U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Library & Multimedia
 Social History of American Drug Use
NCJ Number
              166908
Journal

*Journal of Drug Issues* Volume: 22 Issue: 1 Dated: (1992) Pages: 31-52
Author(s)
          D R Buchanan
Date Published

1992
Length
              22 pages
Annotation
              Three cycles of drug use that have appeared in United States history are reviewed.
Abstract
              The analysis reveals that periods of greatly expanded drug use have followed each of the country's major national crises: the American Revolution, the Civil War, and the Sixties. The analysis argues that drug use during these periods came to symbolize an independent, antinomial character ideal. After 2-3 decades of extreme proliferation, each period has been followed by a period in which drug use has been condemned and abstinence has been proffered as an exemplary character ideal. During these periods, drug use symbolized the excesses of individualism and the neglect of the commonweal. This history suggests that the prospects for reducing drug problems significantly may depend on the institutional and ideological responses developed to cope with the Nation's most recent crisis. However, institutionally the Nation is in a period of rapid flux, and new institutions are fragile and fragmented. Public confidence in traditional institutions of government, law, religion, school, and family is now uneven. The current situation is even more uncertain ideologically. Commitment to various institutions now contends with the equally viable possibility of cynical privatism. Therefore, now may be the time to refocus the debate about drug problems away from penalties and punishment and toward the deeper concerns. 39 references
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        87-IJ-CX-0002


  
  
        
  Agencies
        NIJ-Sponsored


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Historical Overview
    
  
  
Date Published: January 1, 1992
    
          Downloads
        
                      HTML

Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              NIJ Journal
    
      
            
            
            
      Podcasts
    
      
            
            
            
      Publications Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Multimedia Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Software & Databases
    
      
            
            
            
      Datasets
    
      
            
            
            
      PatentsRelated Topics
        
                Drug abuse
        Drug abuse causes
        Drug policy
        Drug prevention programs
        Drugs



  
Similar Publications
        
                      Is It an Accident or Abuse? Researchers Develop Predictive Models for Pediatric Head Injuries
                  Success Story: NIJ And The New York City OCME Validating Confirmatory Body Fluid Identification Assays For Real-World Impact
                  Interactive Map: Medicolegal Death Investigation Data Flow
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov