Drugs, Crime, and Society

Catalog description

This course examines the relationship between drug use and crime in American society. It serves as a synthesis of the abuse of drugs and the societal consequences in relation to crime and the criminal justice system. In this course students examine the attributes of the people who use drugs, the social dynamics that influence legality, and the norms and characteristics of the society in which the substance use occurs. We conduct an examination of drug use and crime at the micro, meso, and macro levels of analysis. In particular, students gain an understanding of the nexus between individual use, crime, and systematic violence tied to criminal organizations that sell and traffic drugs. Students move beyond U.S. borders and explore drug trafficking and global politics. Prevention, intervention, and treatment tactics used in the U.S. criminal justice system are explored and critiqued. Finally, public policy concerning drug related issues are examined.