Question

Which of the following illustrates a constructionist definition of or approach to what a drug is. A drug is defined by a substance's:

a) psychoactivity
b) chemical structure
c) criminogenic effectsΓÇöthe fact that it causes criminal and violent behavior
d) dependency-producing effect
e) illegal or illicit statusΓÇöthe fact that its possession and sale are against the law

Answer 1

A constructionist approach to defining what a drug is focuses on social or legal constructs, so the answer is e) illegal or illicit status—the fact that its possession and sale are against the law.

Step-by-step explanation:

A constructionist definition or approach to what a drug is would emphasize the social or legal constructs surrounding the substance rather than its purely biological effects. In the options provided, e) illegal or illicit status—the fact that its possession and sale are against the law illustrates a constructionist perspective. This definition of a drug is based on societal and legal criteria, not on the chemical properties or direct effects of the substance itself. Psychoactivity, chemical structure, criminogenic effects, and dependency-producing effects all relate more to the intrinsic characteristics and impacts of the substance on an individual, rather than the socially constructed definitions which the constructionist view focuses on.