Alcohol and Suicide - Durkheim Revisited

Abstract

The paper reviews Durkheim's theory of suicide, with particular reference to his treat ment of alcohol as a causal factor. It is argued that Durkheim views alcohol as an individual-level factor, rather than as a socio-cultural factor on a par with other social facts This conception is criticized, as is Durkheim's analysis of his data It is argued that the rate of alcohol abuse in society is a social fact that has an explanatory power beyond the level of individual suicides. Some possible causal links between the social suicide rate and rates of alcohol abuse are discussed.