A Sociological View of Narcotics Addiction

Abstract

Narcotics addiction has been viewed and dealt with in the United States as a legal rather than a medical problem. The consequences of this approach have been the enactment of laws and the use of "treatment" procedures which, instead of curbing the rate of ad diction, have increased it. An adequate theoretical explanation of the etiology of narcotics addiction and the exacerbation of this problem in the United States must include consideration of socio- cultural and psychological or potential motivational factors associ ated with the taking of narcotic drugs.