| Abstract [eng] |
History of drug use reaches 5000 years before Christ. Narcotic drugs were used exceptionally for religious or medicine purposes up to the middle of the 19th century when because of modernization of the society and changes in the control patterns of the society together control towards use of the drugs was changing. Modern democratic society established premises to determine use of the drugs as a problem and to apply the campaigns of “ the fight against drugs” in regard to this problem. Premises for the establishment of drug problem are discussed in the paper with reference to theoretical premises of the representatives of social constructionism. Accordingly to American sociologist C. Reinarman the social establishment of drug use problem was determined not by use of the drugs itself but by specific interest of separate groups of the society in order to limit or constrain other groups of the society. C. Reinarman names this process as establishment of drug scares for which following elements are typical: 1) 1. A Kernel of Truth; 2) Media Magnification; 3) Politico-Moral Entrepreneurs; 4) Professional Interest Groups; 5) Historical Context of Conflict; 6) Linking a Form of Drug Use to a “Dangerous Class”; 7) Scapegoating a Drug for a Wide of Public Problems. When invoking construction scheme of the drug scares of C. Reinarman as a theoretical tool, efforts are made to find campaigns of “the fight against drugs” in Lithuania. After analysis of internet media publications following conclusion is made: campaign of “fight against drugs” in Lithuania was performed in year 2000-2004 and it could be characterized by every aspect of the drug scares. Politicians, with the most standout among them was R. Paksas, raised a drive because of drugs during the electoral campaign. Drug epidemic was announced in Lithuania and it was offered to introduce fast drug tests in the education and foster institutions, also in the imprisonment places and hospitals, in order to stop spread of this epidemic. This allows to make some conclusions about the fact how Lithuanian elite of policy construe education institutions. Drugs have become “a scapegoat” in order to turn off attention from the more important problems of the society. The professional interest groups and mass media that is prone to prominent drug problem also have contributed to “the fight against drugs”. Increased number of the internet publications within period of the research have shown that problem the drugs was exaggerated and in this way a contribution was made to the construction of “fight against drugs” as social-political phenomenon, although data of performed researches haven’t shown any changes in the drug use of the country. |
