NCJ Number
244161
Date Published
2014
Length
253 pages
Annotation
This book examines the cultural, historical, and social forces that have shaped societal perspectives of the synthetic stimulant problem in the United States since the early 1900s, with attention to America's focus on methamphetamine hydrochloride, a drug whose chemical formula has remained unchanged since its invention in 1893.
Abstract
Whether used as a prescribed medicine or abused as a black-market illegal drug, methamphetamine is a chemical stimulant that arouses the brain and central nervous system, generally producing wakefulness, energy, heightened awareness and concentration, and increased blood pressure and heart rate. The book first discusses the theoretical foundation for the book's historical analysis of public responses to methamphetamine use, both as a prescribed medicine and as an outlawed black market drug. The author uses a social constructionist approach in portraying an assortment of cultural, historical, and social forces that have shaped efforts to control the supply and demand of a drug perceived as beneficial under prescriptive controls, but as sufficiently harmful in uncontrolled dosages to warrant a moral panic and a vigorous law enforcement response. An examination of early drug use in the United States is followed by a review of the introduction of amphetamines, including methamphetamine, into U.S. society. The first "moral panic" focused on methamphetamine is then discussed, followed by an assessment of the extent to which media coverage correlated with empirical data on early methamphetamine use. Subsequent chapters address the various factors related to periodic "moral panics" surrounding methamphetamine use. The book concludes with an argument for viewing abusive methamphetamine use, as well as other abusive drug use, as a public health issue to be addressed with policies used to counter other health-related problem behaviors. 2 tables, 14 figures, 500 references, and appended study methodology and subject index