Symbolic Interactionism And Drug Abuse

A social problem that is present in our current society would be drug usage. Drug usage is a common social problem that affects a tremendous amount of people on a daily basis. It is considered to be a problem because it intervenes with the drug user’s life as well as anyone else around that person’s life. As a drug user, that person’s reality is now wrapped around the drug. A drug abuser’s life is now socially reconstructed around that drug, leading to his entire reality to change dramatically. When a person chooses to engage in any type of drug abuse, the concept of symbolic interactionism comes into play; specifically the principle of the use of meaning once derived. According to this principle, a person’s interactions are needed to guide …show more content…
Based on the interactions that the person underwent during that day, he was able to guide his responsive behavior by turning to drugs as an escape from that horrible day. The usage of drugs can eventually become addictive, making it nearly impossible for the person to quit doing it. Not only that, but the person’s daily life can take a turn for the worst.
Unfortunately, many people who undergo horrific interactions with others or themselves often times respond and act upon them in a very negatively way. This can occur due to an individual’s personality. Not only that but an individual’s culture, views on life, and his surrounding can also influence behavior. On the other hand, there are also those people who take any bad interaction and still manage to guide their behavior in a positive manner. For instance, based on the principle discussed, a drug abuser can turn his addictive desires around. That person can possibly interact with other people who have had a worse drug experience and guide his future behavior in a positively way based and that interaction. He can do so by attending support groups, or some kind of group therapy. After interacting with a terminal drug