Labelling Theory And Robert Agnew 's General Strain Theory

The cost of substance abuse in Canada is astronomical. According to the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA), in 2002 alcohol accounted for about $14.6 billion and illegal drugs for about $8.2 billion in social cost (Single, Robertson, Rehm, & Xie, 2002). This cost was measured in terms of the burden on health care and law enforcement, and productivity in the workplace or home. Arguably, the greatest cost may be immeasurable: human suffering and tragic loss of lives. This suffering is not limited to only of those wrestling with these problems, but extends those around them: family, friends, co-workers and society as a whole.

Substance abuse is difficult to treat no matter the background someone comes from, but adding sociocultural influences from diverse cultures can add an even more difficult element when it comes to effective prevention and intervention strategies. The United States is a melting pot of diverse cultures, with the Hispanic population accounting for “one-half of the nation’s growth” (Steven & Smith, 2013, p. 328). When it comes to treating Hispanic individuals for substance abuse issues, one needs to be aware of the cultural differences and acculturation issues that are characteristic of this culture. Clinicians who work with the Hispanic population need to understand their cultural values and respect their diversity so that barriers to treatment can be overcome.

In 1991 a hospital nurse named Beverley Allitt killed four children and attempted to take the lives of nine others, but was unsuccessful (“Beverley Allitt, n.d., para 1). Beverley committed all of these murders while she was working at the Grantham and Kesteven Hospital as a part of a six-month work arrangement (para. 5). Beverley’s actions and why she acted in this manner can be explained from the psychiatric, sociological and psychological perspective. Psychiatry viewpoints explore the motivation behind an individual’s criminal behaviour. Factitious disorder and multiple personality disorder can explain the reasons behind Beverly’s choice to kill four children under her care, and the reasons behind these horrendous acts. The sociological perceptive looks at factors including level of education, a persons social setting and positive or negative role models in a their life (Pozzulo, Bennell & Fourth, 2015, p. 338-341). Labeling theory and strain theory can help explain why Beverley killed four children and acted the way she did. Lastly, the psychological perspective looks at “mental process” of an individual, also the reasoning behind an individual’s behaviour and actions (Rao, 2007, p. 9). Addiction theory can be used in this situation and can help explain why Beverley killed four children and what lead her up to it.

Many generations may reside in one residence where there is a clear patriarchy (GCU, n.d.). Considering the importance that Latino/Hispanics place on familia and how central a person’s role within the family is to individual identity, it becomes painfully obvious how a family disease such as addiction can be especially devastating to their community. In an adult individual, it becomes a challenge to distinguish whether the addiction causes or results from the family disconnection (Flores, 2014, p. 28). The addicted person tends to be a product of family instability, dysfunctional family environment, and hostile parenting (p. 26), all of which is exacerbated and perpetuated by substance abuse. This cycle of sickness may have begun with the destructive effects of immigration on the original family and trickled into later generations. In 2006, studies indicated that, on a regular basis, 40% of Latino/Hispanic adolescents used alcohol, 24% smoked cigarettes, and 17% used marijuana (SAMHSA National Survey of Drug Use and Health results, cited by Wagner et al., 2010, p. 98). Flores reports that alcoholism rates seem highest within the Hispanic population of Mexican descent (cited by GCU). Unfortunately, heavily acculturated Latinos/Hispanics can be resistant to mental health treatment due to machismo, the fear of

The border urban region is thought to be one of the highest regions with substance use and misuse. “This area of the country may be thought to be at risk for high substance abuse due to drug trafficking, easy access to prescription pharmaceuticals in Mexico, a young population age structure, and the stresses of high unemployment, rapid population growth, and the convergence of cultures” (Wallisch and Spence, 2006, p.287). Hispanic border residents are more likely to be born outside of the United States, have a larger house hold size than average, have a lower education and income level and are more likely to be unemployed. According to Wallisch and Spence (2006), “Some information is available on drug and alcohol use among students in Texas border schools, indicating that youth there use cocaine Rohypnol, and alcohol at higher rates than students elsewhere in Texas” (p.287). The problem with alcohol and drug use among adults living along the Texas-Mexico border, is that the Texas-Mexico border is an area that offers high risk for substance

Exploring the role of negative emotions among murderers in a population of federal offenders: the General Strain Theory

