Labelers and Labelees: Drug Abusers and the Labeling Perspective

Abstract

One of the theoretical perspectives currently prevailing in the sociology of deviance which purports to “explain” the phenomena of deviance is labeling theory or, more generally, the societal reaction approach. Since drug abuse or, in some instances, mere drug use is generally considered to be an activity to which the sociology of deviance addresses itself, this paper examines some of the basic tenets of the labeling approach, some criticisms of the approach, and the approach's applicability or inapplicability in “explaining” a deviant activity such as drug abuse. One implication of labeling is that the orientation is a reflection of public policy—an outcome of public policy. Whatever the “causes” of individual cases of drug abuse, the broader dimensions of the drug “problem” may be amenable to improvement through not only variations in formal public policy, but also through substantive changes in socioeconomic inequities and discrimination.