Sociology of Drugs

Why are some mind-altering substances called "drugs" and others "medicine"? Why are some drug users called "criminals" while others are called "sick"? In this course, we will examine psychoactive drugs from an historical and sociological perspective. Drawing on a variety of sources - including films, documentaries, and ethnographies - we will consider the political, economic, legal, and social dimensions of drugs and drug use. Through an empirical and theoretical focus on drugs and the "moral panics" surrounding drug users, we will critically analyze a variety of drug control strategies to understand their sociopolitical origins and consequences. 3hrs. lect/disc. (SOAN 0105 or SOAN 0288)