Drugs, Intoxication and Society

by Angus Bancroft

Drugs and intoxication have been facts of human life for millennia. Across the world, many people use illicit drugs, smoke, and drink alcohol. Yet very little has been written about their experiences. Academics, politicians and media reporting on the topic tend only to consider intoxication when it manifests as a social problem. This book takes a more nuanced view, and examines drug and alcohol use from a wider number of perspectives. It discusses issues such as the history of drug and alcohol use, the attractions of intoxication to individuals, and the control and regulation of drugs and their users. It also examines evidence for the rise of the so-called pharmaceutical society, and asks whether society is on the cusp of a revolution in psychoactive substance use. This engagingly written text will make fascinating reading for upper-level students taking a range of courses, including social work, social policy, the sociology of drugs, deviance and social control, and drugs and crime. It will also appeal to researchers and anyone working with drug and alcohol users looking for a level-headed analysis of the pleasures and pains, highs and lows, of substance use.

224 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2008

Reviews

[Johan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great and refreshing book about sociological approaches to drugs and intoxication. Bancroft offers a wide range of theories and viewpoints about the social nature of taking licit and illicit drugs. The subject matter is also broad, drawing from history, anthropology, cultural phenomena and sociology. This book is great for finding interesting material to read, both academic and literary and is in my opinion a must read for anyone writing about or taking an interest in the sociology of drugs or intoxication. Highly recommended!