Sociological Reflection on the Course Lectures

Avani Dhar

Student Number: 37950722

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Lecture Reflection One: Small, Dan. 2021. “Entering the Moral Minefield: Introduction to a

Sociocultural and Narrative Framework for Examining Drugs and Drug Use: What Are Drugs?”

SOCI 387 Lecture: Sociology of Drugs. University of British Columbia. July 6

Summary: The first lecture signifies the necessity of sociology in the study of drugs. Small

(2021) suggests that the social variables attached to the consumption and addiction of drugs are

often sidelined when examining drug use. By approaching drug epidemics as issues of criminal

justice, governments dismiss the cultural narratives that have shaped drugs and society.

"Committing sociology" here not only helps dismantle the demography of drug use, but also

intersects the 'self' with society (Small, 2021). Individual drug use as a result of socio-historic

factors demonstrate how cultural narratives can directly affect one person. This lecture expounds

on the foundation of sociology as a discipline to understand the formation of drug laws, and its

application in the real world through public or "outlaw" sociology that embeds research at the

ground level (Small, 2021).

Personal learning outcomes: Discovering that "early narcotic legislation in Canada was racist

in its intent" was not a shocker, however, it opened my eyes to the intersectionality of race and

drug abuse (Small, 2021). Racist laws that criminalize substances creates a vicious cycle of

stigma, that causes oppression of disenfranchised peoples, which is further institutionalized by

the strengthening of such laws, worsening the situation of drug users.

Contemporary connection: This lecture closely resonates to a CBC radio podcasting

connecting drugs to the history of racism in Canada. Jeff Turner (2017), on his show 'On Drugs'

explains how drugs were used as props to justify racially discriminatory policies. This can be

directly linked to the construction of race as a social and scientific concept. The rationalization of

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racial differences through drug consumption patterns justified prejudice and stigmatization of

racialized groups in Canada. To uncover such a phenomenon is why we need sociology, it

examines the socio-cultural factors that gave birth to racist laws.

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Lecture Reflection Two Small, Dan. 2021. “Dopamine, Dope and Demons: Addiction and

Aetiology” SOCI 387 Lecture: Sociology of Drugs. University of British Columbia. July 8

Summary: In the context of theoretical conceptualization of addiction, Small (2021) in his

second lecture expounds on the psycho-social theories associated with drug use. Accounting the

methodology to study addiction, Small (2021) proposes auto-ethnography to be an effective tool

to analyze addiction. By embedding the researcher into the social setting, auto-ethnography

examines the social actors at play, because their individual actions give meaning to the

phenomenon, what Sutherland refers to as symbolic interactionism (Small, 2021). Moreover, this

lecture provides insights into psychological theories postulated by a leading addiction scholar

Bruce Alexander (Small, 2021). His ground-breaking theory on the psycho-social dislocation of

an individual as the determining factor of addiction transformed the modern understanding of

this issue. Moreover, Alexander holds a free-market society responsible for producing an

individualistic form of living that "undermines commitment to others" (Small, 2021). This not

only isolates an individual to seek drugs for solace, but also prevents them from seeking help.

The employment of these psycho-social theories helps uncover the reality behind "manufactured

truths", because the naturalization of "facts about addiction are a barrier to social change" (Small,

2021).

Personal Learning outcome: The previously mentioned point made by Small (2021) acquired

from Bruce Alexander regarding the lack of awareness of "manufactured truths" explains to me

the dynamism of social facts. Ten years ago, people were arrested and highly stigmatized for

smoking marijuana, now the Cannabis industry is worth billions of dollars (Intrado, 2021).

Society is constantly changing narratives attached to a 'manufactured truth', and it is pertinent to

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recognize this feature, because drug abuse is indeed a socially constructed reality, formed as a

result of intersecting socio-cultural variables.

Contemporary Connection: David Nutt's (2017) TedTalk on benefits of drugs, focusing on

psychedelic research preventing brain diseases like Alzheimer's, PTSD, addiction, and

depression demonstrates a resurgence in the study of psychedelics. Psychedelics came under

schedule one narcotics decades ago, now they are used for psychotherapy to cure depression. The

construction of truth pertaining to psychedelic use has seen a drastic change, this shift from an

illicit drug to a major tool for harm reduction shows how dynamic societal narratives can be.

