Foucault, Governmentality and Drug Use

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Hello All!

I am in the midst of preparing a conference paper on the topic of adolescent
drug use, identity formation and public policy. I am especially interesting
in the meaning of drug use for young people, either in terms of recreational
use or more dependent or problematic drug use. I recall from my doctoral
research Foucault's position on the relationship between various 'practices
of the self' and the process of subjectivation; I would like to examine drug
use as one such practice of the self and the role such practices have in
shaping young peoples' understanding of their own identity. I am also
interested in the slightly more overtly political issue of the state and
governmentality, ie what rationalities of government and public policy
inform the state's position on illicit drug use and the state's attempts to
design and implement strategies intended to prevent, treat and/or
rehabilitate drug users. My sense is that the state's approach to drugs
policy is premised upon notions of the 'normal subject' or the healthy
citizen in which drug use is seen as a profound contravention of the norms
of citizenship and normal, healthy subjectivity. Foucault's work on
biopolitics and governmentality might be useful here in developing greater
understanding of the rationalities implicit in the state's attempts to
prevent or limit drug use, and the effects of public policies aimed at
preventing drug harms.

As I understand it, Foucault made only fleeting reference to the topic of
drug use in his own writings, and only in terms of the importance of 'limit
experiences' and what some foucauldian scholars have called the 'politics of
pleasure'. Does anyone on the list know of any other references to drug use
within Foucault's writings, or of any 'foucault-inspired' writings on the
topic of young people and drugs? I am trying to develop a thesis around
young people's use of illicit substances and various practices of the self
through which young people attempt to shape a self of certain qualities and
properties. My gut feeling is that public policy which attempts to
problematise drug use as the province of delinquent and/or disaffected
persons really misunderstands the meaning of drug use for young people
today. I am not trying to suggest or imply that more liberal or libertarian
approaches to drug use should be countenanced, only that public policy is
likely to continue to fail to reach young people as long as it
misunderstands what makes drug use so 'normal' and unproblematic for so many
young people. I would love to hear what other listers might think about
these matters!

Many thanks,

Cameron Duff
Research Officer
Centre for Youth Drug Studies
Australian Drug Foundation
PO Box 818 North Melbourne 3051
Tel 03 9278 8118
Fax 03 9328-3008
cameron@xxxxxxxxxx
www.adf.org.au <www.adf.org.au>

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Hello All!


I am in the midst of preparing a =
conference paper on the topic of adolescent drug use, identity =
formation and public policy. I am especially interesting in the meaning =
of drug use for young people, either in terms of recreational use or =
more dependent or problematic drug use. I recall from my doctoral =
research Foucault's position on the relationship between various =
'practices of the self' and the process of subjectivation; I would like =
to examine drug use as one such practice of the self and the role such =
practices have in shaping young peoples' understanding of their own =
identity. I am also interested in the slightly more overtly political =
issue of the state and governmentality, ie what rationalities of =
government and public policy inform the state's position on illicit =
drug use and the state's attempts to design and implement strategies =
intended to prevent, treat and/or rehabilitate drug users. My sense is =
that the state's approach to drugs policy is premised upon notions of =
the 'normal subject' or the healthy citizen in which drug use is seen =
as a profound contravention of the norms of citizenship and normal, =
healthy subjectivity. Foucault's work on biopolitics and =
governmentality might be useful here in developing greater =
understanding of the rationalities implicit in the state's attempts to =
prevent or limit drug use, and the effects of public policies aimed at =
preventing drug harms. 

As I understand it, Foucault made only =
fleeting reference to the topic of drug use in his own writings, and =
only in terms of the importance of 'limit experiences' and what some =
foucauldian scholars have called the 'politics of pleasure'. Does =
anyone on the list know of any other references to drug use within =
Foucault's writings, or of any 'foucault-inspired' writings on the =
topic of young people and drugs? I am trying to develop a thesis around =
young people's use of illicit substances and various practices of the =
self through which young people attempt to shape a self of certain =
qualities and properties. My gut feeling is that public policy which =
attempts to problematise drug use as the province of delinquent and/or =
disaffected persons really misunderstands the meaning of drug use for =
young people today. I am not trying to suggest or imply that more =
liberal or libertarian approaches to drug use should be countenanced, =
only that public policy is likely to continue to fail to reach young =
people as long as it misunderstands what makes drug use so 'normal' and =
unproblematic for so many young people. I would love to hear what other =
listers might think about these matters!

Many thanks,


Cameron Duff
 Research Officer
 Centre for Youth Drug Studies
 Australian Drug Foundation
 PO Box 818 North Melbourne 3051 
Tel 03 9278 8118 
Fax 03 9328-3008 
cameron@xxxxxxxxxx 
<A HREF=3D"www.adf.org.au">www.adf.org.au</A> 

 

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