The Roots Of Addiction In Free Market Society
The Roots of Addiction
in Free Market Society
by Bruce K. Alexander
April 2001
ISBN 0-88627-274-2
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
The Roots of Addiction
in Free Market Society
by Bruce K. Alexander
April 2001
ISBN 0-88627-274-2
Acknowledgements
Special thanks to Patricia Holborn, who has read this manuscript more than once, and
improved it every time. Thanks also to Seth Klein and Marc Lee of the CCPA and to
reviewers Robert Allen, Clyde Hertzman and Jeff Sommers for their patient attention to
detail. This complex analysis would have been impossible without long conversations
with generous colleagues in many fields of specialization. My colleague Joan Wolfe
made the computer work when nobody else could. I am sure there is a special place in
heaven for such people. Thanks to Shannon Daub for editing and laying out this paper.
An earlier version of this paper was published in Addiction Research in 2000, Volume 8.
The contents, opinions and any errors contained in this report are those of the author,
and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA.
About the Author
Bruce Alexander is a Professor of Psychology at Simon Fraser and has conducted research
on addiction for 30 years. He is also a Research Associate with the CCPA and author of
Peaceful Measures: Canada’s Way out of the War on Drugs, University of Toronto Press, 1990.
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
1400–207 West Hastings Street • Vancouver • BC • V6B 1H7
Tel: 604-801-5121 • Fax: 604-801-5122
info@bcpolicyalternatives.org • www.policyalternatives.ca
Contents
Summary ........................................................................................................................1
Introduction .................................................................................................................. 3
Free Markets, Dislocation, and Addiction ...................................................................................... 3
“Terminal City”: Microcosm of Dislocation and Addiction ........................... 6
Vancouver’s history of dislocation and addiction ...................................................................... 6
The Macrocosm: Free Market Society, Dislocation, and Addiction ............ 9
Free Market Society as a Cause of Dislocation ............................................................................ 9
Dislocation as the Precursor of Addiction ................................................................................... 13
Native Canadians ....................................................................................................................... 14
Orcadians in Canada ................................................................................................................. 16
Counterexample: “Instantaneous Addiction” .................................................................. 17
Conclusion: Getting at the Roots of Addiction .............................................. 19
Changing the Debate ......................................................................................................................... 19
Clarifying Directions for Political Change ................................................................................... 20
Social Change ........................................................................................................................................ 21
Notes: ............................................................................................................................ 23
References .................................................................................................................. 27
Summary
The City of Vancouver is promoting a major new
person in every type of society. These ties are
initiative on drug addiction based on the “four
called “psychosocial integration” in this paper.
pillars” of treatment, prevention, law enforce-
This paper argues that dislocation is the neces-
ment, and harm reduction. This balanced and
sary precursor of addiction, and uses examples
compassionate initiative warrants public support.
from Canadian and Scottish History to show that
Unfortunately, it does not warrant optimism. A
free markets inevitably produce widespread
century of intense effort has shown that no
dislocation among the poor and the rich. As free
matter how well different approaches are coordi-
market globalization speeds up, so does the
nated, society cannot “prevent,” “treat,” or “harm
spread of dislocation and addiction.
reduce” its way out of addiction any more than it
can “police” its way out of it.
In order for “free markets” to be “free,” the
exchange of labour, land, currency, and con-
Although the four pillar initiative is a step for-
sumer goods must not be encumbered by ele-
ward, developing an effective policy towards
ments of psychosocial integration such as clan
addiction requires a deeper and fuller analysis of
loyalties, village responsibilities, guild or union
both the extent of addiction and its causes. The
rights, charity, family obligations, social roles, or
four pillars encompass only a small corner of the
religious values. Cultural traditions “distort” the
addiction problem—illicit drugs—and are not
free play of the laws of supply and demand, and
founded upon an analysis of the root causes.
thus must be suppressed. In free market econo-
The word “addiction” has come to be narrowly
mies, for example, people are expected to move
applied to excessive drug use in the 20th century,
to where jobs can be found, and to adjust their
but historically it was applied to non-drug habits
work lives and cultural tastes to the demands of
as well. There is ample evidence that severe
a global market.
addictions to non-drug habits are every bit as
People who cannot achieve psychosocial integra-
dangerous and resistant to treatment as drug
tion develop “substitute” lifestyles. Substitute
addiction, whether they be the compulsion for
lifestyles entail excessive habits including—but
money, power, work, food, or material goods.
not restricted to—drug use, and social relation-
Addiction in the modern world can be best
ships that are not sufficiently close, stable, or
understood as a compulsive lifestyle that people
culturally acceptable to afford more than minimal
adopt as a desperate substitute when they are
psychosocial integration. People who can find no
dislocated from the myriad intimate ties between
better way of achieving psychosocial integration
people and groups—from the family to the
cling to their substitute lifestyles with a tenacity
spiritual community—that are essential for every
that is properly called addiction.
The Roots of Addiction • 1
Addiction changed from being a nuisance in the
problem of addiction will require fundamental
ancient world to a steadily growing menace as
political and economic changes. The beginning of
western society moved into free market econom-
political change is a realistic discussion of addic-
ics and the industrial revolution. Because West-
tion that recognizes that addiction is mass-
ern society is now based on free market
produced in free market society, and that
principles that mass-produce dislocation, and
society, as well as individuals, must change. It
because dislocation is the precursor of addiction,
requires moves towards good government and
addiction to a wide variety of pursuits is not the
away from policies that undermine our ability to
pathological state of a few, but to a greater or
care for one another and build sustainable,
lesser degree, the general condition in western
healthy communities.
society. Western free market society also pro-
Of course, examining the side effects of “free
vides the model for globalization, which means
markets” and the “new economy” is uncomfort-
that mass addiction is being globalized along
able at a time when nearly every nation in the
with the English language, the Internet, and
world seems bent on gaining admission to the
Mickey Mouse.
free trade party to sample the goodies and enjoy
Attempts to treat or prevent addiction that
the high tech euphoria. Ignoring the problem,
ignore the connection between free markets,
however, is having side effects that are clearly
dislocation, and addiction have proven to be
visible here in Vancouver and all around us.
little better than band-aids. Addressing the
2 • Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
Introduction
The city of Vancouver is promoting a major new
addiction in the 21st century is not so much a
initiative on drug addiction based on the “four
matter of individual tragedy as it is a matter of
pillars” of: treatment, prevention, law enforce-
underlying political and social dynamics.
ment, and harm reduction. The present form of
Addiction changed from being merely a nuisance
the initiative is outlined in “A Framework for
in the ancient world to being a steadily growing
Action” by Don MacPherson, Vancouver’s Drug
menace in the modern world as society moved
Policy Coordinator.1 This comprehensive docu-
into free market economics and the industrial
ment has many virtues. It grows from collabora-
revolution. Analysing the still-growing menace of
tion of local police, professionals and citizens; it
addiction entails examining the toxic side effects
recognizes the futility of single-minded ap-
of “free markets” and the “new economy.” Of
proaches that have been faddish in the past; and
course, such an examination is uncomfortable at
it allows for experimentation as well as reliance
a time when every nation in the world seems
on proven methods. This reasonable and com-
bent on gaining admission to the free trade party
passionate approach warrants public support.
to sample the goodies and enjoy the high tech
Unfortunately, it does not warrant optimism.
euphoria. Ignoring the problem, however, is
Although addiction problems can be mitigated by
having side effects that are clearly visible in
closer collaboration between Vancouver’s excel-
Vancouver and everywhere.
lent health workers and police, they cannot
The link between the new economy and addiction
brought under control. All four “pillars” of the
is called “dislocation” in this report, although it
new initiative have been utilized extensively
has been given various other names by social
throughout the 20th century in Canada, the U.S.,
scientists.3
and Europe, both separately and in combination.2
Despite some genuine local successes, this
massive effort has had no substantial impact on
Free Markets, Dislocation, and
the steady growth of addiction either to drugs or
Addiction
to innumerable other habits: drinking, gambling,
overeating, overspending, etc. There has been
All children are intensely motivated to maintain
little impact because, no matter how well they
close social bonds with their parents and other
are coordinated, the four pillars encompass only
caretakers. Unless this drive is badly thwarted,
a small corner of the addiction problem—illicit
older children and adults later strive to establish
drugs—and are not founded upon an analysis of
and maintain other close relationships, for
the root causes.
example, with friends, school-mates, co-workers,
and recreational, ethnic, religious, or nationalistic
Developing an adequate policy for the problem of
groups. Eric Erikson4 depicted this as a life-long
addiction requires a full recognition of its extent
struggle to achieve “psychosocial integration,” a
and an analysis of its causes. This undertaking is
state in which people flourish simultaneously as
essential because the spread of addiction has
individuals and as members of their culture.
become a genuine menace. The analysis is
Erickson showed that psychosocial integration is
inevitably complex, because the burgeoning of
The Roots of Addiction • 3
essential for every person in every type of
primarily by the laws of supply and demand
society—it makes life bearable, even joyful at its
maximize everybody’s well being in the long run
peaks.
by multiplying the “wealth of nations.”