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Lecture Reflection Three: Small, Dan. 2021 “Sociological Theories of Drug Use” SOCI 387

Lecture: Sociology of Drugs. University of British Columbia. July 13

Summary: What does it mean to be the product of the system? This lecture covers questions that

challenge the structure of society; the structure responsible for producing, demonizing and

ostracizing drug users. Small (2021) promotes an evidence based sociological blueprint for the

examination of drugs and society. Investigating the construction and engineering of socio-

cultural narratives about drugs and users, a sociological blueprint employs Mills' sociological

imagination uncovering the causes, correlations, and impacts of certain phenomena (Small,

2021). Moreover, this lecture introduces the pioneers of early theoretical thought pertaining to

drug use. Lindsmith argues for objective evidence-based research, condoning moralistic

perspectives that characterize users as social misfits (Small, 2021). Additionally, presenting a

Durkheimian approach, Merton introduces the notion of reflexivity, a method that brings

subjectivity into research (Small, 2021). Unlike Lindsmith, it incorporates a moral and evidence-

based perspective to study drugs, because values attached to a phenomenon are the defining

feature of its institutionalization.

Personal Learning outcome: The most intriguing point made by Small (2021) in my belief was

the significance of sociological accounting. Accounting of the repercussions of sociological

forces upon the lives of drug users is the essence of objective research, data (qualitative or

quantitative) is the indispensable tool for drawing inferences that push people to addiction. For

example, an indigenous woman affected by structural forces such as lack of access to

counselling, poor education, food scarcity, etc. can be responsible for her dependency on alcohol.

This hypothesis derived from sociological accounting can further be strengthened by

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ethnography, thus employing public scholarship or outlaw sociology to make sense of social

issues and find ways to combat it.

Contemporary Connection: Vice (2021) channel's investigation into CIA's involvement in the

crack cocaine epidemic is an evident explanation into structural forces that determine the fate of

marginalized communities. Post-civil rights movements American society increasingly

stigmatized Black American drug users, leading to high rates of incarceration (Vice, 2021). Vice

(2021) uncovers how the CIA supplied crack to Black dealers in the 80s, while leading the war

on drugs. We need sociology to de-construct such a phenomenon, to understand the racist intent

behind these actions, and work on reconciliation.

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Lecture Reflection 4: Small, Dan. 2021. “Sociological Exploration of Illicit Drug Use in

Relation to Harm Reduction: The Intersection of Population Health and Society” SOCI 387

Lecture: Sociology of Drugs. University of British Columbia. July 15

Summary: After declaring a public health emergency in 1997, Vancouver opened itself to a new

and effective ways to combat drug abuse related deaths and diseases (Small, 2021). This lecture

uses Vancouver's health crisis as a case study to showcase the success harm reduction services

have achieved. Small (2021) operationalizes harm reduction as the literal reduction of harm, that

does not necessarily denounce risky behaviour, but in the long run can make substantial changes,

because we need drug users to be alive for treatment. Supervised injection sites being the

pioneering case in the effectiveness of this methodology; provides a safe and supervised space

for users (Small ,2021). Through the examination of different approaches of harm reduction, this

lecture accounts the bureaucratic hinderances faced in the inauguration of HR services (Small ,

2021). In the end, it was community-based research strategies such as distribution of NARCAN

or Crack Kit that provided basic rights to users and showed opposing parties that a safe space

with people who care can make a huge difference in the prevention of overdoses and spread of

diseases (Small ,2021).

Personal Learning outcome: Small (2021) maintains that harm reduction is "deeply cultural in

nature", it is indeed a controversial approach as it does not promote abstinence. However,

viewing it as a matter of criminal justice only causes more death and suffering, impacting every

fabric of society, young children have lost their parents to jail cells over possession of illegal

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drugs, but people continue to applaud military like operations to fight drugs. We have to

recognize that criminalization only institutionalizes stigma, but harm reduction saves lives.

Contemporary Connection: Lyndsay Hartman (2019) in her TedTalk addressing their harm

reduction program, defines it as an "act of compassion". By approaching the topic in a value-

based, moral, humanistic sense, they appeal to the emotions of people that help pass sanctions to

legalize such programs (Hartman, 2019). They indulge in public scholarship, as their less

theoretical way of addressing this issue can be very helpful to make this topic a public

discussion, because not everyone comes from educated backgrounds to understand the nuances

of drug use.

