Lecture 8: Deviance and Drugs - In Depth Notes

Lecture Overview

This lecture focuses on the complex interplay between deviance, particularly regarding illicit drugs and their role in society, as well as the crime-drug nexus and regulatory responses to drug-related issues.

Understanding Crime and Deviance

In examining crime, we reference Durkheim’s proposition that crime should be seen as a normal phenomenon within society. He noted that it contributes to public health and is integral to the function of healthy societies. This view challenges the notion that crime is merely a product of individual wickedness, suggesting a more structural understanding of societal issues.

Illicit Drugs Defined

The lecture emphasizes the term psychoactive drug, which denotes substances impacting brain systems linked to reward and pleasure. In criminology, psychoactive drugs usually refer to illicit substances regulated by law, including both diverted pharmaceuticals with therapeutic potential and illegal drugs such as heroin, cocaine, and cannabis. This understanding is pivotal, as it underscores the complexity of drug regulation, which aims to suppress the illicit drug market while ensuring access to necessary medical drugs. The overlapping nature of both markets complicates enforcement and public perceptions.

Historical Context

A historical timeline of drug use in Australia illustrates how societal attitudes and legal frameworks surrounding drugs have evolved from 1857 to 2020, indicating increasingly complex interactions regarding drug policies and public health.

Why People Use Illicit Drugs

The motivations behind illicit drug use are multifaceted, including:

  • Addiction

  • Pain relief

  • Anxiety management

  • Personal escape

  • Peer pressure

  • Desires for body modification or self-improvement

  • Rebellion against societal norms

  • Social bonding and experimentation

These factors highlight that drug use is often deeply embedded in social contexts and individual experiences rather than mere choice or moral failing.

The Drug-Crime Nexus

The relationship between drugs and crime is categorized into three main types:

  1. Psychopharmacological Crimes - Offenses associated with individuals committing 'out of character' acts, particularly under the influence of drugs, though these incidents are relatively rare.

  2. Economic-Compulsive Crimes - Offenses committed by addicted users primarily to obtain drugs, often linked to petty crimes such as theft and prostitution.

  3. Systemic Drug Crimes - Crimes related to the drug trade, including violence associated with drug distribution and turf wars among trafficking organizations. This category involves severe criminal activity and is often linked to significant violence and corruption.

Measuring Harm

The harm associated with drug use can be bifurcated into two categories:

  • Harm to Users: This includes direct causes such as specific mortality and dependence, along with related harms like the loss of social connections and mental impairment.

  • Harm to Others: This includes indirect harms such as injury, crime (including economic costs), and impacts on family life and community reputation.
    Understanding these dimensions is critical for developing effective drug policies.

Regulatory Responses

The responses to the issues surrounding illicit drug use are varied:

  • Prohibition: Focused on reducing drug use and associated crime through stringent law enforcement. However, it often exacerbates issues and disproportionately impacts marginalized communities.

  • Supply and Demand Reduction: In Australia, strategies include targeting supply through law enforcement, demand reduction via education and rehabilitation, and harm reduction through measures like needle exchanges.

  • Decriminalization: This involves removing criminal penalties for drug possession/use, leading to positive outcomes in treatment uptake and reduced health risks.

  • Legalisation/Regulation: Advocates for regulated legal frameworks argue this approach could dismantle systemic drug crime and yield economic benefits.

Conclusion

The discourse surrounding illicit drugs is often characterized by stigma and misinformation. The reality is that most drug users do not face significant problems. Furthermore, various illicit substances pose lesser harms compared to some legal drugs. The current drug policies, particularly prohibition, are financially burdensome and tend to exacerbate issues rather than resolve them. Hence, alternative approaches such as decriminalization and regulation should be prioritized for better public health outcomes and harm reduction.