Insufficient psychosocial integration can be called
Severe dislocation provokes a desperate re-
“dislocation.” Severe, prolonged dislocation is
sponse, whether it is universal or idiosyncratic.
hard to endure. When forced upon people,
Dislocated people struggle to find or restore
dislocation—i.e., ostracism, excommunication,
psychosocial integration—to somehow “get a
exile, or solitary confinement— is so onerous
life.” People who persistently fail to achieve
that it has been used as a dire punishment from
genuine psychosocial integration eventually
ancient times until the present. Severe, pro-
construct lifestyles that substitute for it. Substi-
longed dislocation regularly leads to suicide.
tute lifestyles entail social relationships that are
not sufficiently close, stable, or culturally accept-
Dislocation can have diverse causes. It can arise
able to afford more than minimal psychosocial
from a natural disaster that destroys a person’s
integration. At best, these substitute lifestyles
home or from a debilitating accident that bars
can be creative, as in the case of an eccentric
the person from full participation in society. It
artist or high-tech wizard, but more usually they
can be inflicted by violence, e.g., by driving
are banal and dangerous, as in the case of a
masses of people from their territory, or by
youth gang member or a street addict. Substi-
abusing an individual child who thereafter
tute lifestyles sometimes—but not always—
shrinks from all human contact. It can be in-
center on excessive use of drugs.6
flicted without violence, e.g., as when a parent
instills an unrealistic sense of superiority that
Even the most harmful substitute lifestyles serve
makes a child insufferable to others. It can be
an adaptive function. For example, devoted
voluntarily chosen, e.g., in the single-minded
loyalty to a violent youth gang, offensive as it
pursuit of wealth in a “gold rush,” or in jumping
may be to society and to the gang member’s
at a “window of opportunity.” Finally, dislocation
own values, is far more endurable than no
can be universal if a society systematically
identity at all. The barren pleasures of a street
curtails psychosocial integration in all its mem-
“junkie”—membership in a deviant sub-culture,
bers. Universal dislocation is endemic in free
transient relief from pain, the nervous thrill of
market society.
petty crime—are more sustaining than the
unrelenting aimlessness of dislocation. People
Although any person in any society can become
who can find no better way of achieving psycho-
dislocated, modern western societies dislocate all
social integration than through substitute life-
their members to a greater or lesser degree
styles cling to them with a tenacity that is
because all members must participate in “free
properly called addiction.
markets” that control labour, land, money and
consumer goods. Free markets require that
The English word “addiction” came to be nar-
participants take the role of individual economic
rowly applied to excessive drug use in the 20th
actors, unencumbered by family and friendship
century, but was generally applied to non-drug
obligations, clan loyalties, community responsi-
habits during many previous centuries. There is
bilities, charitable feelings, the values or their
ample clinical evidence that severe addictions to
religion, ethnic group, or nation.5 The essential
non-drug habits are every bit as dangerous and
maxim of free market society, as proclaimed by
resistant to treatment as drug addiction.7
Adam Smith, is that markets that are regulated
4 • Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
Because western society is now based on free
been fenced in on four sides by professional
market principles that mass-produce dislocation,
conventions. First, only experimental and medi-
and because dislocation is the precursor of
cal research has been considered really valid,
addiction,8 addiction to a wide variety of pursuits
other approaches seeming too philosophical,
is not the pathological state of a few but, to a
political, literary, anecdotal, or unscientific.
greater or lesser degree, the general condition in
Second, attention has been lavished upon alcohol
western society. Because western free market
and drug addictions, although non-drug addic-
society provides the model for globalization,
tions are often as dangerous and far more
mass addiction is being globalized, along with
widespread. Third, American examples, data,
the English language, the Internet, and Mickey
and ideology have provided most of the impor-
Mouse.
tant guideposts in this field, although powerful
political forces limit debate there more than
Of course, addiction can occur in any society,
other places. Fourth, although a few individual
including tribal and socialist ones. For example,
scholars do speak out, professional addiction
alcohol addiction was widely prevalent in the
researchers have rarely contradicted the main-
USSR, which did not have a free market
stream media misinformation concerning drugs
economy. This may be because Soviet society
and addiction. Under these conditions, and since
shared with free market society the willingness
professionals are making little progress on the
to destroy psychosocial integration on a grand
problem of addiction, society will do well to fall
scale in the interest of economic development
back on common sense and history.
and ideological purity, as in the case of agricul-
tural collectivization.9 However, intercultural
Because Vancouver has always been part of free
comparisons will not be undertaken in this
market society and because it has Canada’s
report, which focuses on the dynamics of addic-
biggest drug addiction problem, we who live here
tion in free market society without implying that
can glimpse the relationship between free mar-
other societies do not engender problems of their
kets, dislocation, and addiction by looking out
own.
our windows, reading our local history books,
and looking at our own friends and families.
There has been little analysis of free market
Following a look at Vancouver, this report will
society and dislocation among professional
undertake a more general analysis.
addiction researchers because their field has
The Roots of Addiction • 5
“Terminal City”:
Microcosm of Dislocation and Addiction
About 6000-10,000 ragged junkies in Vancou-
necessarily the most destructive ones. For
ver’s “downtown eastside” are currently buying,
example, some occupants of the country’s
selling, and injecting cocaine and heroin,
boardrooms feed their own habits by ruinously
panhandling aggressively, and dying on the
exploiting natural resources, polluting the envi-
streets in record numbers. A large and growing
ronment, misinforming the public, and purveying
proportion of these junkies are HIV positive.
modern weapons in third world countries. Severe
Most are white, although there is a dispropor-
addictions to power, money, and work motivate
tionate number of native Canadians. Compared
many of those who direct this destruction.10 Why
to the better known images of New York or Los
is there so much addiction in Vancouver?
Angeles, Vancouver’s downtown eastside drug
scene is less one of racial contrast and hot
Vancouver’s history of dislocation
violence than one of homogeneous, sodden
misery.
and addiction
Spreading in every direction from the downtown
Although justly admired for its beauty, civility,
eastside centre of hard drug addiction is a vast,
and assiduous urban planning,11 Vancouver is
doleful tapestry of less notorious, but often
also, more than most, a city of dislocation. From
equally tragic forms of addiction. There are
the arrival of the first English settlers to the area
gambling addicts in the casinos, alcoholics in the
in 1862, the space for urban sprawl was acquired
bars, money and power addicts in the financial
by forcing native people from nearly 100 villages
district, workaholics in the offices, cybersex and
around Burrard Inlet, False Creek, and the Fraser
video game addicts at the monitors, skibums in
River. The natives’ lands, which had for centuries
the resorts, television addicts on the couches,
been sites for food gathering, communal houses,
food addicts at the convenience stores, celebrity
huge wood carvings, ancestral burial grounds,
addicts in the theaters, relationship addicts
and invisible spirits became the basis of a free
working on their issues, religious fanatics
market in real estate almost overnight. Many of
spreading the Word, and on and on. Of course,
their complex cultural practices were outlawed or
most people who engage in these activities are
mocked out of existence.12 Their famous
not addicted to them, and some who are ad-
“potlatches,” elaborate ceremonies in which rich
dicted manage to lead stable lives and contribute
natives gave enormous amounts of food and
to society nonetheless. However, many people
goods to others according to complex traditional,
are disastrously and sometimes fatally addicted
clan, and personal obligations were the antith-
to one or more of these pursuits, and the mass
eses of free markets. They were prohibited by
of seriously addicted people is growing.
law from 1884 until 1951.
The notorious downtown eastside junkies—the
These dislocated natives’ descendants populate
most publicized addicts in Canada—are not
the downtown eastside, and their ghosts con-
6 • Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
tinue to haunt the land’s new owners. A popular
several fatalities, but it was resurveyed and
print by Roy Henry Vickers, a native artist,
mostly rebuilt, including a new city hall, electric
depicts Vancouver with the city’s landmark
street lights, and a roller skating rink—all in the
buildings dwarfed by enormous totem poles
year 1886.13
towering over them, just visible in the eternal
Today, Vancouver is a prosperous and beautiful
drizzle.
city. It has never known war, bombing, revolu-
From its beginning until the present, Vancouver
tion, famine, or plague. Although it felt the full
has been the landing point in Canada for a huge
force of the economic depression of the 1930’s,
eastward migration of displaced east and south
relative to most other parts of the world it has
Asians, accelerating in the 1880s as shiploads of
been only lightly brushed by industrial blight,
single Chinese men were imported en masse to
class struggle, poverty, slums, and organized
labour on the railroad and in the coal mines.
crime.14 Vancouverites’ complaints tend to target
Asians, although always a substantial portion of
the provincial government and the long rainy
the city’s labour market, were treated as aliens
season, although it is generally conceded that
from its beginning through the second world war,
the government is well-intentioned and the
during which the entire Japanese-Canadian
climate is the most temperate in Canada.
population was stripped of its property and
However, whereas dislocation is commonplace in
scattered into internment camps.
modern cities, Vancouver’s is extreme. Populated
With the completion of Canada’s first transconti-
by diverse immigrants, Vancouver’s values and
nental railway in 1886, Vancouver also became
institutions did not grow from a surrounding
the terminus for the westward migration of
peasant culture, common religion, or single
European people in Canada—most of those who
language. There has been too little time for
landed here came direct from Europe or migrated
extended families or clans to become important.
one or more times through eastern Canada or
The predominant occupations—logging, fishing,
the U.S. Even today, it is a commonplace obser-
and mining—separated working men from their
vation that the majority of people who live in
families for months on end. Vancouver might, in
Vancouver were born elsewhere. Vancouver was
time, have developed a unique cultural fusion as
nicknamed “Terminal City” shortly after the
did Canada’s older eastern cities, such as St.
railway was completed.