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Lecture Reflection Five: Small, Dan. 2021. “Sociocultural Approaches to the Study of Drugs in

relation to Homelessness, Housing and Stigmatized Communities” SOCI 387 Lecture: Sociology

of Drugs. University of British Columbia. July 20

Summary: Homelessness is a social issue we cannot hide from, we see it walking down the

street, we hear its consequences on the news, this lecture addresses this very seen problem in our

society (Small, 2021). Homelessness for the drug dependent has worse repercussions. 69 percent

of homeless in Metro Vancouver face addiction (Small, 2021). Small (2021) by the means of

sociological accounting analyzes different approaches applied to resolve this issue. He examines

the housing first model, that requires users to be abstinent before providing housing, and infers

the master narratives associated with such a model (Small, 2021). Subsequently, the housing first

model that allows users housing before attaining abstinence is a strategy of harm reduction that is

more effective in reaching goals. By revealing the implicit and explicit values pertaining to

housing models, its influence on shaping the collective understanding of drug dependent

homelessness can be determined (Small, 2021).

Personal Learning outcome: Drawing from the facts presented in the lecture, I believe the latter

model to be the answer to drug dependent homelessness. Not only does it provide a safe space

for a user to start their journey of abstinence, but also alleviates cultural harm, by concealing

their use, preventing them from stigmatization.

Contemporary Connection: I recently stumbled upon an article from the UBC department of

sociology (2021), that applauds a group of students for a project on homelessness in Strathcona

Park. These students tackled problems associated with lack of amenities in the homeless

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encampment during the COVID-19 pandemic and provided recommendations.

Recommendations included, providing heating, sanitation, etc., their work is a great example of

public scholarship, they engaged with an indigenous matriarch, spoke to the residents of the

encampment to propose effective changes. This demonstrates how sociology's evidence-based

accounting can not only provide hold parties responsible for issues, but also offer effective ways

to combat it.

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Lecture Reflection Six: Small, Dan. 2021.” The Socioeconomics of Drug Use: Poverty and

Precarious Employment: (Sociology and Social Enterprise: East Van Roasters Chocolate Shop

for Women in Recovery)” SOCI 387 Lecture: Sociology of Drugs. University of British

Columbia. July 22

Summary: This lecture explores the Employment Continuum that bounds the life of drug users.

Drug use can have considerable health, social, economic and environmental costs on individuals

and society (Small, 2021). Small (2021) explores the barriers of employment that include lack of

stability, homelessness can bring about this instability, where people have no phones or ids that

deprive them from vocational job and often reduce them to traditional jobs. Weber would

characterize such a phenomenon as social closure, where individuals are closed off from

opportunities (Small, 2021). The lecture moves forward to explain the socio-spiritual power of

employment, because more than providing shelter and a hot meal, financial stability can facilitate

a healing journey for suers that have experienced social exclusion (Small, 2021). Moreover,

Small (2021) provides a success case study of a Downtown Eastside program called the East

Vancouver’s Roasters social enterprise located under a treatment-based housing project aimed to

provide dignified employment to promote stability in the lives of users, inturn facilitating the

elimination of drugs (Small, 2021).

Personal Learning outcom: Small (2021) introduces the idea of sociological intentionality

referring to this project, that employs a proud historical symbol to alleviate a community’s

esteem. One of the most compassionate initiative I've heard of to help a deprived and isolated

community. Coming from Mumbai, India, that hols Asia's largest slum, I've noticed how these

'ghettoized' communities are excluded from mainstream society by narratives that demean the

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community. Such an initiative in my hometown would make a huge difference in how slums or

viewed from the outside as well as from the inside.

Contemporary Connection: “Great Leaders Do What Drug Addicts Do”, Brody-Waite (2018),

a former addict, opens up about his struggle from addiction to abstinence to becoming the CEO

of a firm. He recounts his perseverance as an addict to control his dependency, his familiarity

with physiological and psychological discomfort pushed him to do the hard work that led him to

become a leader. His story is an example of sociological intentionality but for a single individual,

he employed the values he learned as a ‘social leper’ to go up the social ladder. It is a brilliant

story of success that can be motivation to other users.

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Lecture Reflection Seven: Small, Dan. 2021. “Structural Impact of Societal Approaches to

Drug Use: The War on Drugs, Racialization and Mass Incarceration” SOCI 387 Lecture:

Sociology of Drugs. University of British Columbia. July 27

Summary: This lecture covers the grim consequences of the war on drugs (Small, 2021). Small

(2021) provides an overview of the harsh drug laws that criminalized possession and

consumption of illicit drugs in the US, causing mass incarceration among racialized

communities. Subsequently, these drug laws and narratives surrounding drugs influenced global

policy (Small, 2021). The lecture moves forward to introducing Drucker's conceptualization of

mass incarceration as an epidemic that resulted in the innumerable years of life lost, crippling

communities and disrupting the social fabric of American society that continues to show impacts

till this day (Small, 2021). Moreover, the domestic impact of harsh drug laws seems to have the

same racist roots as America (Small, 2021). Anti-Chinese sentiments led to the inauguration of

The Opium Act in the early twentieth century (Small, 2021). This demonstrates the sociological

gears of society at play, the structure violence against marginalized peoples such Indigenous,

Chinese and Black was manifested via these laws. We conclude the lecture by discussing the

social measures of inequality in the form of foster care systems, which often is considered as the

extension of the colonial residential schools (Small, 2021).

