ANTH1006 - Semester 1 Mid-Sem exam. PDF

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Semester 1 Mid-Sem exam. ...

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1.) According to Robson (2009), invisible cocaine use has been examined using the ‘snowballing’ technique. In a short paragraph, explain what the snowballing technique describes and why is it a useful method in conducting research with people who engage in invisible drug use? (10%)

2.) Zinberg suggests that the effect of a drug is due to three (3) variables and their interaction. What are these ‘three determinants’ of illicit drug use? Define each of these three (3) determinants. (10%) The effect of a drug is due to three variables and the interaction: - Drug: the pharmaceutical action of the substance itself - Set: the attitude of the person at the time of use, including his or her personality structure, and what they expect the drug to do (individual attitudes are significantly influenced by social values and social expectations) - Setting: the influence of the physical and social setting in which use occurs. 2 dimensions: o Social sanctions: thoughts that society believe to have problem – harm minimisation o Social rituals: ritual in taking drugs - Proof of changing culture of drugs 3.) a. In one (1) sentence, define Himmelstein’s concept of “moral entrepreneur.” (5%) ‘Moral entrepreneurs’: moral crusaders who play a key role in drug legislation by influencing public images of a drug b. Then name two (2) examples of moral entrepreneurs discussed in class lectures or readings, and the drug they are associated with. (5%) Huxley -

First experimented with mescaline under supervision of psychiatrist Osmond. Described experience in The Doors of Perception Theory of the brain was eliminative – “to protect is from being overwhelmed and confused by the mass of largely useless and irrelevant knowledge” – bypass the ‘screen’ (brain)

Moral entrepreneurs: Leary and Ginsberg

Dr Timothy Leary -

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1954-1959 Director of clinical research and psychology at California hospital 1959 Appointed to Harvard, established psilocybin research project with Richard Alpert and Huxley. Conducted experiment with theology students at Harvard: 9/10 reported having an intense religious experience when they took ‘shrooms’ 1960: Leary introduced sacred mushrooms to poet Allen Ginsberg

Huxley advocated conducting LSD research quietly, non-confrontationally In contrast, Leary and Ginsenburg wanted to take psychadelics to the masses Leary and Alpert accused of conducting research outside the mdeical model; dismissed from Harvard in 1963. But notoriety helped popularise Leary (“Mr LSD”) and psychadelics -

Leary coined phrase “Turn on, tune in, and drop out”

Moral entrepreneurs: Ken Kesey First experienced LSD as MK-ULTRA test subject Accessed psychedelics in mental asylum where he worked California commune, parties with LSD laced chilli Band of LSD enthusiasts called the Merry Pranksters

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4.) In the Americas, the use of hallucinogens is centred on shamans who play a dominant role in their societies with respect to religion, ritual and healing. In a brief paragraph, provide a definition of what a shaman is as well as an explanation of two (2) functions that a shaman performs. (10%)  

Shamanism Americas use of hallucinogens in centred on shamans who play a dominant role in their societies with respect to religion, ritual

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 Definition of shaman: A religious and ritual specialist who gains control / power over supernatural forces. (Shaman is often called “master of the spirits.”)

Shaman has the ability to enter visionary trance-states (altered states of consciousness, including visions). Shamanic trance can be induced by: -

Tobacco Hallucinogenic drugs Fasting Mediation, hypnosis Music, dancing Controlled breathing

Functions of Shamanic trances Community functions -

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Shaman as mediator between the supernatural and the community – communicates with spirits to gain control over supernatural forces for the benefit of the community Healing – use of visionary trances to diagnose illness – effect of changing mental state – a form of faith healing or psychotherapy

Personal spiritual functions -

May contribute to the development of religious awareness. Common religious theme in shamanic trances and the subject of some research into psychedelics

5.) Farrell (1998) in ‘‘A Global Empirical View of Drug Crop Eradication and the United Nation’s Substitution and Alternative Development Strategies’ makes a number of statements about illicit crop cultivation (opium, coca and cannabis) and attempts to address and eliminate it. In a paragraph or less, describe why farmers can be reluctant to engage in crop substitution, or in other words, to replace illicit crops with licit ones? (10%) I know the answer though i think, illicit drugs are more easily maintained and is better financially,

6.) According to Wilson and Zambrano (1997: 307), ‘The most obvious difference between cocaine and other commodities is that the United States and other states agree on defining cocaine as an “illegal” commodity.’ Besides this difference,

describe two (2) other differences that Wilson and Zambrano discuss while comparing cocaine with other commodities. (10%)

7.) Based on what you learned from Sarah Baracz’s lecture, describe in one or two sentences what a neurotransmitter is and what function it serves. (10%) Neurotransmitters: which carry the information to be transferred across the synapse Neurotransmitters are chemicals produced in the brain, made and released from neurons. They are used to communicate messages from one neuron to another.

Neurotransmitters communicate with postsynaptic neurons via receptors. 8.) Briefly explain why, according to Manderson (1995), needles are associated with both sex and death. (10%)

9.) In no more than a paragraph, describe the basic strategies and assumptions of the U.S.-led ‘War on Drugs.’ (10%) Drug war supply side strategy: -

Anti drug agencies target illicit drugs at their source by pressuring forrign governments to target growers and destroy refining facilities Anti-drug agencies attempt to intercept illicit drugs en route or at the borders of the US and other Western countries Drug enforcement agents and police arrest drug dealers and seize drug supplies Assumption: Law enforcement measures will function to make it more dangeroud and costly for growers, refiners and traffickers to produce and sell iliicit

10.) According to Paul Cohen in 'Symbolic dimensions of the anti-opium campaign in Laos', the 2000-2005 opium eradication campaign in Laos changed the lives of some farmers. Briefly provide two (2) reasons why the opium eradication campaign changed farmers’ lives and describe how their lives were changed. (10%) -

the rapid eradication of opium had devastating effects on the livelihood of highlanders in northern Laos arising from loss of income, rice shortages in the absence of opium to trade for the staple, decapitalisation (e.g. by selling livestock to survive) and migration to lowland areas that already suffered from scarcity of

arable land (Ducourtieux 2008: 163, 164; Lyttleton et al. 2004: 58). -

To minority farmers (including Akha) in neighbouring Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, rubber has become ‘a symbol of all that is modern and progressive’ (Sturgeon 2010: 324). Diana comments that for minority farmers across the border in northern Laos, rubber embodies ‘a new hope for overcoming poverty and pursuing the Chinese dream of modernity’ (2007: 1). Opium reveries have been replaced by hedonistic fantasies of wealth and consumer abundance....