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Sociological Perspective On Drug Addiction

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Addiction has been a sociological issue for decades upon centuries. Alcoholism was first treated as a mental health condition in the New York State Inebriate Asylum in 1864 after Founding Father Benjamin Rush brought to light the concept of addiction as a disease (Patterson.) Addiction causes people around the world to suffer from the loss of the ability to resist craving despite the negative consequences of the craving (Addiction.) Two basic types of addiction are highlighted: behavioral addiction and drug or alcohol addiction. Both behavioral and drug or alcohol addiction come from changes in the make up of the brain. This factor essentially makes it a brain disease (Leshner.) Leading factors of addiction are very important to look at as well as how to diminish the addiction population in the context of society. Addiction is important to look at from a sociological perspective, seeing how it affects the everyday interactions within a society. Behavioral …show more content…
Peer pressure is a large factor when considering why teens do anything. They feel that what their friends say is cool is the same thing society says will make them cool. Easy drug access is also a huge societal problem. Because the drugs are so readily available, teens start to fall in love with the idea of an easy high. Rebellion against society and family is also posed as a reason for drug abuse in teenagers and understandably so. A corrupt society is something kids want to break away from and drugs are the easiest way to do

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