Substance Use and Abuse : Sociological Perspectives

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Summary: Substance Use and Abuse : Sociological Perspectives
Review: Shaw (California State Univ. at Northridge) has insightfully and successfully compiled all the major sociological theories and perspectives for explaining drug use and abuse into one volume. Each of the ten chapters covers one of the following theories or perspectives: anomie, career, conflict, functionalist, rational choice, social control, social disorganization, social learning, social reaction, and subculture perspectives. Further, each theory or perspective has subsections organized in a logical sequence by definition, theoretical image, theoretical component, theoretical application, and empirical test. Readers looking for a comprehensive sociological review of the major theories and perspectives regarding substance use and abuse need search no further--this volume contains a wealth of detail using major theoretical perspectives dovetailed to the topic.