Through a functionalist’s point of view, social issues are the results of the maladjustments of social units, much the same as how one’s body feels weak because of one dysfunctional part. Drug abuse is seen in almost the same manner. One uses the drug because of its latent functions. Two of the reasons are relief of tension and to enhance social interaction. The problem starts with drug abuse when the individual becomes dependent on the physical and psychological impacts of drugs. The correlation between drugs and poverty has been studied intensively. Through a functionalist’s eyes, drug abuse is an apparent result of a dysfunction within the society, named as poverty. Because of the social rejection felt by the poor, they attempt to find a sense of belongingness and see drugs as an alternative to this. The drug use covers up their shattered lives and this provides them a sense of structure. It becomes a substitute for the comfort of the non-poor.
On the other hand, the conflict perspective sees drug abuse as a source of oppression and domination. The conflict perspective does not disagree with the functionalist view that the society is an interrelationship of its systems but it focuses more on the competing variables that influence the movements within the society. . Three Sides of the Social Issue on Drug Abuse.
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