Drug Abuse

Considering the fact that an individual's use of drug is often related to their relationships with others and their environment, the measurement of drug abuse needs to take into account the larger social context. The ability of individuals to control the extent of their drug use is thus dependent on their support network and interaction with mainstream society (Zinberg & Jacobson, 1974). Thus, the measurement of drug use should incorporate a variety of social settings such as family, neighborhood, school and work. For example, in the case of drug abuse among adolescents, the interrelationships among variables including parental attachment, connections with gangs and deviant peers and academic performance should be incorporated in the measurement of drug abuse (Etz, Robertson, & Ashery, p. 6).

Apart from short-term studies, longitudinal studies should also be used to assess drug abuse. The patterns of drug abuse are likely to vary in accordance with changes in the drug abusers' relationships and the environment. Furthermore, it is important to note that relatio

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to liberate themselves from their feelings of disillusionment and isolation. Merton's (1968) theory of anomie is applied directly to American society in which deviant behavior such as drug abuse occurs because of a large discrepancy between the socially acceptable goals of society and the legitimate means for achieving them. Although the dream of having a home and well-paid job is regarded as the ultimate goal in American society for most members in mainstream society, not all individuals are given the same opportunities to realize this dream. Thus, the inequality of opportunity, along with the society's celebration of achievement, can place high stress on individuals (pp. 186-90). Consequently, some members of society may resort to the use of drugs to escape from their problems or even sell drugs in order to acquire material wealth. Although Durkheim and Merton espouse two different versions of the theory of anomie, they offer a compelling explanation of why many people choose to engage in drug abuse in American society. In the modern society that is characterized by computer technology, the widespread use of the Internet, increasing specialization in the workplace, the bonds of connections between people in community h
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Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1241
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page)