Sociopharmacology of drug use: initial thoughts

Abstract

Psychopharmacological approaches to drug use focus on psychological traits of drug users and chemical traits of drugs. Whether through medicalisation or demonisation, this defines users as the problem, which ignores socioeconomic and other issues that make individuals, neighbourhoods, and population groups vulnerable to harmful drug use. We discuss a concept of ‘sociopharmacology of drug use’ that locates drug use in broader contexts. This discussion suggests that (a) data on drug-related harm point to the ills and contradictions of society. (b) If anything is to be demonised, a sociopharmacological view suggests that it be the social order, not the individual user. (c) Nonetheless, current drug use patterns cause a lot of misery to drug users, their families, and their neighbours. Research and programs are needed to reduce these harms. (d) Laws that punish users and dealers are at best based on misdiagnosis of the roots of the problem, and can serve to scapegoat the vulnerable. (e) Research should trace how social, economic and health policies create conditions that increase harmful drug use, as well as develop better ways to provide resources to individuals and communities with which to ameliorate conditions that lead to harmful drug use and reduce harmful drug use among drug users. (f) The highest-priority research and action should nonetheless probably focus on social change rather than on changing drug users.