Reflective Journal Chap. 1, 2 & 3

September 9, 2012

In chapters one through three we read about an overall sociological view of social problems, physical and mental health and health care, and alcohol and other drugs. These chapters were to help us better understand these specific issues from a sociological perspective. I really found the chapter regarding alcohol and drug use to be the most interesting probably do to the fact that I am trying to get my degree emphasis in chemical addictions treatment. I also found out a few new things in the chapter that discussed health, one being that in the United States, 54% of those with HIV are from male to male sexual contact. To me this seems like an absurdly high amount when there is a pretty simple solution, like wearing condoms. One thing I thought should have been covered more in chapter three was personal stories or examples of what was being discussed. Like in chapter two, there was an example of a young boy who had gotten hurt and how health care played a role in his recovery. Another part of the reading that I found interesting was the part that discussed mental illness, like chemical addictions, this is another part I am studying in school and find to be fascinating, that a person can be fine one day and the next day come up with having a mental illness, whether it be depression or schizophrenia. Overall I liked chapters two and three more then chapter one, which discussed more of the theories and views of sociology on social problems, where as the other chapter discussed the social problem more in depth. Much of this information isn’t new to me, I have dealt with drug and alcohol addiction along with mental health issues since I was young, but by reading more about each topic it has allowed me to broaden my personal view on the topic. Much of what the chapters cover I agree with, the only part I disagree with is the theory that marijuana is a gateway drug, but only because in my experience it doesn’t seem to work that way, and that some people are just more prone to drug use then others. 

Societal Consequences of Drug Abuse

Societal Consequences of Drug Use and Drug Abuse comes from Chapter Three of the textbook. I chose this section to look into because I have dealt with drug and alcohol addiction and wanted to go more in depth as to the effects it has on not only people close to me but people in society as a whole.


http://ida.lib.uidaho.edu:3304/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=47531648-90b5-4c88-b07d-f0464ad13f4c%40sessionmgr14&vid=2&hid=9

This journal discusses the effects of drug use in an area in the United Kingdom. It discusses how with an increase of drug use there has also been in increase in property crime, gang violence and now organized crime.

(Project No Gangs)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Yc4EDCvgP4
(Human Relation Media, 2010)

http://www.parl.gc.ca/Content/SEN/Committee/371/ille/library/collin-e.htm
(Casavant, 2001)
This site talks about the connection between drug use and crime, it also discusses how the difference in legality of the drug can effect the amount of crime that tends to be involved. It also discusses what kind of crime happens more often when drugs are an issue.

http://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/medical-consequences-drug-abuse
(National Institute of Drug Abuse)
In this website you will learn more on the medical consequences you could deal with when using different types of drugs. It also goes into explaining how drug addiction is a disease itself.

“Drugs are a waste of time. They destroy your memory and your self-respect and everything that goes along with with your self esteem.” - Kurt Cobain

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My name is Alex and I'm a student at the University of Idaho. I am a Psychology major with an emphasis in Treatment of Chemical Addictions.

"No one can be perfectly free till all are free; no one can be perfectly moral till all are moral; no one can be perfectly happy till all are happy."
Herbert Spencer


I believe sociological research and theories can be beneficial in understanding and dealing with social problems around the world. One theory being a Structural-Functionalist Perspective, that society is made up of parts that have to work together as whole in order to keep a sort of equilibrium. There are two parts to this theory that try and explain the social problems that occur around us. One side being that social problems are happening due to a breakdown of different parts of society, like family, education, economy and so on. Another part describes how social norms and the disruption of social norms are causing social problems, like how drinking underage goes against social norms but then is portrayed on television as something cool. To me, sociological research does a lot in trying to explain the different parts that come about with social problems and it tries to find the root of the problem so instead of dealing with the symptoms of the problem, you deal with the problem itself.