Johns and Quebec City, but its nascent culture
seems to have been drowned in its infancy by a
The city of Vancouver was incorporated and
flood of freely-imported music, temperance
given its present name in 1886, little more than
leaders, movies, figures of speech, textbooks,
a century ago. Sparked by completion of the
magazines, experts, computers, professional
railway in that same year, the scattered farms,
sports, fast food, and television. People from all
mills, and shanties exploded into urbanity.
over the world have come to Vancouver to join
Speculators rushed to buy land, the first newspa-
Canadian culture, but have instead found them-
per was established, an urban water system was
selves adrift in “Lotusland.”
planned, and the first eastbound shipload of
merchandise, 1,000,000 pounds of tea from
If dislocation is the precursor to addiction,
China, arrived in the port and was loaded on
“Terminal City” should also be “Addiction City.”
railway cars for shipment. Markets were free and
Alcohol and drug statistics suggest that it is.
growth was unstoppable—the entire city of 400
Vancouver has long been Canada’s most drug
wooden buildings burnt to the ground with
addicted city, and British Columbia its most drug
The Roots of Addiction • 7
addicted province, with respect to annual per
in Vancouver than is drug addiction.16 Unfortu-
capita consumption of alcohol, death rate attrib-
nately, it is as yet impossible to compare their
uted to alcohol, prevalence of alcoholism, death
prevalence with that of other places.
rate due to heroin and cocaine overdose, preva-
This look at Vancouver’s history suggests that
lence of HIV infection and Hepatitis C infection
the so-called “drug problem” is merely a special
among injection drug users, availability of heroin
case of a much larger addiction problem and that
and cocaine, self-reported use of all illicit drugs,
large-scale dislocation is the precursor to addic-
arrest rates for drug crimes, etc. This is so
tion. There is epidemiological and experimental
currently and has been so throughout the 20th
support for these generalizations in the medical
century.15 Heroin statistics provide the most
and psychological literature.17 However, the
notorious example. British Columbia is one of 10
historical evidence of a causal relationship
provinces and 3 territories in Canada, yet in
between free market society, dislocation, and
1997, 61% of all heroin arrests in Canada were
addiction is even stronger.
in British Columbia. Addictions that do not
involve alcohol and drugs are far more common
8 • Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
The Macrocosm:
Free Market Society,18
Dislocation, and Addiction
Historical research provides many examples of
powerful control systems. Carefully engineered
causal links between (1) emergence of free
management, advertising, taxation, and mass
market society and dislocation, and (2) disloca-
media techniques keep people buying, selling,
tion and addiction of all sorts. The next two
working, borrowing, lending, and consuming at
sections of this report provide some examples of
optimal rates, deliberately undermining the
each of these two causal links followed by an
countervailing influences of new social structures
apparent counterexample, the drug “crack”
that spontaneously arise in modern families,
which—it is said—addicts everyone who uses it,
offices, factories, etc.21 Thus, opportunities to re-
dislocated or not.
establish new forms of psychosocial integration
are suppressed.
Free Market Society as a Cause of
Although various forms of capitalism have ex-
isted throughout history, free market society first
Dislocation
achieved full strength in early modern England.
In free markets, the exchange of labour, land,
Well before the English Revolution of 1640, free
currency, and consumer goods must not be
market advocates were able to draw theological
encumbered by clan loyalties, village responsi-
justification from English Protestantism, legal
bilities, guild rights, charity, family obligations,
support from Parliament, and coercive power
social roles, or religious values. Since cultural
from the crown. By a series of increments,
traditions “distort” the free play of the laws of
England achieved a full-blown free market
supply and demand, they must be suppressed to
society by the early 19th century. This was in
establish a free market society.
part achieved through a massive, forced eviction
of the rural poor from their farms, commons, and
Paradoxically, establishing a “free” market
villages and the absorption of some of them into
society regularly requires coercion on a massive
urban slums and a brutal, export-oriented manu-
scale because most people cling fiercely to their
facturing system. Those who resisted these new
cultural traditions.19 Polanyi’s classic study, The
realities too strenuously were further dislocated
great transformation makes the point concisely:
from their families and communities, by forced
Establishing a free market society “must disjoint
apprenticeship of their children, destruction of
man’s relationships and threaten his natural
their unions and other associations of working
habitat with annihilation.”20
people, elimination of local charity to the “unde-
Also paradoxically, established “free” market
serving poor,” and by confinement in “houses of
societies require the continuing presence of
correction” where they were encouraged to
The Roots of Addiction • 9
accept their new responsibilities with whips and
well-defined social strata: chiefs, tacksmen,
branding irons.22
subtenants, and cotters. English was a foreign
language; people spoke Gaelic.
Forced dislocation spread from England to the
rest of the British Isles, e.g., the “clearances” of
Each highlander belonged to a clan, and all
the clan society of the Scottish highlands, and to
members were expected to support their clan
English colonies abroad, e.g., the settlement of
chief both with the produce from their farms and
Australia by “transportation” of convict labour.
their valour on the battle field. In return, the
The dislocated British immigrants reproduced
clan chief was expected to preserve his people’s
their own condition by dislocating aboriginal
rights to their tiny farms in perpetuity. Interclan
peoples wherever they landed, with the support
battles were bloody enough, but also ritualised
and encouragement of the Imperial Government.
with the flash of competing tartans, the call of
bagpipes, and the legacy of warrior heros. There
The necessary connection between the free
was little export or import and little use for
market economy and dislocation in early 19th
money. Although highland society suffered from
century England was recognized as much by
famine in poor years, it offered psychosocial
Whigs who supported free market capitalism, like
integration to even the very poorest, and emi-
William Townsend and Herbert Spencer, as by
gration was uncommon.25
those who opposed it, like Robert Owen and Karl
Marx. Marx and Engels devoted some of the
After the last major armed uprising against
most powerful rhetoric in their Communist
British rule was defeated at the Battle of
Manifesto to describing the dislocation that free
Culloden in 1746, the British government began
markets produced in Europe.23
the systematic destruction of highland society.
The traditional bearing of arms was prohibited,
In contemporary times as well, the devastating
as was traditional dress, including plaid, tartan,
effects of free markets on traditional society
and kilt. The hereditary powers of the chiefs
have been amply documented, both by scholars
were abrogated and some of their lands were
who support the globalization of free markets
confiscated. Chiefs who retained land were
and by those who oppose it.24 The most enthusi-
admitted into English society, but only if they
astic advocates of free market society often
transformed themselves from Gaelic-speaking
justify mass dislocation by emphasizing the fact
chiefs to English-speaking landlords.
that free market institutions are sometimes
voluntarily chosen and bring wealth to some of
The free market completed the work of cultural
those who join them, apparently forgetting that
destruction that military conquest had begun. In
free markets are more often established by force
an era of war and population explosion, England
and bring poverty to most of those who survive
needed more meat and wool than it could
the dislocation.
produce and new landlords of the spacious
highlands had the opportunity to sell these
The highlands of Northwestern Scotland provide
commodities to huge free market. At the same
an example of the dislocating effects of free
time that the newly-minted landlords were
markets on traditional society. Until the second
losing their traditional rank in society, they were
half of the 18th century, highlands society was
being tantalized with the rewards that the
little touched by free markets. The local economy
export market could bring: homes in London,
was a network of traditional obligations among
city wives with worldly repartée and a cultivated
people living in stable families and occupying
taste for clothes and jewlery, English peerages,
10 • Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
continental food and art.
which was true enough; and that the evicted
people were happy with the situation, which was
The highlands had traditionally produced cattle
an outrageous lie.
and grain, mostly for local consumption. How-
ever, it was quickly discovered that the land-
The pitiless cruelty of the burnings and the
lord’s wealth could be multiplied by replacing the
ensuing exile, including deaths by exposure,
cattle with new breeds of hardy sheep and
starvation, and infectious disease was docu-
reducing the human population from many
mented in published reports by first-hand wit-
subsistence farmers to a few shepherds. For the
nesses. The enduring despair of the survivors
most part the clansmen, now looked upon as
over the loss of their culture was documented in
peasants subject to the dictates of the agricul-
a mournful folk literature, mostly written in
tural market, remained a warrior race in their
Gaelic.
