A Study of Social Regulatory Mechanisms in Controlled Illicit Drug Users
An ongoing study of controlled marihuana, psychedelic, and opiate users shows that long-term, moderate illicit drug use is primarily supported by rituals and social sanctions. These guidelines for use, developed by segments of the drug subculture, militate against compulsive use. This work demonstrates the necessity of viewing quality of drug use as a function of sociocultural as well as pharmacological and psychological factors. Findings suggest that a system of social controls similar to that operating for alcohol use could be a more reasonable means of preventing compulsive use than the present prohibition of any and all illicit drug use.
This is the second in a series of working ::: papers published by the Higher Education ::: Academy to disseminate information about ::: the project entitled 'What is learned at ::: university: the social and organisational ::: mediation of university learning' (SOMUL). ::: This second working paper focuses on the ::: organisational mediation of learning, i.e. how ::: institutional characteristics shape the ::: student experience and resultant learning ::: outcomes within an increasingly diverse ::: higher education system.