ABSTRACT
This chapter explores how the social context shapes individual experience. It helps to: understand and address individual problems; and nurture and realize that potential. Sociology is therefore a very powerful tool in a variety of work settings. It can be helpful at a macro level, but also at a micro level in addressing the problems and challenges of individuals. It is worth exploring some examples of how this applies, as this is very relevant to our theme of the individual in society. There is a common, but misleading assumption that personal problems are the domain of psychology, while social problems are what sociology is supposed to be concerned with. However, in reality, sociological insights cast light on personal problems to a large extent, and psychology is seen to offer insights into certain aspects of social problems. There are many misleading stereotypes of people whose use of drugs is problematic in some way, one being the deranged addict of their own.