own minds and would have nothing to do with
Highlanders who were not evicted were deliber-
running sheep, especially on the lands of evicted
ately stripped of their sources of psychosocial
comrades and kinsmen. Either the free market
integration. The life of James Loch, a famous
was to be thwarted by tradition, or the highland-
highlands administrator has been described thus:
ers had to be evicted. The evictions that ensued
...for the rest of his life, he worked to
were so extensive that they came to be known
complete the clearance of the interior, to
as “clearances.”
carve the emptied lands into great
Legal eviction notices procured by clan chiefs or
sheep farms, to build harbours, bridge
English landlords who had bought the formerly
rivers, turn cattle-tracks into macadam
inalienable land in the free market, usually
roads, and to so mould and control the
allowed highland families a few months to volun-
lives of ‘the ignorant and credulous
tarily leave and pull down their houses. Most
people’ that at one time the young
refused and were burnt out by the sheriff. In lieu
among them had to go to his agents for
of their ancestral land, the families were some-
permission to marry. ‘In a few years,’ he
times offered barely habitable land on the coast
wrote, before a quarter of his long
and the opportunity to join the herring fishery
service was run, ‘the character of the
(by building their own boats) or to work as
whole of this population will be com-
miners. Sometimes their only option was to
pletely changed...The children of those
emigrate in disease-ridden boats for Canada or
who are removed from the hills will lose
other destinations at their own expense.
all recollection of the habits and cus-
toms of their fathers.’26
Sporadic rebellions against the clearances by
disarmed highlanders were quelled by regular
As sheep replaced people and hamlets, the
troops from Scottish regiments, dispatched by
highlands did become far more productive in
the English king, at the request of local chiefs or
exportable wealth than they were before. A few
English landlords. The legality of this military
of those who were not exiled prospered, prima-
coercion was upheld in court on free market
rily chiefs and their overseers (called “factors”).
principles. Extensive justifications for the clear-
English entrepreneurs who acquired highland
ances that were written for public consumption
estates became immensely wealthy. It could be
stressed that: the productivity of the land was
said that Canada benefited from the clearances,
improved, which was true; that the cotters under
which forced tens of thousands of hard working
the traditional system were extremely poor,
settlers to Nova Scotia, to Lower and Upper
The Roots of Addiction • 11
Canada, and to the Red River settlement in the
nomadic, lacking in self-respect and
wilderness beyond. Some overcame their
discipline—crude, callous beings of
dislocation by establishing new colonies of Scots
whom both labourer and capitalist were
that have survived and prospered in Canada.
an example.30
Some established new lives as farmers and
One index of dislocation among the rich is the
tradesmen in the free market environment,
spreading social problems of the U.S. middle
working the same kinds of dislocations upon the
class, arguably the pinnacle of success in the
Canadian aboriginals and métis that they had
free market world. The pressures of ever-in-
earlier experienced themselves.27 Others flowed
creasing competitiveness, productivity, flexibility,
into a rising tide of dislocated humanity.
overwork, downsizing, restructuring, etc., on the
Because England successfully dominated the 19th
two working parents in American middle class
century world, English free market economics,
families, often cut off from their extended fami-
with its intrinsic destruction of traditional culture,
lies, are such that the children are deprived of
spread across the map of western Europe.28
essential time and support, even if adequate
Because free market society now dominates the
daycare fills their needs during the working day.
world, the destruction of traditional culture has
Psychologist Richard DeGrandpre has called this
become ubiquitous. In an ultimate irony, tens of
a “culture of neglect” and a “trickle-down theory
thousands of Latin American peasants, some of
of child rearing.” He identifies this dislocation
whom grew coca on their tiny farms, are cur-
from traditional family supports as a direct cause
rently being dislocated in the interest of prevent-
of the rapid spread of “Attention Deficit Hyperac-
ing addiction through the War on Drugs.29
tivity Disorder” and the consequent prescription
of the stimulant Ritalin to school age children,
Dislocation in free market societies is not con-
about 15% of whom are now on Ritalin.31 Ameri-
fined to poor people or poor countries. At the
cans consistently score the highest, relative to all
end of the 20th century, for rich and poor alike,
other developed countries, on a plethora of other
jobs disappear on short notice; communities are
indications of dislocation, including divorce,
weak and unstable; people routinely change
single parenthood, children in poverty, economic
lovers, families, occupations, co-workers, techni-
disparity, and excessive television viewing.32
cal skills, languages, nationalities, priests,
Canada’s middle-class plight is not as extreme as
therapists, spiritual beliefs and ideologies as their
the U.S., but the trends are the same.
lives progress. Prices and incomes are no more
stable than social life. Even the continued viabil-
Other signs of dislocation of the rich include the
ity of crucial ecological systems is in question.
growing discontent, stress, and workplace
For rich and poor alike, dislocation plays havoc
violence among corporate “management.” Cur-
with delicate ties between people, society, the
rent management literature abounds with discus-
physical world, and spiritual values that sustain
sions about how the army of dysfunctional
psychosocial integration. Again, Polanyi made the
managers should themselves be managed. The
complex point concisely:
cause of this discontent is ingeniously lampooned
...the most obvious effect of the new
in contemporary cartoons, like “Dilbert”. As
institutional system was the destruction
sociologist John Gray puts it, “Businesses have
of the traditional character of settled
shed many of the responsibilities that made the
populations and their transmutation into
world of work humanly tolerable in the past.”33
a new type of people, migratory,
There have been pauses in the advance of free
12 • Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
market society. For example, it was slowed
further replaces local ties.36 Ultimately, people
during the depression of the 1930s when the
are expected to even give up their identity as
Roosevelt government in the U.S. and a sizeable
human beings—the ultimate dislocation. Italian
group of American economic thinkers warned
futurist, Valerio Evangelisti has described it thus:
that it would be necessary to seriously curtail
Traditional capitalism only needed to
free market fundamentalism if capitalism was to
advertise. But the new capitalism goes
survive. Free market ideology was not prominent
into people’s imagination, dreams, and
in Canada or the U.S. between 1940 and 1970,
most intimate visions of the world. The
even though these countries were citadels of
growth of communication has permitted
capitalism during the “Cold War.” These were the
it to go there, imposing lifestyles,
years in which popular wisdom celebrated
creating needs that did not exist before,
Keynesian economics, the welfare state, and
deliberately increasing people’s thirst for
regulations on the flow of international capital.34
approval. It is impossible to understand
contemporary society without taking the
But times have changed. Free market fundamen-
rapid colonialization of the imagination
talism has accelerated dislocation everywhere, as
that has been accomplished in recent
the ideological threat of a successful Soviet
years into account...There is a deliber-
economy disappeared and as world wide competi-
ate attempt to rob people of their
tion has seemed to require frenzied productivity.
identity.37
This is equally the case in countries with “mature”
economies, including Canada; in “developing”
countries under the aegis of the International
Dislocation as the Precursor of
Monetary Fund and the World Bank; and in China,
Addiction
which has gradually been moving towards a free
market economy at an accelerating pace since the
Only people who are chronically and severely
1980s. The World Trade Organization, the Inter-
dislocated are vulnerable to addiction, although
national Chamber of Commerce, and other
some of them manage to avoid it. Some eventu-
powerful transnational bodies urge dramatically
ally find ways to achieve enough psychosocial
expanding the scope of free markets in areas,
integration and some who do not achieve psy-
such as education and medicine, where their role
chosocial integration enter into lifestyles that
was previously limited.35
cannot be called “addiction” without stretching
the word too thin. They may, for example,
The hegemony of free market principles is
become eccentric, physically ill, depressed,
extending beyond limits that have long seemed
hypochondriacal, violent, or suicidal instead.
prudent. For example, Adam Smith warned in
the Wealth of Nations that national governments
The historical correlation between severe disloca-
must resist the power of manufacturers to
tion and addiction is strong. Although alcohol
“become formidable to the government,
consumption and drunkenness on festive occa-
and...intimidate the legislature” (p. 415). Smith
sions was widespread in Europe during the
also feared excessive profits (pp. 109-110) and
middle ages, and although a few people became
considered “private luxury and extravagance” to
“inebriates” or “drunkards,” mass alcoholism was
be “ruinous taxes” (p. 72).
not a problem. However, alcoholism gradually
spread with the beginnings of free markets after
Futurists predict—and sometimes celebrate—
1500, and eventually became a raging epidemic
more increases in dislocation as the Internet
The Roots of Addiction • 13
with the dominance of free market society after
selected two Canadian examples that approach
1800.38
this ideal type more closely, and an apparent
counterexample.
From Charles Dickens onward, social historians
often identified dislocation (along with poverty)
Native Canadians
as a major cause of alcoholism.39 Eric Hobsbawm
wrote as follows about the “labouring poor” in
Extensive anthropological evidence shows that
the early 19th century:
prior to their devastation by Europeans, the
...faced with a social catastrophe they
diverse native cultures in Canada all provided a
did not understand, impoverished,
level of psychosocial integration that is unknown
exploited, herded into slums that com-
to modern people. Most native people lived
bined bleakness and squalor, or into the
communally and shared their resources within a
expanding complexes of small-scale
matrix of expectations and responsibilities that
industrial villages, [most of the labour-
grew from their family, clan, village, and religion
ing poor] sank into demoralization.
as well as their individual talents and inheritance
Deprived of the traditional institutions
of particular prerogatives. They clung to their
and guides to behaviour, how could
cultures with courageous resolution—although
many fail to sink into an abyss of hand-
they valued European trading goods, they found
to-mouth expedients, where families
European ways repellant. On the other hand,
pawned their blankets each week until
Canadian natives had a long tradition of warfare,
pay-day and where alcohol was “the
cruel torture of prisoners, and slavery42 like the
quickest way out of Manchester” (or
Europeans.
