Taking into account the assumptions of the normalisation thesis and your own observations
of life at university and beyond, is illicit recreational drug use normal (mainstream) or deviant
(marginal) among young people in the United Kingdom today? Question to answer
1200 words written text
– Pay close attention to the structure and flow of ideas in your plan; you need an
introduction stating your argument i.e. answer to the essay question, a main body
where you develop your analysis (identify relevant theories/concepts; discuss
examples and relevant facts to illustrate your points) and a conclusions paragraph to
summarise the key-findings in your analysis;
– Read widely around your chosen topics and read primarily academic literature the
essential and recommended reading lists in the module guide are a good starting
point for this;
– Focus on original arguments, ideas and examples that have not been necessarily
been covered in the lectures; aim to project deep comprehension and critical thinking
around the chosen question and topic, in your writing.
– You are in principle allowed to be roughly around 100 words above or under the word
limit but try to aim for precision.
– While there is no specific rule around the number of references you are expected to
use (you can write an excellent essay with 3-5 items in your bibliography and a poor
one with 50), a general orientative figure might be 10 citations/references used per
each 1,000 written words in an assignment.
Must be based on this reading:
The normalisation thesis 20 years later in Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy
Article by Amy Eloise Pennay; Fiona Catherine Measham 2016
These below would help a lot
Key concepts in drugs and society
Book by Ross Coomber; Karen McElrath; Fiona Measham; Karenza Moore 2013
Read chapter 1 (‘What is a drug/medicine?’), chapter 2 (‘Prevalence and trends in illicit drug use’) and chapter 3 (‘Why do people take drugs?’)
Drugs, intoxication, and society
Book by Angus Bancroft 2009
Google Books Logo
See chapter 1, ‘Defining drugs in society’
European drug report: trends and developments
Document by EMCDDA 2019
Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
Legislation Recommended
Drugs misuse: findings from the 2018/2019 Crime Survey from England and Wales
Document by Home Office 2019 Recommended
The legacy of normalisation: The role of classical and contemporary criminological theory in understanding young people’s drug use in International Journal of Drug Policy
Article by Fiona Measham; Michael Shiner 2009 Recommended
Drugs– without the hot air: minimising the harms of legal and illegal drugs
Book by David J. Nutt 2012 Recommended
Illegal leisure: the normalization of adolescent recreational drug use
Book by Howard J. Parker; Judith Aldridge; Fiona Measham 1998 Recommended
Google Books Logo
The Normalization of Sensible Recreational Drug Use in Sociology
Article by Howard Parker; Lisa Williams; Judith Aldridge 2002 Recommended
Why we take drugs: seeking excess and communion in the modern world
Book by Tom Yardley 2014 Recommended
See chapter 1 ‘Introduction’, Chapter 2 ‘Sacrificing the rational body; the transgressive economy of intoxication’ and Chapter 7 ‘Intoxication liminality and community formation’
Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs
Webpage
DrugWise
Website
European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction
Website
Drug misuse: findings from the 2018 to 2019 CSEW
Website
TalkingDrugs | Drug Information, Issues, Stories & News
Website
Transform Drug Policy Foundation
Website
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
Website
Volteface
Webpage
Pleasure, Freedom and Drugs in Sociology
Article by Pat OMalley; Mariana Valverde 2004 Essential
Drugs, intoxication, and society
Book by Angus Bancroft 2009 Recommended
Google Books Logo
See chapter 2, ‘Drugs and alcohol in historic perspective’
Unfair by Design: The War on Drugs Race, and the Legitimacy of the Criminal Justice System. in Social Research
Article by Lawrence D Bobo; Victor Thompson 2006 Recommended
The war on drugs – a war on drug users? in Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy
Article by Julian Buchanan; Lee Young 2000 Recommended
Drug policy under New Labour 1997-2010: Prolonging the war on drugs in Probation Journal
Article by Julian Buchanan 2010 Recommended
Key concepts in drugs and society
Book by Ross Coomber; Karen McElrath; Fiona Measham; Karenza Moore 2013 Recommended
See chapter 4, ‘Addiction’
