Description
Book SynopsisIs drug addiction a disease that can be treated, or is it a crime that should be punished? In her probing study, Illness or Deviance?, Jennifer Murphy investigates the various perspectives on addiction, and how society has myriad ways of handling itincarcerating some drug users while putting others in treatment. Illness or Deviance? highlights the confusion and contradictions about labeling addiction. Murphy's fieldwork in a drug court and an outpatient drug treatment facility yields fascinating insights, such as how courts and treatment centers both enforce the disease label of addiction, yet their management tactics overlap treatment with therapeutic punishment. The addict label is a result not just of using drugs, but also of being a part of the drug lifestyle, by selling drugs. In addition, Murphy observes that drug courts and treatment facilities benefit economically from their cooperation, creating a very powerful institutional arrangement. Murphy contextualizes her findings
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments1 Drug Addiction: Illness or Deviance?2 Historic Tensions and the Development of Drug Treatment and Policy3 The Overlap of Clinical and Legal Authorities: Capital City’s Drug Court4 Labeling Addiction in Outpatient Treatment: Southside and Westview Programs 5 Managing Illness and Deviance: Therapeutic Punishment 6 Conclusion: Reducing StigmaAppendix: Methods and PerspectiveNotes References Index
