A reflection on the current state of research and implications of the lack of current knowledge

Derek Joyce 12/9/2013

The Necessity of Research in Drug Use Among the Upper and Middle Classes

Abstract As it has been discussed numerous times during this class, almost every study regarding the use of drugs and socioeconomic class are limited to studies on the lower and middle classes. However, studies on the upper and middle classes are slim to none, often using class as a footnote in classification. This lack of research in the substance use of the upper class has led to prominent stereotyping of substance users as being unemployed, from rural and inner city communities, and/or having a criminal record. It is not necessarily the researchers fault for this overabundance of societys less fortunate in statistics. This typifying occurs mainly because of the availability of those who are willing to participate in studies. Questions of anonymity, motivation, availability, and stigma often deter those of the upper classes from attending formal drug studies. It may be that many studies are located in urban areas or at times and locations where it would be inconvenient for the upper class to attend. It may also be that the upper class believes that unless they are arrested, they do not have a problem. Finally, the upper class can afford to maintain their drug use and lifestyles or may afford treatment if they do wish to stop. So if there is no problem or negative repercussions to their use, why associate with those who do have a problem. However, this is not to say that studies and research on the upper class does not exist. Informal studies of a qualitative nature, interviews, visits to upper class drug parties, and analyses of the youth of the upper class exist in newspapers, online forums, and other informal sources. Therefore, if one follows the same patterns as these studies, it would yield simple and yet insightful information on the true nature of drug use. I therefore propose an analysis of these

sources as a starting point for the research of drug use in an underrepresented population, those of the higher socioeconomic classes. Research Problem The focus of this research study would be to determine how to obtain qualitative and quantitative data regarding class and relate it to clinical analysis. It is easily noted that none of these sources come from peer-reviewed journals, which are the basis for scholastic research, but because such sources are unavailable, one must rely on outside sources for information. I therefore propose that by utilizing information taken from interviews, surveys, testimonies, and other preexisting information, a researcher may develop a foundational basis from which scholastic research may be pursued and justified. Therefore, the research problem will be What information does the current literature hold which may be used as a basis for continued research on drug use among the upper and middle classes? To guide the research for answering this question, the following questions are being presented: What are the experiences of the upper and middle classes regarding their drug use? Are there differences in drug of choice between classes? Are there differences in criminalization and rehabilitation? Are there similarities between classes? Timeframe for Research Because of the effort required to find and assess the sources, with added time to compile information and write the research paper, it is estimated that this research project would take approximately three months and $2,000 to accomplish. The timeframe should consist of one week to gather and orient the research team, seven weeks of research gathering, analysis and coding, two weeks to compile the information and prepare it for composition, and two weeks for

drafting, editing, and composing the final presentation. The proposed monetary budget will go to the expenses of renting the research space, compensation for the research team, and any necessary supplies. Expenses for computers and computer software are exempted from this budget because it is presumed that these materials will be already owned by the research team members and/or available at the research space. A library room or conference room would be sufficient for the research space, though the research team is ultimately responsible for the location. The Available Literature Due to the nature of the literature that is available, a researcher must first determine if the source is reputable enough to be used for research. In this sense, first-hand accounts and reputable newspaper sources will considered as appropriate sources, as well as accounts written on forums, if the accounts is about the writer. One difficulty with this is the common use of the acronym SWIM, meaning Someone Who Isnt Me, which may be used to refer to someone else such as a friend, coworker, or associate, but most commonly as a reference for oneself. Considering the secrecy and fear of repercussion which goes along with drug use, it is understandable that someone on an online forum would not wish to refer to themselves. Therefore, accounts referring to SWIM may be used to qualify a first-hand account. The Research Team The individuals who will be finding, assessing, and coding the sources for this research project will be henceforth referred to as the research team. This group should consist of a minimum of three individuals who have previous training in qualitative research analysis. These individuals would meet for multiple sessions totaling a minimum of eight hours per week. The

research team would meet in a room set up with individual computers, a table, and sufficient seating to allow for individual research and collective analysis. Each member of the team would be responsible for engaging in research, analyzing and providing feedback on the research done by themselves and other group members, maintaining a bibliography, and writing the drafts of the research paper. Methods To find initial sources for research, internet searches based on social class, drug use, upper class, and wealthy may be used. Other keywords may also be used as they are found appropriate throughout the research process. Libraries and textbooks may also lead to information regarding initial sources or search words. Once the initial sources are found, the research team would read and review the source, collectively assessing whether or not the source is appropriate for research. These criteria will be based on the sources origin, accuracy of the accounts, the method of data collection from the source, and comparing bias of the writer to the personal perceptions of the interviewed persons. Once the research member has determined the value of the source, it shall be printed and presented to the research team for analysis. This section of research may be done either at the research space or in independent study. When the proposed source is presented to the research team, the literature must be divided based on sub-topics, called domains, based on what information contributes to the goal of the research question. In this case, the domains would be based on the topics of quantity of use, setting of use, reasoning behind use, substance of choice, legal repercussions, perception of risk of drug use, how drug use interacts with their daily living, descriptions of the experience while on the drug, and rationale and means for stopping drug use, if applicable. These domains will be

