General Strain Theory

Unemployment usually leads to homelessness which is caused by a lack of education. Children of poorer communities are excluded from school and sometimes do not even finish school. In a study that Buchanan (2004) reviews, states that terrible education plays a role as over 54% individuals have been excluded from school and over 52% never completed their statutory education and do not have any qualifications. Young people who are excluded from school then get into what is termed as “Criminal Careers” where they start hanging out with peers who commit petty crime, use drugs, and drink underage. This then results in a much bigger issue when they enter adulthood. A study was done in a disadvantaged neighborhood in North East England; the study

Merton’s General Strain Theory focuses on these stressors and the causes that may lead to drug use. Individuals suffering from strain such as parental abuse, victimization, discrimination, and peer abuse are more likely to commit deviant acts such as using drugs (Moon, Blurton, Mccluskey, 2007). Strain also causes anger within the individual. They see it as their fault but also are angry that they do not have the opportunities and are treated unequally. The anger usually leads to using drugs as a support mechanism (Moon, Blurton, Mccluskey, 2007). Anomie theory also plays a role on why most problematic drug users are from the most deprived areas. An individual is in a disadvantaged state and deprived of opportunities everyone else gets, they are in a constant struggle and they use drugs as a means of retreating from the struggle (Lindesmith and Gagon, 1964). Many individuals who want to get away from this community are pushed down by society; their material success is blocked off, success is encouraged but they are not given the resources to help them. They then become frustrated because they are told to figure things out themselves without any help; of course, they give up on society’s materialistic goals as it is so hard for them to reach. People of colour have it even harder as some of them are even more deprived of resources to help them habilitate into society. They are also outcastes because of where they come from and who they associate with. Individuals then turn to peers and family who may use drugs which leads to the individual to use or sell drugs. This is also known as Selection Interaction where individuals choose to affiliate with people who they can connect with and who will accept them (Moon, Blurton, Mccluskey, 2007). Being accepted into a better society is very important but if they are not given the chance to climb out they eventually fall back. Another significant theory to look into is Sutherland’s differential association theory