In Timothy Williams’ article, “Opioid Users are Filling Jails. Why Don’t Jails Treat Them?”, the methods through which the criminal justice system deals with drug addiction are discussed. By examining how a former drug addict, Dave Mason, dealt with his heroin detoxification process whilst incarcerated, it becomes quickly apparent how jails and prisons may end up encouraging many people to relapse. With the recent national emergency declaration on opioid abuse, there is no doubt any question on how opioid use is becoming a major issue in American society. Therefore, it is necessary to question why many jails and prisons have yet to implement or even allow drug treatment programs, such as the methadone treatment program Mr. Mason completed.
However, in order to understand why some of these “rehabilitative” correctional institutions are failing to impose or even allow drug treatment programs for many people, it is necessary to analyze the surrounding circumstances and biases of drug use from a sociological perspective. According to the sociological imagination, each individual may have personal or private troubles, such as drug abuse. C Wright Mills had stated that these …show more content…
From the functionalist perspective, many higher-class individuals may use drugs as a result of the demanding society and work they do. For example, many Wall Street brokers and finance consultants may utilize drugs in order to “keep up” with the work load they are given, which may lead to addiction. According to the interactive perspective, popular culture media such as movies, as well as peer consumption of drugs in your surrounding culture, or the groups you encounter yourself with, deem drugs as a normal aspect. With drug consumption being considered a “popular” characteristic of the groups you are in, an increasing pressure is placed on the individual to partake in this
However, in order to understand why some of these “rehabilitative” correctional institutions are failing to impose or even allow drug treatment programs for many people, it is necessary to analyze the surrounding circumstances and biases of drug use from a sociological perspective. According to the sociological imagination, each individual may have personal or private troubles, such as drug abuse. C Wright Mills had stated that these …show more content…
From the functionalist perspective, many higher-class individuals may use drugs as a result of the demanding society and work they do. For example, many Wall Street brokers and finance consultants may utilize drugs in order to “keep up” with the work load they are given, which may lead to addiction. According to the interactive perspective, popular culture media such as movies, as well as peer consumption of drugs in your surrounding culture, or the groups you encounter yourself with, deem drugs as a normal aspect. With drug consumption being considered a “popular” characteristic of the groups you are in, an increasing pressure is placed on the individual to partake in this