Outline and evaluate two or more competing theories of drug use. Which of these do you think is most successful at explaining contemporary patterns of drug use, and why?
The causes of drug use have been under discussion for many years. In this essay, I will outline several theories which divided into three main areas: biological theories, psychological theories and sociological theories. As far as I am concerned, the sociological theories is the most successful at explaining contemporary patterns of drug use. The rest of this essay will be an comparison and evaluation of these three areas above and an explanation of the reason why sociological theories is the most convincing one.
Biological theories
Many researches show that the genetic …show more content…
According to Goods(1972:70)”what causes drug use, like most or all deviant behavior, is the absence of social controls encouraging conformity. Most of us do not engage in deviant or criminal acts because of strong bonds with or ties to conventional, mainstream persons, beliefs, activities, and social institutions. If these bonds are weak or broken, we will be released from society’s rules and free to deviate—and this includes drug use.” Just like the famous broken window theory, , if people have seen some one else had done things that normally against the rules and without been punished,people intend to follow the others and imitate their behaviors.Self control theory and social control theory are complementary. Hirschi and Gottfredson(1970) argues that basically, the social control theory only applys on people who is lack of self control. For example,the use of cannabits is legal in UK, but not every single person who can obtain cannabits will use it. But if someone really lack of self control, the person may request and use cannabits actively.No matter what, there is a little doubt that the lack of social control will enhance the number of people who is lacks of self
The causes of drug use have been under discussion for many years. In this essay, I will outline several theories which divided into three main areas: biological theories, psychological theories and sociological theories. As far as I am concerned, the sociological theories is the most successful at explaining contemporary patterns of drug use. The rest of this essay will be an comparison and evaluation of these three areas above and an explanation of the reason why sociological theories is the most convincing one.
Biological theories
Many researches show that the genetic …show more content…
According to Goods(1972:70)”what causes drug use, like most or all deviant behavior, is the absence of social controls encouraging conformity. Most of us do not engage in deviant or criminal acts because of strong bonds with or ties to conventional, mainstream persons, beliefs, activities, and social institutions. If these bonds are weak or broken, we will be released from society’s rules and free to deviate—and this includes drug use.” Just like the famous broken window theory, , if people have seen some one else had done things that normally against the rules and without been punished,people intend to follow the others and imitate their behaviors.Self control theory and social control theory are complementary. Hirschi and Gottfredson(1970) argues that basically, the social control theory only applys on people who is lack of self control. For example,the use of cannabits is legal in UK, but not every single person who can obtain cannabits will use it. But if someone really lack of self control, the person may request and use cannabits actively.No matter what, there is a little doubt that the lack of social control will enhance the number of people who is lacks of self