Personal Learning Outcomes: This lecture opened my eyes to ways that impacts of

incarceration can be measured. We often dismiss what the family of a 'criminal' goes through

upon their arrest. The lack of parental guidance for essential years of their lives, a child perhaps

loses faith in the system to help them, and hence sought solace in drugs.

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Contemporary connection: The Atlantic's (2015) "mass incarceration, visualized" draws on

data that shows the overrepresentation of Black Americans and hols that more than it is no longer

the incarceration of one individual, but of social groups. This resonates with the social measures

of inequality, the war on drugs were an extension of the Jim Crowe laws, that deprived Black

families of basic human rights. This influence has now struck the rest of the of the world,

Philippines being the best example, where the new governments has openly threatened users of

death if they continued 'breaking the law'.

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Lecture Reflection Eight: Small, Dan 2021. “Medical Narratives: The Social Construction of

Drugs as a Medical Object: Addiction Medicine and Pharmaceutically Assisted Therapy” SOCI

387 Lecture: Sociology of Drugs. University of British Columbia. July 29

Summary: Criminalizing drug use does nothing to stop people from using them. This is an

example of a rival narrative employed by the proponent of INSITE, Canada's first safe injection

site (Small, 2021). This lecture uses INSITE as a case study to demonstrate the intersection

between society and drugs (Small, 2021). The inauguration of this initiative was a response to

the epidemiological circumstances of the late 90s. INSITE witnessed numerous hurdles before its

effectiveness due to its relationship with a community that was implicitly "a zone of

abandonment" (Small, 2021). The Downtown Eastside of Vancouver became the socially

constructed lepers due to the addiction rates that were by default considered as correlated to

crime (Small, 2021). This initiative then aimed at removing these barriers as a part of "low

threshold" narrative interventions (Small, 2021). Consequently, the efficiency of INSITE

inspired other provinces to introduce harm reduction strategies as this.

Personal Learning Outcomes: Since I am not from Canada and never witnessed the reality of

the drug overdose epidemic, learning about the public outcry in response to harm reduction

initiative seems normal. Before learning about its benefits, I too would have considered it as a

defeat of the war on drugs and seen it as the backward movement of the progress made. My

paralysis to see things differently roots from the false narratives i grew up learning about drugs.

However, now I see the deprivation of INSITE as a social justice issue.

Contemporary Connection: Guy Felicella (2018), in his TedTalk provides a comparative

perspective to harm reduction relevant to this discussion. He maintains that every field of

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medicine employs harm reduction strategies to prevent death, from diabetes to heart problems,

every pill prescribed is to reduce harm. But why do we fall short for addiction? Why is harm

reduction controversial when applied to addiction? In my opinion, it’s the rival narrative to harm

reduction that deprives public knowledge of the physiological consequences of addiction. The

only way to combat it so through public sociology, that includes initiatives involving society as

whole, because addiction is a socially constructed issue, that requires the help of the collective.

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Lecture Reflection Nine: Small, Dan. 2021 “Sociological Analysis of North America’s first

Supervised Injection Facility: Social Movements and Public Scholarship” SOCI 387 Lecture:

Sociology of Drugs. University of British Columbia. August 3

Summary: This lecture covers the relationship between enforcement and harm reduction (Small,

2021). Essentially, this lecture holds the criminal justice system as the moral gatekeepers of

values (Small, 2021). The laws and policing practices that govern injection drug use influence

the risk environment for people who inject drugs. They directly influence narratives pertaining to

drug use because street-level policing activities can hinder injection drug users' access to sterile

syringes at SIFs. This lecture develops the story of how changing law enforcement practices

showed substantial improvements in the fight against the drug overdose epidemic (Small, 2021).

Viewing the police as caring safe keepers, what Small (2021) calls police symbolic capital, is a

form of harm reduction, that invited the most wounded and excluded in society to be a part of the

collective.

