Jul 04, 2024
OHIO University Undergraduate Catalog 2023-2024
OHIO University Undergraduate Catalog 2023-2024
[Archived Catalog]
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SOC 3675 - Drugs, Crime, and Society
This course examines drug use in U.S. society and the societal consequences in relation to crime and the criminal justice system. Students explore patterns of drug use, populations of drug users, drug markets, norms and characteristics of the society in which drug use occurs, and social dynamics that influence legality. Students then analyze crime and criminal justice in relation to drug use, investigating connections 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. Students critically explore prevention, intervention, and treatment tactics used in the U.S. criminal justice system, and analyze public policy developed in response to drug related issues.
Requisites: SOC 2600
Credit Hours: 3
Repeat/Retake Information: May be retaken two times excluding withdrawals, but only last course taken counts.
Lecture/Lab Hours: 3.0 lecture
Grades: Eligible Grades: A-F,WP,WF,WN,FN,AU,I
Learning Outcomes:
- Students will be able to outline socio-cultural factors that contribute to drug use and empirical generalizations (i.e. trends, patterns) regarding drug use across a number of correlates (i.e. age, race, social class, gender).
- Students will be able to explain the social dynamics that influence the legality of drug use in both a historical and contemporary context.
- Students will be able to describe the relationship between drug use and crime committed by individuals.
- Students will be able to recognize the connection between violence and drug trafficking at the domestic and international levels.
- Students will be able to identify and critique tactics used by law enforcement, the court system, and corrections in the U.S. War on Drugs.
- Students will be able to describe the key issues affecting drug prevention and treatment, and discuss what research has concluded about the effectiveness of selected prevention and treatment programs.
- Students will be able to identify and critique contemporary criminal justice and public policy issues surrounding drug use and abuse.
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