Intoxication: Self, State and Society - Paperback

by Thomas Thurnell-Read (Author), Mark Monaghan (Author)

What images come to mind when you read the word 'intoxication'? What behaviour do you associate with the word 'drunk'? When you hear the word 'drug', what images do you recall?
This textbook provides an essential and thorough grounding in debates about the role of intoxication in contemporary society, from social and cultural perspectives. It examines intoxication in the broadest sense as including both legal and illegal substances and both culturally accepted and socially stigmatised practices. Given the pace of recent changes in policy and practice - from the increasingly common legalisation of cannabis, to the recent trend of sobriety amongst adolescents and young adults - this book stands out by offering both a through historical and theoretical overview and a topical and forward looking exploration of current debates. It adopts a multi-scale approach to examine wider patterns of change so it considers the subjective experiences of the roleintoxication plays in the lives of individuals and groups, in the construction of diverse identities and how this differs by age, gender and ethnicity. The authors play particular attention to the way in which the state justifies interventions based on moral, health and criminal justice discourses and also consider the role played by other individuals and institutions, not least the mass media and the alcohol industry, in propagating and challenging common sense explanations of intoxication. It speaks to undergraduates, master's students and above, with a range of pedagogic features, and offers insights into policy and practice.

Back Jacket

"Highly readable and bursting with insight, this excellent book provides a comprehensive exploration of the key issues relating to intoxication and how it is regulated. It helpfully draws together research relating to drugs and alcohol across a wide and illuminating range of contemporary, historical and international perspectives. Both a map of the field and an irresistible invitation to further explore its fascinating landscape, this book informs and inspires in equal measure." - Professor Henry Yeomans, University of Leeds, UK

What comes to mind when you read the word 'intoxication'? What behaviour do you associate with the word 'drunk'? When you hear the word 'drug' or 'addict', what images do you recall?

Thomas Thurnell-Read is Senior Lecturer in Sociology in the School of Social Sciences and Humanities at Loughborough University, UK.

Mark Monaghan is Reader in Criminology in the School of Social Sciences and Humanities at Loughborough University, UK.

Author Biography

Thomas Thurnell-Read is Senior Lecturer in Sociology in the School of Social Sciences and Humanities at Loughborough University, UK.

Mark Monaghan is Reader in Criminology in the School of Social Sciences and Humanities at Loughborough University, UK.