Lille or the Borinage). Mass alcoholism,
Although murder, adultery, and insanity some-
an almost invariable companion of
times occurred within Canadian aboriginal cul-
headlong and uncontrolled industrializa-
ture,43 I have as yet found no mention by
tion and urbanization, spread “a pesti-
anthropologists of anything that could reasonably
lence of hard liquor” across Europe.40
be called addiction, despite the fact that activi-
Opium use, which had been common and
ties were available that have proven addictive to
unproblematic in England for centuries, first
many people in free market societies, such as
became perceived as a widespread addiction
eating, sex, gambling, psychedelic mushrooms,
problem in the 19th century.41 Other kinds of
etc. Canadian natives did not have access to
addiction spread too, leading to a profusion of
alcohol, but natives in what is now Mexico and
newly recognized problems from aspirin addiction
the American Southwest did. Where alcohol was
to workaholism and to a huge number of
readily available, it was used moderately, often
treatment and self-help programs.
ceremonially rather than addictively.44
But was it really dislocation per se, that caused
The history of Canadian aboriginals is different
the spread of addiction? Could it not also have
from the more famous “Indian wars,” enslave-
been poverty, disease, physical pain, the avail-
ment, and mass slaughter that occurred in the
ability of new drugs, or a new Puritanism? The
U.S. and in Latin America. Centuries before
ideal test would be a historical situation where
Vancouver was founded, both British and French
dislocation was extreme, but was unaccompanied
trading companies in Canada established formal
by the other possible causes. Because Vancou-
and mutually beneficial fur-trading relationships
ver only partially fits these requirements, I have
with many native tribes, primarily in eastern and
14 • Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
central Canada. Few European settlers then
viduals and tribes either abstained, drank only
sought to settle in the inhospitable Canadian
moderately, or drank only as part of tribal rituals
climate, so there was little need to displace the
for extended periods.48 It was only during assimi-
natives. Later, the English colonial government
lation that alcoholism emerged as a pervasive,
formed indispensable military alliances with
crippling problem for native people, along with
various aboriginal nations in several wars,
suicide, domestic violence, sexual abuse, and so
particularly against the U.S.45
forth. Although some eastern tribes were rav-
aged by drunkenness and alcoholism centuries
After these crucial wars ended, it would have
before assimilation was established as a policy,
been unseemly for the Crown, as it began to
the causal principle appears to be the same. For
covet the vast native lands, to slaughter former
example, the Hurons of eastern Canada, who
allies who had fought loyally and sometimes
were “civilized” by the devotion of courageous
decisively. Instead, the British and later Cana-
French missionaries backed by the firepower of
dian governments quietly pursued a policy, later
the French Army early in the seventeen century,
called “assimilation,” intended to move aboriginal
were famous for their drunken violence.49 “Civili-
lands into the real estate market and aboriginal
zation,” as it came to these natives, was admin-
people into the labour market as quietly as
istered by militant Jesuits in a century of
possible. This policy was explicitly intended to
fanatical religious zeal. This meant destruction of
strip the natives of their culture and lands. One
the robust Huron religion and, hence, Huron
notorious instrument of this policy was a network
culture itself, with dislocation as the conse-
of “residential schools” where children, often
quence. Eventually every tribal culture in Canada
forcibly taken from their parents, were forcefully
was engulfed by the overpowering European
taught to despise their own language and cus-
culture, and every tribe succumbed to the rav-
toms, which sometimes alienated them from
ages of dislocation, including epidemic alcohol-
their own families as well. An 1847 report of the
ism. Massive dislocation produced massive
colonial Canadian government contained this
addiction.
comment:
Their education must consist not merely
The Vancouver area had a relatively minor history
of the training of the mind, but of a
of fur trade and no history of military alliance
weaning from the habits and feelings of
with the Crown. The natives were dispossessed of
their ancestors, and the acquirements of
their lands without great violence,50 enslavement,
the language, arts, and customs of
or impoverishment, but deliberate destruction of
civilised life.46
whatever remained of their culture began imme-
diately and, with it, rampant alcoholism.51
Although assimilation policy very nearly suc-
ceeded in eliminating native languages and
Throughout the period of assimilation up to the
spiritual practices, it failed to integrate the
present, Canadian natives have had an astro-
natives into free market society, thus leaving
nomical rate of alcoholism, although the statis-
them utterly dislocated .47 As wards of the federal
tics may understate the problem. Although a few
government, however, they generally had food,
reserves have only minor problems with alcohol-
housing, and some protection.
ism, alcoholism in many reserves is nearly 100%
(including people in stages of recovery). Alcohol-
Although some Canadian natives developed a
ism was only one consequence of this mass-
taste for riotous drunkenness from the time that
produced dislocation. Other consequences
Europeans first introduced alcohol, many indi-
The Roots of Addiction • 15
include drug addictions, depression, domestic
of the 19th century,54 long after it had been
violence, and suicide.52
cleared from the highlands.
There is a more popular explanation for the
As “Bay men,” their only contact with home came
widespread alcoholism of Canadian natives. They
once a year from a single ship that brought mail,
are often said to have a racial inability to control
supplies, and English sailors, and took out the
alcohol. However, this is unlikely, since alcohol-
pelts. When the annual ship disappeared, the
ism was not a ruinous problem among natives
men were alone again. Although fed and treated
until assimilation subjected them to extreme
as well as the era and circumstances permitted,
dislocation. Moreover, if natives were handi-
their lives provide evidence of the long-term
capped by the “gene for alcoholism,” the same
effects of dislocation:
must be said of the Europeans, since those
...With some exceptions, the Bay men
subjected to conditions of extreme dislocation
became internal exiles in both their
also fell into it, almost universally.
homelands, original and adopted. Never
part of any society outside the fur trade,
Orcadians in Canada
they gradually pruned their ancestral
roots, becoming bitterly aware of the
The history of the Hudson’s Bay Company, the
true nature of any voluntary emigration:
“oldest continuous capitalist corporation still in
that one is exiled from and never to,
existence,”53 provides an example where, at least
and that disinheritance and marginality
for some of its employees, maximum dislocation
are all too often the price of freedom.
was little confounded by other distress. The
More than one loyal HBC trader faced
Hudson’s Bay Company was chartered by Charles
the end of his days with few close
II of England, in 1670. Until 1987, a span of
friends or blood relatives he wished to
more than three centuries, it maintained forts
acknowledge and so bequeathed what-
and fur trading outposts on the shores of Hud-
ever worldly goods he had gathered to
son’s bay and throughout the Canadian north.
the only family he had: the Company.55
Some of the company’s traders were volunteers
from London and some were from the Orkney
One unmistakable aspect of the lives of the Bay
Islands at the Northern extreme of Scotland,
men was intemperance. Alcoholism appears to
where the ships from London stopped en route to
have been rampant:
Hudson’s Bay to provision and to augment their
...The Company quickly realized that
complement.
