Summary Of Drugs For Kick

The drug culture swept through the nation encapsulating adults and juveniles to participate in the practice. However, reports about the damaging effects created mass hysteria and initiated the policies to restrict use. James L. Chapel and Daniel W. Taylor’s article, Drugs for Kick, discusses adolescent participation in drugs such as inhalants, narcotics (particularly marijuana), and hallucinogens (mainly LSD), as they examine effects, techniques, habits, clinical findings, association with crime, personality dynamics, treatment, and preventive measures. The article discusses one’s involvement with the drugs which can be supported by criminological theories. Chapel and Taylor did not explicitly state their hypothesis, subjects, methods, or results.

Theoretical framework (such as differential association, labeling, and strain theory) explains one’s participation in delinquent behavior. Frist, a juvenile might be exposed to drugs by a group of friends, therefore only using to fit in. This motive shows differential association theory, because one learns techniques, behaviors, norms, and values through their association with others. The child only begins to use because the group sees the activity as favorable, even though it is unfavorable to the law; thus belonging to the group means embracing the group’s values and behaviors. Secondly, Chapel and Taylor discuss a one-time user of inhalants might be dared and only participate because they don’t want to be called a chicken. Application of the labeling theory explains this situation. The theory states one is label based on behavior and physical attributes, which can result in stigmas and different treatment by the group due to the stigma. The juvenile only participates out of fearing of being stigmatized as a chicken, therefore diminishing his/her membership to the group. Therefore, out of protection and avoidance of the negative label and inclusion in the group he/she uses the drugs. Lastly, a common reason to one uses frequently is because the

However, Chapel and Taylor allude to the components throughout their article. The hypothesis is: inhalants, narcotics, and hallucinogens have different effects and behaviors so each needs specialized treatments. All the data was done through secondary data analysis, therefore the Chapel and Taylor gathered information which applied to each category based on other researchers’ work. The subjects are juveniles who used inhalants, narcotics, or hallucinogens. In some cases the subjects might have been compare to others who did not use the drugs, so a contrast could be made between the two groups. The methods of the studies were not explained in great detail; however Chapel and Taylor suggested to the studies conducting clinical laboratory test, surveys, interviews, and statistical analysis. This data was then utilized in the article to compare the drug