Other comparisons include the rate of physical abuse, emotional abuse, domestic violence, alcohol abuse, excessive discipline, and drug use. Latino immigrants were three times as likely to be victims of physical abuse than U.S. born Latino children (75.7% vs. 27.8%) while on the other hand, U.S. born Latino/as were significant more likely to be victims of emotional abuse than Latino immigrants (24.2% vs. 0.2%) (Dettlaff & Johnson, 2011). In terms of domestic violence, U.S. born Latino/as were five times more likely to experience it than Latino immigrants (12.8% vs. 2.3%) (Dettlaff & Johnson, 2011). U.S. born Latino families were more likely to be present in alcohol (15.8% vs. 1.4%) and drug abuse (8.7% vs. 0.3%), and Latino immigrants were three times more likely to be identified as using excessive discipline (46.5% vs. 14.3%) (Dettlaff & Johnson, 2011). Although these statistics provides us a better understanding of the differences between the immigrant

The issue of drug policy is one that has plagued our society for decades now, and will continue to linger until we finally become proactive make some bold decisions. With over twenty thousand deaths each year, in Canada alone, due to illicit substances , this is a problem that must be addressed immediately. Many people know where to turn when they have alcohol addiction issues, most turn to Alcoholics Anonymous for example. Smokers are also offered many incentives and advertisements that deter smoking and help them in their struggle to quit. But, there has been no major campaign or well known foundation to seek help in if you are having problems with other drugs such as heroin, cocaine, LSD, or marijuana. Our problem in Canada is that these drugs are seen as merely a judicial and criminal issue, rather than a public issue which affects each and every one of us in society. In this essay, I will prove that the decriminalization, by the government of all drugs and implementing education on drugs instead will lead to a decline in drug related deaths and social issues.

No one identity is sought after as it pertains to substance abuse addiction. In 1972 within Miami, the demographic data of the “common addict” was outlines as a single white male between the ages of 19 and 25 (Drugs in our Schools, 1972). Not operating inside a vacuum, drug addiction can affect all racial and ethnic backgrounds to include all ages.

Whitebeck, L. B., McMorris, B. J., Chen, X., & Stubben, J. D. (2001). Perceived discrimination and early substance abuse among american indian children. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 42(4), 405-24. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/201656961?accountid=34899

In “the American journal of drug and alcohol abuse”, it expresses how each ethnic group placed in the dependency of drugs and provides a breaks down by females and males who either had prior family history of substance abuse in the home with white females being at a higher risk than the other races alongside while males (Arria, 2009). Hence, it was a matter of time she would be introduced to more illicit drugs due to the lack of surveillance in addition to being involved in potentially partaking in the activities that would later place her in the situation she is currently

The notion of labelling theory was first created in the 1960s and gained popularity towards the late 1960s and early 1970s. The term was first applied “mentally ill” in 1966 when Thomas Scheff published his article Being Mentally Ill. Labelling theory explains a great importance in respect to drug use. Although labelling theory does not fully explain why initial drug use occurs, it does detail the process by which many people find themselves as socially deviant from others (Glen R. Hanson, University of Utah Salt Lake City Utah Glen R Hanson, Peter J. Venturelli, Annette E. Fleckenstein). The term deviance is used in a manner to describe an absence of the patterns of behaviour expected in a society and not in a judgemental way. Labelling theory

Romer, (2010) discusses that individual differences in impulsivity underlie a good deal of the risk taking that is observed during adolescence, and some of the most hazardous forms of this behavior are linked to impulsivity traits that are evident early in development (Romer, 2010). When working with Maria and her partner, I can identify how substance abuse effects their relationship. Maria is taking out her frustration by consuming alcohol until intoxicated, which leads to altered precipitations and emotions. It is evident that Hispanic family issues affect individuals and family members social and psychological functioning. In Maria’s case, alcohol abuse has become a pattern for her, causing dysfunctional issues within her

Introduction: Throughout history there have always been many different theories of crime and why people commit crimes. In the late 1930s a new theory rose to the forefront; this theory was called the anomie theory. Anomie means a lack of ethical standards. The anomie theory was proposed by Roberton Merton. It stated that society, as a whole, generally shares the same goals relating to having success in life; whether that is having a family, wealth, power, or just happiness. Society generally agrees that these are things that are to be sought after. Furthermore, Merton proposed that society, as a whole, also has a list of generally accepted ways to achieve such goals (Merton, 1938). Criminal activity, such as robbery, murder, and corruption, are among the things that are not accepted by society as appropriate means to achieve these goals. Merton’s anomie theory was built upon in 1992 by Robert Agnew who developed the general strain theory. General strain theory argues that when members of society are unable to achieve the general goals that society has set forth, they will, in order to avoid further rejection, further alienate themselves from society. Agnew also argued that if these individuals feel as if their shortcomings were a result of their environment failing them they will likely develop very negative feelings towards society, causing them to

In other words it can be said that the drug hysterias that sweep the US can be safely ignored if focus is instead on the ethical concerns of social marginalisation that cause the addictions and abuse such as poverty and racism (Room, 2005).