marked with different colored highlighters to allow easy recognition of the domain associated with the information, which will be later used for data organization. This section of the research project should take six weeks. Data Organization Once the sources have been coded for the aforementioned topics, the presented paper would require organization and compilation before preparing the final draft. The coded materials would be gathered and organized to match the informational codes. If possible, it would be most beneficial to separate the coded sections from their source materials using either cut sections of printed materials, transcription, or copy-paste command on a digital word processing program. Once the coded information is gathered together, the data will be compared together. In this sense, quantitative data will be compared regarding the sources of their statistics, the resulting data and implications of the results, and what factors of these data sets contribute to their similarities and differences. In regards to qualitative data, similar comparisons would be warranted, but all accounts should be compared with the understanding that individual differences would result in different experiences. Whenever possible, the age, gender, race, socioeconomic class, and occupation of the individual should be included. The inclusion of these demographics would also contribute to the ultimate goal of demonstrating how drug use is found among all people and social classes. Anticipated Results Based on preliminary research, it is speculated that this research project would find that drug use would be comparatively similar between social classes, excluding the very poor. Based

on one report (Topham, 2008), it is suggested that members of the upper class use drugs in similar levels as those of the lower class, but it is in a more social setting where arrangements are made for the safety of the users. It may also be found that those of the upper classes are just as likely as the lower class to use alternatives to conventional drugs. This is suggested in Mail Online, a British newspaper, where upper class drug users use horse tranquilizer as an alternative to cocaine, even though the tranquilizer is more deadly than cocaine (Topham, 2008). Divergences between upper and lower class drug use are expected as well, including the legal consequences of their drug use and the drug of choice. Divergences are also anticipated based on gender, occupation, race, and age within socioeconomic class. For example, it has been found that those of the middle and upper class obtain their drugs with little difficulty through personal contacts, ordered over the phone, and that they use in private settings, as opposed to the young and poor, who buy and use their drugs in more public settings (Bennetto, 1994). Even among the middle and upper classes, those who are in more creative fields (those in artistic and creative occupations) are more likely to use cocaine and marijuana than the working class (Florida, 2009). The research team needs to be open to any and all interpretations of data to prevent bias from influencing the final results of this study. Implications of Research As previously stated, this proposed research study is intended to be the preliminary basis for further research regarding a more holistic understanding of drug use. This may also be a basis for proposing research on drug use among rich youth, the rationality for drug use among the young, rehabilitation trends among the rich, the effectiveness of drug prevention programs, and comparison of drug quality among social classes.

This research proposal may have social implications as well. With a cross-class understanding of drug use, modern stereotypes of the African American thug shooting heroin, the marijuana-smoking hippie or college student, the trailer trash smoking meth, and the athlete on steroids may be found to be obsolete. This would decrease discrimination and false profiling over time. Having the understanding that everyone is susceptible to drug use may also lead to a more illness-oriented perception of drug rehabilitation instead of the current criminal approach, which may additionally lead to an increased emphasis on treatment for drug use instead of legal charges. Suggested Sources

Bibliography
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Kerr, P. (1987, Aug 30). Rich vs. poor: Drug patterns are diverging. Retrieved from The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/1987/08/30/us/rich-vs-poor-drug-patterns-arediverging.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm Ostler, C. (2013, Jul 12). Why do the children of the rich so often turn into drug addicts? Retrieved from Mail Online: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2172351/Whychildren-rich-turn-drug-addicts.html Public Broadcasting Service. (2000, Oct). A social history of America's most popular drugs. Retrieved from Frontline: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/drugs/ Room, R. (n.d.). Thinking about how social inequalities relate to alcohol and drug use and problems. Retrieved from Selected Papers from Robin Room: http://www.robinroom.net/inequal.htm Topham, L. (2008, Dec 23). Why the wealthy young elite are switching from cocaine to the deadlier drug ketamine, the horse tranquillisers used on injured soldiers in Vietnam. Retrieved from Mail online: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1100543/Whywealthy-young-elite-switching-cocaine-deadlier-drug-ketamine-horse-tranquillisers-usedinjured-soldiers-Vietnam.html Types of drugs and social class: A correlation? (2009, Oct 9). Retrieved from Drugs-Forum: http://www.drugs-forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=120925 Wise, T. (n.d.). A new round of white denial: Drugs, race and reality in the 'burbs. Retrieved from November Coalition: http://www.november.org/razorwire/rzold/26/page12.html

Works Cited
Bennetto, J. (1994, Mar 03). Britain;s drugs crisis: Biggest consumers of illegal narcotics are the wealthy: The middle-class users. Retrieved from The Independent: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/britains-drugs-crisis-biggest-consumers-ofillegal-narcotics-are-the-wealthy-the-middleclass-users-1426625.html Florida, R. (2009, Aug 12). Drug use and class. Retrieved from The Atlantic: http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2009/08/drug-use-and-class/23027/ Keel, R. (2013, Oct 4). Trends and patterns of drug use. Retrieved from University of MissouriSt. Louis: http://www.umsl.edu/~keelr/180/trends.html