The world community considers drug addiction to be one of the most severe problems of this century. In his book, Goode (2014) distinguishes four types of drug use: legal instrumental, legal recreational, illegal instrumental, and illegal recreational. The first type – legal instrumental use of narcotic substances – refers to using legally available substances for specific purposes other than getting high. For example, using medical drugs to get rid of anxiety or depression, or to increase productivity at work. An example of the instrumental use of legal drugs would be purchasing caffeine pills for use as an energetic. Initially, caffeine pills are used as a blood pressure booster, but they can also be used to boost energy.
The second way to use drugs is through legal recreational use. This mode involves the use of legal substances to achieve a state of intoxication. These substances may be medicinal – for example, marijuana, which is legal in some states, can be used for recreational purposes. Non-medical substances may also be used – for example, acetone can be used as a snuff that has a narcotic effect. Another method is called illegal instrumental – this is the use of illegal drugs for any purpose other than purely recreational use, for example, using such substances to improve sleep or increase work efficiency. An example of such use would be using illicit substances for pain relief in the absence of alternatives.
The final use of narcotic substances is the most recognizable – illegal recreational use. This means that a person uses illegal drugs to get high. These drugs can range from light to very heavy, but they are always used for the same purpose (Levent & Davelaar, 2019). An example of this method of drug use could be smoking marijuana after a workday without any health consequences (in states where it is illegal) or using heroin which causes serious mental health problems.
In his book, Goode (2014) cites an interview with a certain girl who had an experience with cocaine and ecstasy use and called it an example of an illegal instrumental way of using drugs. I agree that the reason why the girl used these drugs could well be called instrumental. The fact is that she did not use cocaine to simply become under the influence but to cope with long work sessions as a dominatrix.
The work environment itself was not conducive to a good state of mind afterward. Every man expected the girl to understand their strange sexual fantasies, so the cocaine helped her cope. This is an indication of the instrumental use of drugs – consumption not for mere enjoyment per se. In addition, it is worth considering the fact that the girl’s first experience of cocaine use was a big shock for her and was not a pleasant experience. She says that she did not plan to use the drug in the future, which further confirms the claim that the girl did not use cocaine to get intoxicated. This example illustrates the difference between a sociological study of drug use and a pharmaceutical study. This is shown first of all because, from the perspective of pharmacology, the cause of using drugs is irrelevant; what matters is the use itself. From the sociological perspective, the reason for use plays an important role and helps establish a clearer picture of addiction.
References
Goode, E. (2014). Drugs in American society. McGraw-Hill.
Levent, A., & Davelaar, E. J. (2019). Illegal drug use and prospective memory: A systematic review. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 204(1), 135-141. Web.