2.6 Chapter Summary
Key Summary Points
- How we view and respond to psychoactive substances and the people who use them, varies across time and culture.
- A constructionist lens can be used to help understand changing definitions of drugs, and the impact of context (e.g., political, social, legal, cultural) on our attitudes and beliefs about drugs and the people who use them.
- Constructionists point to the role human interaction and interpretation play in the way we view social phenomena and our social reality.
- Claims-making and counter claims-making play a key role in defining and redefining social issues, such as substance use.
Additional Resources
Below are a list of supplementary resources for students interested in learning more about the chapter topics. These resources are NOT required course materials.
Additional Viewings
Čeika, Jonas. (June 13, 2018). What does social construction really mean? [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/-UpSoosy9ws 
(this video uses some out of date stigmatizing terms pertaining to substance use and substance use disorders)
Dowl, D. (April 7, 2021). Ken Gergen The social construction of reality [Video]. Vimeo. https://vimeo.com/534071809
Providence. (December 19, 2014). What does ‘the social construction of reality’ mean? By Dr. Dennis Hiebert [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/SqFhd-Igs6w
Rohall, D. (August 10, 2020). SOC 360 Lecture 1 The social construction of reality [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/K1bVdql7Ooo
Sponsini, F. (April 17, 2014). Ken Gergen talks about social constructionist ideas, theory and practice [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/-AsKFFX9Ib0
TEDx Talks. (May 10, 2017). The social construction of facts: Surviving a post-truth world – Massimo Maoret [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/7tHbSasnvno
Additional Readings
Berger, P. & Luckmann, T. (1966). The social construction of reality: A treatise in the sociology of knowledge. Anchor Books. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/12390/the-social-construction-of-reality-by-peter-l-berger/9780385058988
Gstrein, V. (2018). Ideation, social construction & drug policy – A scoping review. International Journal of Drug Policy, 51, 75-86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2017.10.011
Lancaster, K. (2014). Social construction and the evidence-based drug policy endeavour. International Journal of Drug Policy, 25, 984-951. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2014.01.002
Loseke, D. (2003). Thinking about social problems. Aldine de Gruyeter. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.4324/9781315135601/thinking-social-problems-donileen-loseke
Reinarman, Craig and Levine, Harry. (2004). Crack in the rearview mirror: Deconstructing drug war mythology. Social Justice, 34(1/2), 182-199. https://www.jstor.org/stable/29768248
Reist, D., Bodner, N., & Capler, R. (n.d.). Ancient peoples & psychoactive plants. CISHR. https://www.uvic.ca/research/centres/cisur/assets/docs/iminds-ancient-peoples.pdf
