Virtuous drug users

• In Event: Altered perceptions: Attitudes towards illicit drugs

Abstract

Background: In neoliberal societies all across Europe, agency over personal happiness has become established as a normative discourse within the self-interested agendas of the neoliberal individual. Within this context, we argue that it is possible to frame drug use as 'virtuous' .
Methods: In this presentation, we aim to: i) provide evidence that a neoliberal individualized presentation of drugtaking as ‘virtuous’ is emerging; and ii) explore the processes by which such a framing is legitimated by society. We apply a neoliberal twist to a virtue ethics perspective, defining ‘virtuous’ drug use as: 1) enhancing happiness; 2) informed by the sustained impetus of neoliberal reason; 3) conforming to the neoliberal emphasis on healthism and risk avoidance; and 4) not interfering with productivity.
Results: Findings suggest that drugtaking, even macro doses of illegal substances, can be constructed as 'virtuous' when engaged in by good neoliberal citizens as part of the rational pursuit of personal happiness. An examination of the recent rapid shift in construction of psychedelics demonstrates the ,methods by which drugtaking can be culturally accommodated and socially legitimated within the neoliberal context.
Conclusions: Ultimately, the construction of 'virtuous' drug use protects the status quo and proliferates the inequalities prevalent in constructions of drugtaking.

Authors

• Caroline Chatwin, University of greenwich

• Richard Gregory Alexander, Utrecht University