agree is not classed as part
of normal behaviour.
Drug abuse could be considered as societal deviance.
2. Concealed deviance
Is that which no one sees, something which a person can keep hidden
away it is still considered not part of societies set of norms.
A man, who likes to dress up in women's clothes, could be considered
a concealed deviant as they do this in the privacy of their own homes.
3. Situational deviance
where it is only considered deviance in the culture you are in at that
time and may not be considered deviant by every society.
4. Collective or public deviance
this is deviance shared by a group of people which does not conform
to that which is considered social norms, however follow a set of
norms they have created within their own subculture
 Over time and as social attitudes change so do the norms and values
of those societies these can often lead to acts which were once
considered crimes or deviant to become norms.
Crimes change with time and culture and what is considered a crime
in one society may not be in another, it is believed by most that crime
is a social construction made up by norms and values of each society
and culture.
Risk-Taking Behavior
Deviant behavior is often linked with antisocial or delinquent
behavior in that the acts are often troublesome and disrupting.
Involvement in criminal activities, drug and alcohol mis-use, violence
and aggression are some of the common deviant behaviors that
occur.
Drug and alcohol abuse is common because individuals will often
seek out or engage in activities that are socially non-conformist.
They identify as rebellious, tolerant, pleasure seeking and
independent.
DEVIANCE AND ADDICTION
Deviance and addiction combined can be a very dangerous and damaging
thing.
Substances may magnify some of the negative symptoms associated with
deviance such as antisocial behavior, aggression, lying and disengagement.
Psychoactive substances (which includes alcohol) alter how people react and
respond to people or places.
A person who may otherwise have been interested in particular activities or
people will become withdrawn, fail to meet obligations, avoid going to certain
places or see certain people.
A person who was living outside social norms could become even further
removed.
Drugs or alcohol will take over their life, control how they feel and what they
do.
DEVIANT LIFESTYLE
A deviant lifestyle is one that can be difficult to break, especially if
there is the added pressure of addiction.
The long term consequences of abusing drugs and alcohol can cause
problems with health, relationships, socializing and financial
problems.
Managing deviance
There are 5 basic techniques of managing deviance.
i. secrecy
ii. manipulating the physical setting
iii. rationalizations
iv. change to non-deviance
v. joining deviant subcultures
1. Secrecy
The deviant keeps secrets from those around them.
The thought behind it being that if nobody ever knows about
their deviant behavior there is no one who can place negative
sanctions upon the deviant.
2. Manipulating the physical setting -
the deviant chooses to avoid negative sanctions by appearing to be
legitimate in their reasons for taking part in the act or situation.
For example a prostitute may work under the guise of being an escort
or masseuse.
3. Rationalization
trying to justify why the particular act was commited.
a shoplifter who justifies their actions by saying that the store has
insurance and can afford to suffer the loss.
4. change to non-deviance.
For example, criminals will refer to the technique as going straight.
5. Joining a deviant subculture -
Joining the subculture makes the deviant feel like they are less deviant
because they are surrounded by their deviance.