The Street Addict Role: A Theory of Heroin Addiction (SUNY Series, the New Inequalities)

Richard C. Stephens

ISBN 10: 0791406202 / ISBN 13: 9780791406205

Published by State University of New York Press, 1991

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Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Street Addict Role: A Theory of Heroin Addiction (SUNY Series, the New Inequalities)
• Publisher: State University of New York Press
• Publication Date: 1991
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0791406202
• ISBN 13: 9780791406205
• Binding: Soft cover
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

This book provides a new answer to the question, "Why do people use heroin and other street drugs?" Drawing upon a growing body of studies of drug users conducted by sociologists and anthropologists, it attempts to integrate their findings into a theoretically unified sociocultural explanation of heroin use. The theory, which draws heavily upon the insights of symbolic interactionist and role theory, posits that there is a street subculture of heroin users. The chief role in this subculture -- the street addict role -- becomes a blueprint for living for many heroin users. Addicts are heavily committed to this role and organize their behavior and self-identification around it. From this basic starting point, the theory explains how persons become and remain addicts and how they may eventually give up addictive behavior.

About the Author

Richard C. Stephens is Professor of Sociology, Cleveland State University.