Assignment #2 – Social Issue:  Opioid

Assignment #2 – Social Issue:  Opioid – (Possible 100 points)

Opioid use has become a major public health and growing concern in the United States.  It has become a taxing social concern impacting social systems and societal members.Barkan writes, “A social problem is any condition or behavior that has negative consequences for large numbers of people and that generally is recognized as a condition or behavior that needs to be addressed.”

Askyourself the following question regarding the Opioid crisis.  Is the issue/problem an individual problem (micro-level), or is it a macro-levelconcern that is impacting people on a larger (societal level) scale?  What makes it so?  That is, who is it impacting?  What arethe root/causal factors of this issue?  Finally, what can be done to help resolve?  These are the type questions to address when there is a social issue/social concern.

In this last writing assignment, you will culminate the approach to exploring a social issue.  As you will recall, one of the steps to identifying the characteristics of a social problem is to define the social issue/problem.

You will need to conduct limited research on the Opioid Crisis, incorporating information from the NIH article (link provided below). Review the NIH article, “Opioid Overdose Crisis, February 2020.  The link is provided below.

Address the theme of this paper in a 3-paragraph theme paper. 

1. Paragraph 1:In the Introductionyou are being asked toframe/ground your paper through the lens of one of the four sociological perspectives (i.e., functionalist, conflict, feminist, or interactionist).

2. Paragraph 2:In paragraph two of your paper, answer the below questions (question “a” through “i”). Is the issue/problem an individual problem (micro-level), or is it a macro-level concern that is impacting people on a larger (societal level) scale? What makes it so?  That is, who is it impacting?  Identify the root/causal factors of this issue.

Some of your information will come from the article provided, other information from limited research on this subject.  (Note:  all sources used need to be cited, including your text if used.)

1. What is the social problem?
2. Is this a micro-level or macro-level problem? Why?
3. What is the root/causal factor(s)?
4. How did this crisis come to be (i.e., how did it originate)?
5. Who is impacted/affected by this specific problem?
6. What social institutions are involved in this dilemma?
7. What agencies?
8. What can be done to combat it?
9. How is the Opioid crisis affecting Americans and their communities?

3. Paragraph 3:In the concluding paragraph, reflect a summary on how the opioid issue has a social and historical context, and present at least one approach you would offer to abate/address this social concern.

Note:Paper needs to be submitted in a readable format, 1 ½ – 2 pages, double spaced, 1inch margins with a Works Cited page.  Citations need to be APA or MLA format.

National Institute on Drug Abuse:  Opioid Overdose Crisis.  February 2020

https://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/opioids/opioid-overdose-crisis