Alcoholism as a Major Social Problem

The problem of alcoholism is viewed as a major social problem, one that has an impact not only on the individual and not only on his or her family but on society as a whole. Society pays a price for a high incidence of alcoholism in the form of work days missed, health issues, medical expenses, devastation wrought by drunk drivers, and so on. Alcoholism has been examined from a number of different perspectives in an attempt to explain its etiology or its consequences. The prevailing perspective is the medical model, which holds that alcoholism is a disease, which also means that it can be treated through medical means. This approach has its limitations, however, and a viable alternative perspective that is based on a different etiology and a different methodology for addressing the issue is the sociological perspective. Theorists using this perspective approach alcoholism in terms of its social aspects, considering what types of society produce an alcoholic problem, whether there is an economic aspect to alcoholism, the relationship between dependency and the abuse of alcohol, and various societal dynamics contributing to the alcohol problem. The issues to be addressed include:

-what types of society produce an alcohol problem.

-whether there is an economic aspect to alcoholism.

-the relationship between dependence and the abuse of alcohol.

-various societal factors contributing to the problem.

Different rationales have been offered for alcoholism in primitive soci

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mortality from liver cirrhosis declines (liver cirrhosis occurs primarily among heavy, long-term drinkers, but it is quickly arrested if drinking stops). Political conditions can also affect heavy drinking, as happened in France during World War II, the United States during Prohibition, and in Sweden when more liberal liquor-laws were adopted (pp. 63-65). Sociological Theory and Deviance Henslin (1988) utilizes the framework of individualism vs. structuralism to provide an overview of theory in the sociology of deviance. The question is posed as to why some people, but not others, commit deviant acts even though they know those acts will be negatively viewed by others and bring sanctions on themselves. This framework can be applied to major theoretical orientations (e.g., Freudian), each with its own limitations (pp. 211-223). Klemke (1989) notes that the sociology of deviance has traditionally focused on understanding why deviance occurs and addresses the issue of how, once an individual becomes involved in deviance, that person (and others aware of it) responds to this contingency. The main deviant modes of adaptations for the deviant actor are identified as: 1) deviance seeking; 2) deviance maintenance; 3) dazed consci

Category: Psychology - A