Written Assignment 1
Social Problem in My Community
Sociology
Mary Baker
SJVC
December 19, 2012
Written Assignment 2
Social Problems in My Community
A social problem in my community is Alcoholism.
Using sociological imagination to help address this problem, that sociologist would have to
be involved in the community to associate with the groups, to study their behavior. Alcohol is the
most popular mood-altering drug consumed in the United States today. Alcohol and tobacco
actually cause more physical, medical, social, and Psychological problems than any other drugs.
More people consume alcohol in the U.S. than any other drug, including tobacco. Almost twothirds of all Americans have consumed alcohol and almost 50% currently drink it (Dawson,
Grant, Chou and Pigkering, 1995). The wide spread use and potential for harm from alcohol
justify considering it as a drug separate from others, such as heroin, cocaine and marijuana.
Drinking itself often does not trigger sanction for deviance; instead the conditions under which
people drink often determine society’s reaction, including physical situations, the ages of the
drinkers, and perhaps even the type of beverage. Klein (1991), reporters that wine is relatively
acceptable part of many social situations, although many people perceive more risk of harm from
distilled spirits and beer. Many regard beverages with alcoholic’s permissible elements of many
social situations others regard drinking as impermissible behavior virtually all the time and in
every situation. Many people laugh and joke about drunkenness and yet condemn drunken
behavior in public. These contradictions suggest that many people have not yet come to grips—
either morally socially, or interpersonally—with alcohol use.
Physiological and Behavior Aspects of Alcohol
Heavy drinking bears a well-documented relationship to a number of problems, including
physical and psychological dependency, various illness, impaired social relationships, and poor
Written Assignment 3
work performance. Alcohol does not lead to a psychological habit, however, in the way that
certain drugs do. One does not become a chronic drinker after finish 1st, 20th, even 100th drink.
Research has not yet convincingly demonstrated an inherited tendency toward excessive
consumption of alcohol. Consumption of alcoholic beverages produces physical and
psychological consequences. Humans began relatively recently in their history to distill alcohol
from grains, such as barley, corn, wheat and others. Barely all societies have made fermented
beverages in some form, such as wine and beer, for thousands of years (Patrick, 52:12-29).
Public Drink Houses
People do much of their drinking in groups gathered in public drinking houses, such as bars
and taverns. Public drinking houses are a place where proprietors sell alcoholic beverages for
consumption on the premises. A more thorough description would mention several important
characteristics: (1) they facilitate group drinking. (2) Anyone can buy a drink there. Public houses
serve alcohol rather than other drinks, which separates them from everyone else. These drinkers
often center their consumption on various group events such as cocktail parties, and occasions
sponsored by country clubs or private dining establishment.
Alcoholism and Problem Drinking
Alcoholism and problem drinking represent the most extreme form of drinking behavior.
One determines the extent of alcoholism and problem drinking differently from the way one
determines the extent of general drinking behavior. Since no one can come to a conclusion on
alcoholic, or problems drinker.
Society’s Response to Alcohol Use
Written Assignment 4
Alcoholism and problem drinking violate social norms concerning moderate and otherwise
appropriate use of alcohol. Drinking behavior that goes beyond accepted group practices may
well draw sanctions. This is social Control.
Community-Based Treatment Programs
This is where the members and problem drinkers need to come together as one and help
each other out. They are spread out as a result of the Uniform Alcoholism and Intoxication
Treatment Act of 1971 which summarized a set of recommendations developed by the National
Conferences of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws. A number of states quickly adopted the
recommendations, the most important of which included decriminalization of public drunkenness
and establishment of publicly operated detoxification centers. Alcoholism is a disease rather than
criminal behavior. The detoxification centers revolving door seem to spin faster between
detoxification programs and the outside world (Rubington, 1991:740) because a lot of the
victims would go to the center instead of spending time in jail for public drunk. (AA) has
developed the most widely known program and one of the most successful. AA was founded in
Cleveland more than a half century ago by two Alcoholics who felt that their mutual fellowship
had helped them with their drinking problems. AA implements the medical model of problem
drinking conceiving of alcoholism as a disease with symptoms that suffers can avoid only by
never drinking alcohol. No officers make central decisions and members pay no dues, although
local chapters do support a central office in New York City that publishes a journal called AA
Grapevine. This strictly voluntary organization serves members through more than 10,000 groups
nationwide and in other countries. One report suggested that U.S. membership at 630,700 in
1983, up from 476,000 in 1980 (Secretary of Health and Human Services, 1987:259). About 30%
are women, and 31% attend meetings for problems with other drugs as well as alcohol. AA
Written Assignment 5
works to disable the alcoholic and move that person back into society as a contributing,
independent individual. Towards the end, the program breaks down the alcoholic’s social
isolation from the rest of the community. Member’s share life stories at meetings, and each new
member interacts regularly with a sponsor. A sponsor is someone who has successfully coped
with his or her own drinking problem long enough to develop sufficient stability to help someone
else. My consideration has not changed my view on Alcoholism because it is a topic that needs to
be address. There are so many people that have lost their lives due to health reasons, and car
accidents. So to make my community a better place, actions need to be put into place.
Written Assignment 6
Reference
Secretary of Health and Human Services, 1987:259
Rubington, 1991:740
Patrick, 1952: 12-39
Klein (1991)
Dawson, Grant, Chou, and Pickering, 1995
Sociology of Deviant Behavior (Tenth Edition) 273-309