The issues that we consider to be social problems have changed over time and place. What is considered problematic today may not have been considered problematic yesterday. The most cited examples deal with the definitions of alcohol, marijuana and cocaine use. Many note that during Prohibition, when alcohol was illegal in this country, the popular soft-drink CocaCola contained cocaine as an ingredient. Yet today alcohol is readily available at the grocery store.
Cocaine is now an illegal substance.
Our definitions of what is considered problematic has changed over time and varies by cultural context. How do social problems develop from underlying conditions into publicly defined problems that warrant action. In the chart below, simply click on each of the stages to learn more.