Instructions: This week we learned about the two major legal drugs, alcohol and tobacco, and the issue of the discrepancy between their harm and their legal status. From a constructionist perspective, alcohol is not a drug, but from an “objectivist” or essentialist perspective, alcohol is a drug in the same sense that cocaine and the narcotics are because it can lead to a “high” or intoxication. We also learned about the connection between alcohol consumption and risky, deviant behavior such as violence, being a victim of violence, and accidents.

For this discussion address the following questions :

Do you think that such a strong relationship exists between the consumption of alcohol and being the victim of risky, deviant behavior? Explain.

Some countries have much higher rates of alcohol-related violence than others. Why in some countries is the consumption of alcohol related to violent behavior, while the drinking that takes place in other countries is much less frequently accompanied by violence?

What are the similarities and differences between the use of legal drugs such as alcohol and tobacco and the use of illicit drugs such as marijuana and cocaine?