ABSTRACT
In the wide range of human behaviors that might be considered deviant or criminal, perhaps none has generated such widespread fear, anger, or misunderstanding than drug use and abuse. Why has this been the case, and why have perceptions of drugs historically been so inconsistent in the United States? How much of a “problem” are drugs in American society? Why do we use drugs? What are the connections between drugs and other social problems? Who’s winning America’s “war on drugs”? These are a few of the questions we will attempt to shed light on in this chapter. The literature on drug use and abuse as well as related themes around drug control is voluminous. Here, we will concentrate on drug issues that are both widely debated and contemporary. Before we begin this discussion, though, we want to provide a bit of context around drugs and drug-related issues.
