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The Silent “G”: A Case Study in the Production of “Drugs” and “Drug Problems”

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The Silent “G”: A Case Study in the Production of “Drugs” and “Drug Problems”. / Moore, Karenza; Measham, Fiona.
In: Contemporary Drug Problems, Vol. 39, No. 3, 2012, p. 565-590.

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@article{41802ab9f9eb45d8ab47f52599a8feb2,
title = "The Silent “G”: A Case Study in the Production of “Drugs” and “Drug Problems”",
abstract = "This paper focuses on {\textquoteleft}G{\textquoteright} in the United Kingdom (UK), G being the collective term for gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) and gamma-butyrolactone (GBL). Drawing on empirical data and taking a critical drug studies perspective, we use G as a case study in how drug cultures move through phases whereby a diffuse and contested network of emergent practices, agencies and processes become progressively ordered into a more stable and conventional set of problems and actors, here G and the {\textquoteleft}G problem{\textquoteright}. The production of former {\textquoteleft}legal high{\textquoteright} G as a particular kind of drug in this network has shaped its relative neglect within UK research, policy and practice as compared to mephedrone, another former {\textquoteleft}legal high{\textquoteright}. Our case study supports the longstanding observation that researchers, policy-makers and practitioners contribute to the performative and material constitution of {\textquoteleft}drugs{\textquoteright} and {\textquoteleft}drug problems{\textquoteright}, upon which we reflect in our conclusion. ",
keywords = "GHB, GBL , legal highs , new psychoactive substances , problematization , criminalization",
author = "Karenza Moore and Fiona Measham",
year = "2012",
language = "English",
volume = "39",
pages = "565--590",
journal = "Contemporary Drug Problems",
issn = "0091-4509",
publisher = "Federal Legal Publications Inc.",
number = "3",
note = "Contemporary Drug Problems Conference: Beyond the Buzzword: Problematising {\textquoteleft}Drugs{\textquoteright} ; Conference date: 03-10-2011 Through 04-10-2011",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - The Silent “G”: A Case Study in the Production of “Drugs” and “Drug Problems”

AU - Moore, Karenza

AU - Measham, Fiona

PY - 2012

Y1 - 2012

N2 - This paper focuses on ‘G’ in the United Kingdom (UK), G being the collective term for gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) and gamma-butyrolactone (GBL). Drawing on empirical data and taking a critical drug studies perspective, we use G as a case study in how drug cultures move through phases whereby a diffuse and contested network of emergent practices, agencies and processes become progressively ordered into a more stable and conventional set of problems and actors, here G and the ‘G problem’. The production of former ‘legal high’ G as a particular kind of drug in this network has shaped its relative neglect within UK research, policy and practice as compared to mephedrone, another former ‘legal high’. Our case study supports the longstanding observation that researchers, policy-makers and practitioners contribute to the performative and material constitution of ‘drugs’ and ‘drug problems’, upon which we reflect in our conclusion.

AB - This paper focuses on ‘G’ in the United Kingdom (UK), G being the collective term for gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) and gamma-butyrolactone (GBL). Drawing on empirical data and taking a critical drug studies perspective, we use G as a case study in how drug cultures move through phases whereby a diffuse and contested network of emergent practices, agencies and processes become progressively ordered into a more stable and conventional set of problems and actors, here G and the ‘G problem’. The production of former ‘legal high’ G as a particular kind of drug in this network has shaped its relative neglect within UK research, policy and practice as compared to mephedrone, another former ‘legal high’. Our case study supports the longstanding observation that researchers, policy-makers and practitioners contribute to the performative and material constitution of ‘drugs’ and ‘drug problems’, upon which we reflect in our conclusion.

KW - GHB

KW - GBL

KW - legal highs

KW - new psychoactive substances

KW - problematization

KW - criminalization

M3 - Journal article

VL - 39

SP - 565

EP - 590

JO - Contemporary Drug Problems

JF - Contemporary Drug Problems

SN - 0091-4509

IS - 3

T2 - Contemporary Drug Problems Conference: Beyond the Buzzword: Problematising ‘Drugs’

Y2 - 3 October 2011 through 4 October 2011

ER -