High Speed: Amphetamine Use in the Context of Conventional Culture

Abstract

While the use of cannabis is often anchored in subversive values, and the use of heroin is situated at the social margins, the use of amphetamines appears to be associated with more conventional values. Interviews with 55 Norwegian amphetamine and/or methamphetamine users reveal that the substance is used for three main reasons. First, amphetamines are used by binge drinkers to “keep the party going.” Second, amphetamines are used by segments of the marginalized working class to enable them to work longer hours. Third, amphetamines are used medically by some to treat self-diagnosed symptoms of illnesses such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Notes

¹ Ritalin is a methylphenidate and the most prevalent medication in the Norwegian context (Zoega et al. 2011).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Willy Pedersen

WILLY PEDERSEN is a Professor in the Department of Sociology and Human Geography at the University of Oslo. He has been doing research on alcohol and drug use, deviance and crime and processes of marginalization and exclusion, using qualitative as well as quantitative methods. His research has appeared in Addiction, British Journal of Criminology, Social Science and Medicine, and Sociology of Health & Illness. He is the co-author of Street Capital: Black Drugs Dealers in a White Welfare State (2011, Policy Press).

Sveinung Sandberg

SVEINUNG SANDBERG is a Professor in the Department of Criminology and Sociology of Law at the University of Oslo. His research focuses on processes of marginalization, violence, masculinity, illegal drugs, and social movements, often using a narrative or discourse analytical approach. He is the co-author of the monograph, Street Capital: Black Drug Dealers in a White Welfare State (2011, Policy Press). His research has appeared in British Journal of Criminology, British Journal of Sociology, Theoretical Criminology, and International Journal of Drug Policy.

Heith Copes

HEITH COPES is a Professor in the Department of Justice Sciences at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. His primary interests lie in understanding the decision-making process and identity construction of offenders. He is the author of the monograph, Identity Thieves: Motives and Methods (2012, Northeastern University Press). His research has appeared in Criminology, British Journal of Criminology, Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, and Justice Quarterly.