liquor was a greater enemy than the
Preferred as employees because they were
climate to its trade on the bay, no
already accustomed to extreme northern lati-
matter how many prohibitions it pro-
tudes and life at sea, and because of their
claimed and no matter how often it paid
characteristic sobriety and obedience, the Ork-
off informers to halt the smuggling of
ney volunteers were mostly poor lads who
brandy cases on outgoing ships, the
volunteered for adventure and escape from the
booze flowed steadily across the Atlan-
confines of traditional Orkney society. Whereas
tic. Exceptional was the Company
they did gain some of what they sought, they
[employee] who failed to organize
severed their ties to a close, traditional system
surreptitious caches of several gallons
based on both common land and cotter labour
or so of brandy for his private stock....56
which persisted in the Orkneys until the middle
16 • Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
The alcohol-related problems suggest widespread
and irreligion; “My God!” he declaimed,
alcoholism, although this word had not yet been
“shall man, formed in the image of his
invented. The following was written about an
Creator, desert the human species and,
outpost on Hudson’s Bay named “Moose Fac-
for the paltry sum of six pounds a-year,
tory”:
assume the manners and habits of the
Many of the work accidents at Moose
brutes that perish?”58
were alcohol-related. One man con-
sumed so much “bumbo”—that fur-
Counterexample: “Instantaneous Addiction”
trade mixture of rum, water, sugar, and
If dislocation is the necessary precursor to
nutmeg—that he fell off the sloop and
addiction, then there could be no instances in
promptly drowned. With some regret
which addiction occurs unless preceded by
and much haste, his mates lost no time
dislocation. Yet, popular wisdom teems with
in auctioning off the contents of his
apparent counterexamples. For example, be-
chest. The chief factors were always
tween 1986 and 1992 the American media
afraid that the men on watch, who were
reported a catastrophic epidemic of addiction to
too often drunk, would spitefully or
crack cocaine among American youth. Far from
accidentally set fire to the buildings. The
being limited to dislocated people, crack addic-
courage to commit suicide could also be
tion reportedly afflicted all those who used the
found in the bottle. “Brandy-death” was
drug even once. Respected mainstream Ameri-
common....57
can news media reported that addiction was
But could the men already have been alcoholic
spreading inexorably because smoking crack
before they encountered the supreme dislocation
caused “instantaneous addiction,” qualifying it as
of Hudson’s Bay? Or could the extremes of
“the most addictive drug known to man.” The
northern life have made them alcoholic? These
resulting “epidemic” was “as pervasive and
explanations could work for the Londoners, but
dangerous in its way as the plagues of medieval
not the Orcadians. The Orcadians were preferred
times,” and “all but universal.”59 Neurobiological
employees of the Bay because of their natural
researchers of the day devised brilliant explana-
sobriety and because they were accustomed to
tions for the irresistible addictiveness of crack
life at extreme northern latitudes. Dislocation
that was being claimed, without seriously testing
transformed them. Local preachers in the Ork-
the validity of the claim itself.60
neys spoke of the returning Bay men and those
Had the proclaimed addictiveness of crack been
who had served long stints in the English fishing
true, it would have proven that dislocation is not
fleets in similar terms:
the necessary precursor of addiction. However, it
...the Rev. Francis Liddell, minister of
was false. Numerous large scale studies have
Orphir, launched into an impassioned
now shown conclusively that only a small fraction
diatribe against those who abandoned
of crack cocaine users become addicts. Those
wives, children, and parents to enter
who do become addicted are concentrated
the service of the Company, eventually
among the visibly dislocated segments of the
returning home with enough money to
population, and their reasons for continuing
out-bid honest farmers; they brought
crack cocaine use are easily understandable as
home none of the virtues of the savage,
responses to dislocation.61 Severely dislocated
but all the vices—indolence, dissipation,
people are likely to become addicted if they try
The Roots of Addiction • 17
crack, but they are equally vulnerable to many
said that even the children hanging out
other addictions as well.
in the street who were too young to
understand what his dealings involved
Anthropologist Philippe Bourgois has described
looked up to him in awe....62
the adaptive function of the “crack economy” of
young blacks and Hispanics in New York City.
Crack addiction, like any addiction, can have
Economically and socially dislocated in the
horrible consequences, but the demonic ability of
ghetto, young men “struggle for survival, and for
“crack” to cause addiction, as much in psychoso-
meaning” (p. 61). Even a dangerous life of
cially integrated people as in dislocated people, is
addiction and petty crime at least avoids doing
a total fabrication.63 Crack is not, in any impor-
degrading work for pathetic wages. The most
tant sense, the cause of crack addiction, but
successful drug users rise through the hierar-
dislocation is. Unfortunately, the media, politi-
chies of drug society and achieve a kind of
cians, and even some addiction professionals
substitute psychosocial integration with the
have not publicized the fact that the irresistibly
larger community:
addictive demon crack is a fabrication, and,
The feelings of self-actualization and
therefore, many members of the general public
self-respect that the dealer’s lifestyle
and even addiction professionals still believe it to
offers cannot be underestimated. A
be true. The coils of propaganda that support the
former manager of a coke-shooting
“war on drugs” are strong and resilient, like
gallery who had employed a network of
those that support wars in general.64
a half-dozen sellers, lookouts, and
There is no space in this short report to evaluate
security guards and who had grossed
the possibility that drugs other than crack induce
$7000-13,000 per week for over a year
addiction in non-dislocated people, although the
before being jailed explained to me that
claim was widely believed for alcohol in the 19th
the best memories of his drug-dealing
century, heroin at the turn of the century, and
days were of the respect he received
marijuana in the 1920s. No credible evidence for
from people on the street. He described
any of these claims has materialized. In each
how, when he drove up in one of his
case, the great majority of users take the drug in
cars to pick up the day’s receipts, a
moderation, do not become addicted, and feel
bevy of attentive men and women
they gain more from their drug use than they
would run to open the door for him and
lose.65 No matter what drug they use, drug
engage him in polite small talk, not
addicts who can be carefully studied turn out to
unlike what happens in many licit
have been severely dislocated before their
businesses when the boss arrives.
addiction ensued.
Others would offer to clean his car. He
18 • Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
Conclusion: Getting at
the Roots of Addiction
Every society must cherish its defining beliefs.
cannot even address the larger problem of
Therefore, it is only polite to overlook connec-
addiction or its root causes. Political action is
tions between free markets, dislocation, and
necessary.
addiction. Print and electronic media foster this
distraction, celebrating the free market’s
Changing the Debate
achievements with blinding fireworks and deaf-
ening fanfare. As well, they endlessly publicize
One form of political action is changing the terms
new medical explanations for the puzzling spread
of the debate on addiction. A realistic discussion
of addictions and new hopeful solutions for the
must recognize that addiction is mass-produced
“drug problem”—currently including the four
in free market society, and that, therefore,
pillars approach.
society as well as individuals must change. To
define addiction as either a “drug problem” or a
But we can no longer afford this much polite-
“disease” of aberrant individuals, is to prolong a
ness, because interventions that ignore the
wild goose chase. Addiction is a harmful lifestyle,
connection between free markets, dislocation,
which may or may not involve drugs, which more
and addiction have proven little better than
and more people in free market society are
Band-Aids applied to the gaping wound that
adopting as a desperate measure to prevent
addiction inflicts upon free market society. This is
themselves from being crushed by severe,
not to say that prevention, treatment, harm
prolonged dislocation.
reduction, and police intervention are useless—
only that these four pillars of intervention cannot
Changing the terms of this debate is a huge task,
reduce addiction faster than free market society
since the current manner of speaking of addic-
mass-produces it. Under these conditions, civil
tion as an individual drug-using disease is main-
inattention to root causes is unaffordable.
tained by an media army that has been
launching this message for decades. People
There have been decades of futile debate about
endure this barrage of disinformation partly
whether addiction is a “criminal” problem or a
because it complements a deeply-rooted North
“medical” problem. The hard fact is that it is
American “temperance mentality,” which makes
neither. In free market society, the spread of
it seem natural to blame social problems on
addiction is primarily a political, social, and
drugs and alcohol66 and partly because it profits
economic problem. If the political process does
many institutions and professions that treat,
not find contemporary wellsprings of psychoso-
police, prevent, and “harm reduce” the putative
cial integration, society—with its ever freer
disease. Those who launch the public information
markets—will manifest ever more dislocation and
barrage prosper because the “War on Drugs,”
addiction. Careful coordination of prevention,
which has drawn its justification from it,67 serves
treatment, harm reduction, and policing for drug
vital commercial and geopolitical purposes for
addiction can ameliorate drug addiction, but
The Roots of Addiction • 19
vested interests with very deep pockets.68
ecological and social devastation).70 According to
Globe and Mail journalist, P. McKenna: “It is
Professionals in the field of addiction could take
absolutely essential for states and individuals to
the lead in changing the terms of the debate.
locate that delicate balance between...a world of
Rather than endlessly competing for funds by
high-tech, instantaneous communication, idola-
overstating their own achievements, those who
try of markets and investment and ‘Darwinian
support each of the four pillars should apprise
brutality’...and...a world with a heartfelt sense of
society of the limited extent of their accomplish-
belonging, rootedness, community and iden-
ments, thereby showing that even the four pillars
tity.”71 Sociologist John Gray: “It is true that
together cannot save the day.
restraints on global free trade will not enhance
Some policemen have bravely spoken out on the
productivity; but maximum productivity achieved
limited impact of police intervention, leading
at the cost of social desolation and human
some jurisdictions away from excessive drug law
misery is an anomalous and dangerous idea.”72
enforcement.69 Similar forthrightness from
People knowledgeable about addiction can add a
prevention, treatment, and harm reduction
new counterpoint to this chorus, because under-
professionals would help a lot. Prevention profes-
standing the relationships between free markets,
sionals know that their success in dissuading
dislocation, and addiction provides a fresh take
people from drug use over the long term is low.
on some old themes.
Treatment professionals know that no matter
The complex problem of dislocation and addiction
how much treatment is available, most addicts
is not exactly the same as more familiar issues,
will not accept it voluntarily, that most of those
like “eliminating poverty” or “achieving social
who do accept it will not overcome their addic-
justice.” Although poverty and injustice are
tion in a lasting way, and that imposing it invol-
abhorrent, both are frequently borne without
untarily is even worse. Harm reduction
addiction.73 It is poverty of the spirit, which is
professionals know that most addicts on metha-
called “dislocation” in this report, that is the
done maintenance programs continue to inject,
precursor of addiction. The key to controlling
and most addicts with access to needle exchange
addiction is maintaining a society in which
programs continue to share needles on frequent
psychosocial integration is attainable by the
occasions. Although the four pillars are compas-
great majority of people. People need to belong
sionate and useful in combination, society cannot
within their society, not just trade in its markets.
