Sociology: Drugs & Society

Patterns of illicit drug distribution, use, abuse, and control in contemporary society. Examines the interaction of cultural, social, psychological, and physiological factors in prohibited drug-taking.

Asynchronous online

The course focuses on drug use and abuse as a social--rather than as a medical or psychopathological--phenomenon. Topics include the history of drug use and drug legislation, the psychology and sociology of drug use, the drug business, drug laws and enforcement, U.S. and global drug policy, and, most of all, a detailed look at the current opioid crisis in the U.S. Learning materials: 1) Beth Macy, Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted Americas (Little, Brown, and Company, 2018). ISBN paperback (ISBN: 9780316551304). (a New York Times bestseller) – can be ordered from the UVM bookstore (tel.: 800-331-7305 or 802-656-3290) or from popular vendors such as Amazon. 2) We will be also using the text Howard Abadinsky, Drug Use and Abuse. IMPORTANT: Instead of the print or e-book, our course will be using the MINDTAP version. MINDTAP is an online platform that will work on PC/MAC and has a mobile app to use offline as well.

Active participation throughout the duration of the course, on-time preparation and posting of concluded assignments, and a willingness to consider new ideas.

Students will be evaluated on the basis of several objective exams, postings to a discussion group, and one optional paper.