Impact of Social Deviance on Drug Abuse

Social Problems
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation
Social Problems
While different approaches view social problems as a process, Buettner (2016) defines it as the conditions and factors that damage or disrupt society. Social issues include racial discrimination, alcohol and drug abuse, and poverty, among others. These social problems are significantly influenced by social phenomena ranging from social deviance to social inequality. Social deviance refers to a phenomenon that studies the violation of certain cultural norms through informal or formal contexts. Studies point towards the fact that there is a connection between social deviance and social problems.
Impact of Social Deviance on Drug Abuse
There are increasing studies that prove a substantial cause and effect relationship between social deviance and drug abuse. From a broader perspective, societies have norms upon which the behaviors of all members are based. Thus, certain sanctions, in the form of rejection or otherwise, may be imposed on people who defy these beliefs. While deviance relies on perceived harmfulness, standards, and warnings to people within the community are equally pegged on the notion or idea that abuse of drugs may cause problems with far-reaching consequences, ranging from social to health (Buettner, 2016). At the social level, it affects how they relate with other members of the larger society and the overall coexistence, which automatically becomes strained. On the other hand, their impact on her health presents the micro perspective.
The nature of the existence of may express in a way that perpetuates drug abuse. According to Akers and Jennings (2019), deviance is linked with delinquent behavior owing to the disruptions and troubles that it brings. Abusers of drugs typically engage in socially non-conformist activities. There is always an element of succumbing to peer influence or pressure, although they perceivably identify themselves as pleasure-seeking, tolerant, and independent individuals. The use of drugs and their subsequent abuse begins when these people wish to identify themselves with certain things that are outside the norm. Indeed, there is likely to be some element of the stigma that comes with drug abuse. They, however, depend on the identification mentioned above to revert all manners of shame. Consequently, a drug abuse subculture becomes their priority as they will feel more motivated to continue because they think it is rebellious, enjoyable, and offers them an identity.
The Conflict Theory
The use of drugs like marijuana, for example, is a form of drug abuse and is illegal in most countries, globally. This theory supports the view that economic and social factors are significant causes of deviance and crime. Further, conflict theorists argue t...