“prevent,” “treat,” or “harm reduce” its way out
of addiction any more than it can “police” its way
For example, in an era when corporations and
out of it. This does not mean that professional
capital can hopscotch continents in pursuit of
intervention should be eliminated, only that more
cheap labour, it is a matter of social justice that
fundamental steps are essential.
working people ought to have the same rights of
mobility as those who would exploit them.
Clarifying Directions for Political
However, the free movement of labour is not the
best solution to this problem, since immigration
Change
usually entails extreme dislocation, which adds
greatly to the hardships of workers who immi-
Authoritative voices around the world are raising
grate, even if they do achieve better pay.
a mighty chorus of warnings against the psycho-
logical devastation engendered by the free
This is perhaps less apparent in Canada than in
market society (in addition to the more visible
other countries, since Canada still affords room
20 • Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
for population growth, allowing many immigrants
impact of free markets, in addition to their
to Canada to find permanent homes that are far
devastating ecological, social, and political
better than those they left. But the dislocation
impacts.
that results from immigration is hard to bear
even under the best conditions, and it is exacer-
Social Change
bated in most countries by corruption, violence,
betrayal, and ultimately deportation when a
Confronting the globalization of addiction re-
temporary labour need ends.74 Instead of mass
quires more than words. There need to be
migration, a better solution to the problem of
concrete changes in social policy. As an example,
exploitation of labour is imposing fair labour
consider the huge amounts of money now spent
standards on a global level and preventing
in British Columbia on low-flying helicopters that
transnational corporations from inducing local
search for marijuana plantations. The quest is
governments to rescind local labour, health,
futile, because the province is immense and
safety, and environmental protections.
because marijuana can be grown indoors. Moreo-
ver, the great majority of marijuana users suffer
Current concerns with the outrageous bias of
no addiction or other discernible ill-effects.
international free market institutions (WTO,
World Bank, etc.) towards the economic interests
The side-effect of this futile policing is the trans-
of rich countries and with criminal corruption in
formation of resourceful and prosperous growers
large corporations might also be understood
who might be mainstays of rural communities
somewhat differently in light of the globalization
into criminals.77 Community-busting proceeds
of addiction. Bias and corruption are huge prob-
further when the RCMP arrives in a community,
lems,75 but neither of them is intrinsic to the free
announces a meeting, and enlists the aid of local
market. Rather, they are manifestations of
people to inform on their neighbours who might
contemporary excesses that might be correctable
be growers, thus sowing further suspicion and
through political pressure. On the other hand,
division.
continuing, ever-increasing dislocation of people
At the same time, the provincial government
from human culture in order to create free
cannot find enough money to support the local
markets is intrinsic to free market society—
schools and hospitals in many of these same
addiction would be endemic in the purest form of
remote communities, displacing children and
free market society.
medical patients into adjacent districts, far from
At this time in history, it is premature to auto-
families and friends. The police frequently cannot
matically attribute a well-developed approach to
find money to control petty crime, undermining
the problem of addiction to the political “left,”
the family security. There are not enough social
although the left is the historical opponent of
workers to carefully investigate suspected cases
punitive treatment of drug addicts. Rapid expan-
of child abuse. As a consequence some children
sion of free market society is currently ac-
are destroyed by abuse and others are appre-
cepted—either enthusiastically, grudgingly, or
hended when their natural families could be
unconsciously—by many of those who wear the
restored to peacefulness with a little support or
label “left,” “radical,” “labour,” “intellectual,” or
supervision.
“liberal” on the political spectrum,76 as well as
All of the money now being spent vainly and
those labeled “right.” The left needs to provide a
disruptively attacking marijuana cultivation could
fuller analysis of the devastating psychological
be far better spent in the same communities to
The Roots of Addiction • 21
prevent the dislocation of the children, the sick,
of this country:
and the vulnerable. Reducing dislocation would
That a union of Canada with the Ameri-
reduce present and future addiction and other
can commonwealth, like that into which
forms of self-destruction.
Scotland entered England, would in
itself be attended with great advantages
The social changes that need to be made on
cannot be questioned....78
provincial and federal levels run counter to the
trends of recent years. Federal and provincial
Solutions to the rising tide of addiction and other
governments have cut social housing, denying
consequences of dislocation flow naturally from
thousands the step towards psychosocial integra-
attention to root causes. We need to restore
tion that decent, stable housing provides. They
social spending. We need to enhance our ability
have cut unemployment insurance and welfare,
to care for one another. We need to invest in
forcing people to move to where jobs are more
social housing. We need to reform our public
plentiful, abandoning their home communities.
services, so they become more nurturing. We
Overall, public spending has been in decline for
need to rebuild programs like welfare and UI that
much of the 1990s, undermining our ability to
give people choices and allow them to stay in
care for one another and to provide decent
their home communities. We need to place full
employment in socially useful fields.
employment once again at the top of the public
policy agenda. With a ballooning federal surplus,
Moreover, recent federal governments have
there is no economic reason this cannot be done.
ignored the funding needs of the medical sys-
Perhaps, most important, we need to restore the
tem, destroying people’s trust in their govern-
credibility of Canada as an honourable, sovereign
ment’s willingness to honour their
nation, rather than a puppet of the United
clearly-expressed wish for universal, comprehen-
States.
sive health care. They have signed or supported
agreements, like the FTA, NAFTA, MAI, and FTAA
On a global level, substantially reducing the
that weaken Canada’s social safety net, cultural
addiction problem requires nothing less than
industries, ability to protect the environment,
exercising sensible, humane controls over mar-
and control over fresh water, without reflection
kets, corporations, environments, public institu-
on the role that people’s relationship to a strong,
tions, and international agencies to reduce
honourable nation can have for their psychologi-
dislocation. This cannot be achieved without
cal health. These governments and the media
conflict, because it will inevitably impede the
flirt with ideas of common currency and increas-
pursuit of ever-increasing wealth and ever-freer
ing economic union with the United States,
markets. Of course it would be naive to hope for
leaving people to wonder over their future as
a return to any real or imagined golden age.
citizens of a sovereign country. A recent series of
However, it is at least as naive to suppose that
article in the Globe & Mail frankly advocated
society can continue to hurtle forward, ideologi-
union with the United States. Under the title “Is
cally blinded to the crushing problems that free
it time for Canadians to think the unthinkable?”,
markets create. Solving the problem of disloca-
a recent article displayed a startling ignorance of
tion is not the least of the tests that the new,
the history of the highland Scots who played
global society must pass, if it is to endure and
such a major role in the settlement of the history
flourish.
22 • Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
Notes:
tion as the child matures. I have developed
this theory at length elsewhere (e.g., Alex-
1.
MacPherson (2000). The “four pillar” meta-
ander, 1990; 1994).
phor was developed in Europe (Levy, 2000).
9.
Marx and Engels devoted some of the most
2.
Brecher (1972); Ledain (1973); Trebach
powerful rhetoric in the Communist Mani-
(1982).
festo to the destructive relationship between
bourgeois capitalism and traditional social
3.
For example, “anomie”, “identity diffusion,”
bonds (Marx & Engels, 1848/1948). Ulti-
“alienation,” “les désarrois de l’individu-
mately, however, they expressed no expec-
sujet.”
tation that a Communist society would
4.
The premises in this paragraph were given
restore traditional social relationships, and,
their clearest formulation and theoretical
in fact, distanced themselves from “utopian”
development in Erik Erikson’s work (1963;
socialists and communists who believed in
1968; 1982). The theory of this report
their restoration (pp. 39-42). In an often-
follows Erikson throughout. It could also be
quoted paragraph, Marx and Engels appear
stated in the language of postmodernist
to endorse the bourgeois faith that the “real
psychoanalysis (Dufour 2001), but this
conditions of life” come to the fore when
seems unnecessarily complex.
traditional social ties are broken (Marx &
Engels, 1848/1948, p. 12)
5.
The premises in this paragraph were given
their classical statement in Polanyi’s The
The Soviet Union’s practice of destroying
great transformation (1944).
traditional society in the interest of economic
6.
Alexander, 1990, chap. 8; Erikson, 1968, p.
development is well known in the case of
88.
collective farms and well-documented in
many other instances (see Gray, 1998, chap.
7.
Reviewed by Orford, 1985; Alexander, 1990;
6; Ginisty, 1999). The Chinese communist
Alexander & Schweighofer, 1988.
government of Mao Tse Tung went to great
8.