Personal Learning Outcomes: This initiative in my belief is the most pertinent aspect of harm

reduction, the socio-historic position of the police has been of the 'bad guy' despite what their job

is meant to be. In order to facilitate an environment of healing, the police, as civil servants must

set a standard to teach the society how addiction can be handled with safety and care.

Contemporary Connection: Project Inclusion (2021), an initiative that involves police

interference in the process of harm reduction is a great example that showcases the applicability

of public sociology. They also recount the horrific experiences of users with the RCMP that

caused mistrust in the police. However, this initiative aims at removing such experiences and

providing an inclusive space for users to start their journey of healing.

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Lecture Reflection Ten: Small, Dan. 2021. “Enforcement and Harm Reduction: Sociological

Examination of the Transformation of the Role of Police Personnel from Protectors of Public

Safety to Protectors of Public Health)” SOCI 387 Lecture: Sociology of Drugs. University of

British Columbia. August 5

Summary: The second last lecture of the course provides a comprehensive analysis of the main

ideas course covered (Small, 2021). Starting with examining the progress made in Canada since

the first overdose epidemic, Dr. Small reflects on his experience with public sociology,

encountering people he referred to as "everyday philosophers", the intellectuals of the public,

that engage in reflexive thinking and essentially give meaning to what academics aim to do

(Small, 2021). Furthermore, he introduces French scholar of public sociology Latour, that

suggests that science and society cannot be separated, and are bound together by the notion of

research (Small, 2021). Both the disciplines are committed to their scholarship in favour of the

betterment of society. Finally, we conclude the class by discussing the applicability of public

sociology that transforms into structural activism (Small, 2021).

Personal Learning Outcomes: I learned from this lecture and this class as a whole, that

sociology is not merely academic papers. Outlaw sociology's "intentional intersubjectivity"

brings together the academic and the community that can change lives, provide meaning to

unspoken phenomena, and most importantly rebuild community.

Contemporary connection: Vice (2021) Channel’s “The Reality of Legalizing Cocaine, Heroin,

and Ecstasy” investigates how the legalization of illicit drugs can be an extremely transformative

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harm reduction strategy, it can prevent accidental overdoses, lacing, etc., Additionally, they also

suggest that legalization under the government is the only option and not under privatized

companies. The government can prevent its glorification unlike companies that aim for profits.

After learning what I have about harm reduction, this seems to be the light at the end of the

tunnel.

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References:

Lecture 1:

Turner, Jeff. July, 17, 2017. “Drugs: What's race got to do with it?” CBC Radio.

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/ondrugs/drugs-what-s-race-got-to-do-with-it-1.4206616

Lecture 2:

Intrado Global News Wire. February, 18, 2021. “ The Worldwide Cannabis Industry is Projected

to Reach $90.4 Billion by 2026”.

https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/02/18/2177949/0/en/The-Worldwide-

Cannabis-Industry-is-Projected-to-Reach-90-4-Billion-by-2026.html

Nutt, David. April, 17, 2017. “How can illegal drugs help our brains” TEDx Talks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOxSQHtJWlo

Lecture 3:

Vice. August, 17, 2021. “Did the CIA Actually Sell Crack in the 1980s?” Youtube Video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eE2-zYEldGc

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Lecture 4:

Hartman, Lyndsay. October 30, 2019. “Harm Reduction as an Act of Compassion” Tedx Talks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUgxnYEA8F0

Lecture 5:

UBC Department of Sociology. February 17, 2021. “UBC Sociology students win the

CityStudio’s People Choice Award for project on homelessness in Strathcona Park” UBC

https://sociology.ubc.ca/news/ubc-sociology-students-win-the-citystudios-people-choice-award-

for-project-on-homelessness-in-strathcona-park/

Lecture 6:

Brody-Waite, Michael. June, 13, 2018. “Great Leaders Do What Drug Addicts Do”. Tedx Talks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUnRKf2CemA

Lecture 7:

The Atlantic. October, 2, 2015. “Mass Incarceration, Visualized” Youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u51_pzax4M0&t=16s

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Lecture 8:

Felicella, Guy. July, 18, 2018. “ I Died Six Times … Let’s End the Stigma of Harm Reduction”

Tedx Talks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uQxbh5mSPs

Lecture 9:

PIVOT, 2021. “Project Inclusion: Police Interference with Harm Reduction”

https://www.pivotlegal.org/project_inclusion_police_interference_with_harm_reduction

Lecture 10:

Vice. February 10, 2021. “The Reality of Legalizing Cocaine, Heroin, and Ecstasy”. Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haT4FrOYPtk

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