The social construction of drug scares: Key ingredients and lessons
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An exploration of Craig Reinerman's "The Social Construction of Drug Scares"
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The social construction of drug scares: Key ingredients and lessons
- 1. The Social Construction of Drug Scares Craig Reinerman, 1994 Presentation By: Josiah Parry
- 2. Historical Contexts Temperance Movements in early US Introduction of First Drug Laws restricting Opium use Targeting Mexicans by outlawing marijuana
- 3. Finding a Recipe 7 Key INGREDIENTS 1. A Kernel of Truth 2. Media Magnification 3. Politico-Moral Entrepreneurs 4. Professional Interest Groups 5. Historical Context of Conflict 6. Linking a Form of Drug Use to a “Dangerous Class” 7. Scapegoating a Drug for Social Ills
- 4. Finding a Kernel Humans transitioned from hunting//gathering to primitive agriculture All Societies consume mind altering substances Any consumption of mind altering substance can be claimed as a problem
- 5. Media Magnification Routinization of Caricature Dramatizing drug problems Illustration of worst case scenarios as regular Sales and promotion of problems
- 6. Politico Moral Entrepreneurs Individuals capitalize on scares Usually Political bringing attention to a “problem” Attempt to rid evil Portrayed with humanitarian overtones Deflect attention from systemic social problems
- 7. Professional Interest Groups Groups take “ownership” of drug problems Groups can create a public definition Project meaning of a social problem onto public through means Inerest groups claim authority by virtue of their position Ownership of social probelms can shift
- 8. Historical Context of Conflict Wherever drug scares occur you can find underlying social ills Drugs act as functional villains of the social ills Much more satisfying to blame a concept or an object than people themselves Types of conflicts behind scares Economic, political, cultural, class, racial or combination Claim makers can blame certain groups of drug users Returns to point three, diverting public attention
- 9. Linking a Form of Drug Use to a “Dangerous Class”Drug scares focus on use by a particular group of people These groups are already seen as threats by hegemonic power groups Examples Chinese & Opium Marijuana & Mexican Alcohol & Catholics Crack & Blacks
- 10. Scapegoating Drugs for Social Problems Drugs are labeled & blames for pre-existing problems Creates illusions of potentially “pure” society We can look at temperance societies Envisioned Pure Societies Scapegoating is the strongest factor of a drug scare Example: Marijuana & LSD during Vietnam War for youth family issues
- 11. Key Lessons Drug Scares allow for Social Control Drug Scares divert populus attention from true social Ills
- 12. Why is the US susceptible to Drug Scares?
- 13. US Temperance US was created from a temperance culture Temperance values Self Control and Individualism Self Control is dependent on individual not external factors Lack of self control is easily attributed to individuals who use drugs Drug induced altered consciousness is viewed as a loss of self control
- 14. Consumer Society // Temperance Conflict Temperance Culture was very strong during 19th and 20th century Characterized by self control and “purity” 20th Century Consumerism Grows Introduction of mass produced goods by Henry Ford Increased incentives to indulge for immediate gratification Leaves us with a Question: “How does this push pull affect drug addiction?”