The Effects Of Alcohol And Drugs On Americ From A Gender...

The History of Alcohol and Drug Abuse in America: From a Gender and Social Perspective In examining the use and abuse of alcohol and drugs, many of the studies often focus upon demographics that are predominantly concerned with a person s socio-economic status. However, in actuality, one s gender played a significant role as well, not necessarily because of biological issues, but due to social norms and so forth. In order to gain a full understanding about the pathways for alcohol and drugs, it s necessary to examine its evolving history in the United States from the past few centuries and the roles of wealth and social class, social norms, and availability in combination with gender differences. It will demonstrate the fact that each gender has been more susceptible to using some of these specific substances at differing rates and that drug use that is illegal today was once considered to be normal. The history of alcohol use in the United States is actually quite different than many people would think. Throughout most of the history of the United States, even going a s far back as the Colonial period, alcohol use was mostly relegated to males. Not only did males mainly consume alcohol, but it was not often abused. In fact, the use of colonial America was governed by legal and moral sanctions which maintained a norm of moderate drinking (Gusfield 1986). Before the American Revolution took place, drinking was not an issue socially, as society was very orderly.