Citation

Sznitman SR. Addict. Res. Theory 2007; 15(6): 601-616.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/16066350701433233

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This article attempts to improve the models and theories researchers use when investigating drug use in the normal population. The study systematically investigates two dimensions of the normalisation thesis, namely behavioural and cultural normalisation. Whilst the former is measured based on national prevalence rates, the measurement of the latter dimension is based on parameters used in social control theory. More concretely, cultural normalisation is measured based upon the comparative strength of social bonds of cannabis users vs. non-users.The regression analysis, conducted on a Swedish and Swiss student sample, suggests that cannabis users in both the countries are reasonably bounded to conventional society, yet total cultural normalisation does not exist as social bond factors successfully separate users from non-users. Furthermore, the study shows that cultural cannabis normalisation does not necessarily follow behavioural cannabis normality. As such the study brings light to the fact that the normalisation concept may be useful to the investigation of drug-taking in very different drug-taking contexts.

Language: en

Keywords

cannabis; comparative study; Normalisation thesis; social control theory