This book locates the rise of illicit drug use within the historical development of late industrial society and challenges the prevailing view. Highlighting key areas of continuity and the on-going value of classic criminological theory, it is argued that recent trends do not constitute the radical departure that is often supposed.

'Since the 1990s, drug researchers have debated the extent to which youthful drug use reflected a new democratization of drug use. Michael Shiner's book will allow us to accurately assess this debate. It is a comprehensive and intellectual study of contemporary drug using patterns. While not denying new developments in drug consumption, Shiner cogently argues that continuity is also apparent. He provides us with an invaluable 'history of the present' and reminds us of the importance of the work of our theoretical predecessors, whose insights into drug use are still valuable.'

• Geoffrey Hunt, Senior Scientist, Institute for Scientific Analysis, San Francisco, USA

'Shiner provides a lively and thoughtful reminder of the history of social drug use and sociological insights and a valuable pointer to the research questions we face today.'

• Nigel South, Professor of Sociology, University of Essex, UK

Autorentext

MICHAEL SHINER is Senior Lecturer in Social Policy and Criminology at the London School of Economics, UK. His main areas of interest are young people, drugs and alcohol and he is co-author of Teenage Kicks? Young People and Alcohol and Dealing with Disaffection: Young People, Mentoring and Social Inclusion (both with Tim Newburn).

Inhalt
List of figures and tables Acknowledgements Introduction The Sociology of Drug Use A Social Classification of Drug Use The Folk Devil Next Door Lifestyle, Consumption and Subterranean Play Just a Phase? Drug Use and Social Change Bibliography