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.

Open to degree and PACE students

Course Description This course provides a sociological examination of the production, regulation, and sale of drugs in Latin America, focusing on cocaine. Drug consumption is conventionally viewed as an individual choice based in individual morality. This course is designed to problematize the conventional, individualistic perspective on drug consumption. Instead, this course will illuminate how the consumption, production, and sale of drugs in Latin America is influenced by transnational, political, economic, cultural, and historical factors. In addition, the course will examine the violence that is produced in Latin America partly due to the criminalization of the drug trade. In addition to grappling with academic scholarship on the topic, the course will examine media representations of narcotrafficking through viewings of the television shows Narcos: Mexico. The course structure comprises of the following modules. Module 1. Theories & History of Drugs in Latin America Module 2. Drug Trafficking & US Foreign Policy in Latin America Module 3. The ‘War on Drugs’ in Mexico Module 4. Organized Crime & Violence in Latin America Module 5. Gun Violence in Latin America Learning Objectives 1. Students will learn how transnational, political, economic, cultural, and historical factors influence the production, sale, and consumption of cocaine and other drugs in Latin America. 2. Students will explore theories of drug consumption and drug production. 3. Students will learn to apply sociological research methods to examine of patterns of drug consumption and distribution in Latin America.

This course combines lecture and discussion formats. Students should expect to spend 6-8 hours a week on coursework outside of class, with additional time for writing response papers, and preparing for and taking exams. Students will require a subscription to the Netflix streaming service in order to view the television show Narcos: Mexico. Readings for the course comprise of academic articles or academic e-books accessible freely through the UVM Libraries. Students are not required to purchase books or textbooks for this course. Students are expected to complete all tests and response papers and attend class regularly. There will be no opportunities to make up for missed tests or response papers.

The learning evaluation for the course comprises of tests (75%), response papers (15%), and class participation (10%). Tests (3*25% = 75%). There will be four short-answer tests worth 25% each. The lowest test score will be dropped, so that only the top three test scores are counted in the final grade. The tests will take place at the end of Weeks 3, 6, 11, and 15. Response Papers (3*5%=15%). There will be five response papers that will be two pages in length. Each response paper is worth 5%. The lowest two response paper scores will be dropped, so that only the top three response paper scores are counted in the final grade. Response papers will be due at the end of Weeks 2, 4, 8, 12, and 14. Class participation (10%). Class participation will be evaluated through iClicker.