It is conventional among addiction profes-
lengths to preserve most aspects of tradi-
sionals to think of addiction as having
tional rural social structure and had no
multiple precursors, often called “risk fac-
major problems with opium addiction or
tors”, that correlate positively with the
alcoholism, despite the widespread availabil-
incidence of addiction. The thesis of this
ity of good, cheap beer. However, massive
report is that the single underlying cause or
dislocation of the Chinese rural population
precursor of addiction is a person who can
increased substantially during and after the
find no better way of coping with a state of
reign of Deng Xiao Peng and much more is
sustained, severe dislocation than to adopt
expected with the entry of China into the
an addictive lifestyle. Various risk factors
WTO (Cernetig, 1999; Lew, 2000; Mangin,
correlate with addiction because they raise
2000). If the theory of addiction that this
the risk of dislocation or because they put
report posits is correct, China will experience
drugs or other common objects of addiction
massive increases in addiction (although not
close to hand. Thus, childhood abuse is a
necessarily drug addiction) in the next few
risk factor because it produces emotional
years.
wounds that raise the likelihood of disloca-
10. Newman, 1959; Slater, 1980; Newman,
The Roots of Addiction • 23
1991, chap. 17; Barlow & Winter, 1997,
23. Marx & Engels, 1848/1948, p. 11.
chap. 1.
24. Scholars who recognize the devastating
11. Bula & Ward, 2000.
effect of free market society on traditional
culture but nonetheless support it include
12. Hill-Tout, 1978, e.g., p. 45; Pethick 1984.
Hayek (1944), Beniger (1986, pp. 434-435),
13. Pethick, 1984
Giddens, (1999), and Friedman, (2000, pp.
11-12). Scholars who condemn the devas-
14. McDonald & Barman, 1986.
tating effect of free markets on traditional
15. Juristat: Canadian Centre for Justice Statis-
society include Polanyi (1944), Hobsbawm
tics, 1999; Murphy, 1922/1973. Although
(1994, p. 16), Chossudovsky (1997), Gray
B.C. is Canada’s most drug addicted prov-
(1998), Sassen (2000).
ince, it is surpassed in this regard by its
25. Prebble, 1963.
arctic territories, i.e., the Yukon and the
Northwest Territories. This too fits easily into
26. Prebble, 1963, p. 69.
the theoretical structure of this report.
27. Prebble, 1963, pp. 114-115.
16. Alexander & Schweighofer, 1988.
28. Polanyi, 1944, p. 173.
17. Alexander, 1990; 1994.
29. Lemoine, 2001.
18. The term “free market ” is used here in its
30. Polanyi, 1944, p. 128, italics added.
conventional sense, meaning a system in
which, in all spheres of activity, people and
31. DeGrandpre, 1999, p. 18.
corporations have the maximum freedom of
32. Bronfenbrenner, et al., 1996.
choice in shopping, hiring, firing, and invest-
ing. The term is often contested because
33. 1998, p. 72.
although “free market” economics maximize
34. Agar & Tate, 1936/1999; Giddens, 1998;
certain important freedoms, they curtail the
Hobsbawm, 1994; Polanyi, 1944.
freedom of citizens to safeguard social
cohesion and the physical environment by
35. Chossudovsky, 1997; George, 1999; Lew,
regulating markets and corporations
2000; Mangin, 2000; McQuaig, 1998.
(Chossudovsky, 1997).
36. Harvey, 1998, p. 25.
19. Polanyi, 1944; Agar, 1936/1999; Hill, 1958,
37. Evangelisti, 2000, p. 29, my translation.
chap. 7; Gray, 1998; McFeat, 1966;
McMurtry, 1998, pp. 259-296.
38. Austin (1985) contrasted drinking in medi-
eval and eighteenth century Europe as
20. 1944, p. 42. An expanded, but still concise
follows:...
statement of Polanyi’s essential analysis can
be found on pp. 40-42.
Although chronic inebriety was a sin (in
medieval Europe), occasional inebriety was
21. Beniger, 1986; Bourdieu, 1998; Beaud &
accepted as a natural aspect of life. One of
Pialoux, 2000.
the few examples of legislation against
22. Hill, 1958, chap. 7; Neeson, 1963; Polanyi,
drunkenness was a decree by Archbishop
1944.
Theodore of Canterbury in the seventh
24 • Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
century ordering that anyone who drank to
46. Quoted by Haig-Brown, 1988, p. 25.
excess must do penance for fifteen days.
47. Chrisjohn, Young, & Maraun, 1997; Haig-
Because of the importance of beer and wine
Brown, 1988.
to the diet, drink controls largely focused on
protecting the drinker from unscrupulous
48. McAndrew & Edgerton, 1969, chap. 6.
sellers, maintaining a good supply and a fair
49. McAndrew & Edgerton, 1969, pp. 124-126
price, and reducing the adverse conse-
quences (such as public disorders) of too
50. Of course British authorities always had the
much drinking. As in antiquity, inebriety was
lash, the gallows, and the artillery of the
largely associated with occasional festivities
royal navy close at hand, and these were
and with a few specific populations (nobles,
called into service at the slightest indication
students, and clerics) who had the wealth,
of organized resistance (Arnett, 1999). It is
free time, or access to supplies that enabled
impossible to know whether the natives
more regular indulgence...In the eighteenth
were persuaded to give up their cultures by
century, concerns again rose as inebriety
being hopelessly outnumbered, by the
became more regular among more people,
magical attraction of British trade goods, or
reaching unprecedented heights. The upper
by occasional demonstrations that resistance
classes and the towns continued to lead the
would always encounter irresistible force.
way, but chronic inebriety was no longer
51. Kew, 1990; Matas, 2000.
primarily the prerogative of the upper-
classes. The major development of the
52. Some indirect evidence for this assertion
century was the expansion of drinking
comes from research on the relationship
among the lower classes and into rural
between youthful suicide and cultural integ-
villages. Its was most prevalent in England,
rity in native groups (Chandler & Lalonde,
but everywhere complaints about inebriety
1998) .
multiplied (pp. xviii, xx) .
53. Newman, 1985, p. 3.
39. Charles Dickens, 1835/1994; Hughes, 1987.
54. Thompson, 1987, p. 222.
40. Hobsbawm, 1962, p. 202.
55. Newman, 1985, p. 9.
41. Berridge & Edwards (1987) argue that this
56. Newman, 1985, pp. 160-161.
was more a matter of class persecution and
professional ambition than of a major in-
57. Pannekoek, 1979, p. 5.
crease in addiction. They also report, how-
58. Thompson, 1987, p. 220.
ever, a substantial increase of opium use in
19th century England and indications of at
59. Quotes collected by Reinarman and Levine,
least moderately increased addiction as well.
1997, chap. 1.
42. Jewitt, 1824/1988; MacAndrew & Edgerton,
60. Wise & Bozarth, 1987.
1969, pp. 137-139; McFeat, 1966.
61. Erickson et al., 1994; Matthews et al., 1994;
43.
Oberg, p. 193.
Cheung & Erickson, 1997; Morgan &
Zimmer, 1997; Reinarman & Levine, 1997;
44. McAndrew & Edgerton, 1969, p. 109.
Peele & DeGrandpre, 1998.
45. Allen, 1992; Newman, 1985.
62. Bourgois, 1997, p. 71.
The Roots of Addiction • 25
63. Trebach, 1987; Erickson & Alexander, 1989;
71. McKenna, 1999.
Alexander, 1990, chap. 5; Erickson et al.,
72. Gray, 1998, p. 83.
1994; WHO/UNICRI, 1995; Reinarman &
Levine, 1997; Peele & DeGrandpre, 1998.
73. For example, describing the lowest and
largest stratum of highland traditional
64. Alexander, 1990; Hermann & Chomsky,
society, Prebble (1963) wrote:
1988; DeBray, 1999.
The cotter was from birth a servant. Tradi-
65. See Alexander (1990; 1994) for a review of
tion and customary right gave him a little
the relevant literature. The validity of the
grazing for a cow on the township pasture, a
generalization made in this paragraph is not
kail-yard and a potato-patch by his round-
as obvious for heroin as it is for alcohol and
stone hut, and for these he paid a lifetime of
marijuana. Although there are large num-
service to the sub-tenant...The servant of
bers of non-addicted recreational users of
the servant is worse than the devil. Bad is
heroin (Trebach, 1987), there may not be
the tenancy, but the evil of the Evil One is in
enough to justify the generalization. How-
the sub-tenancy. His escape could come in
ever, heroin is virtually identical
his dreams, or in the sharing of glory with
pharmacologically with a large number of
the chief when the Bard sang or the Piper
other “opiates” or “opioids,” e.g., morphine,
played. He could escape further into the
dilaudid, and Demerol whose preponderant
King’s red coat, and die at Ticondaroga or
use is nonaddictive.
Havana with the slogan of his clan on his
lips.
66. Levine, 1992; Alexander et al., 1998.
Yet the life was something which he and the
67. Alexander, 1990, chap. 8.
sub-tenants were themselves unwilling to
change. Their attachment to the land was
68. The best documented beneficiary of the drug
deep and strong. They had peopled it with
war is the United States, which uses the
talking stones, snow-giants, and mythical
label of “drug traffickers” as a justification
warriors of mountain granite. Their culture
for suppressing anti-capitalist uprisings in
was virile and immediate, their verse flow-
Latin America and of imposing discipline on
ered on the rich mulching of their history.
disobedient foreign governments. Drug
(p. 15) .
companies, which use the drug war to
eliminate the illegal competition for the
74. Fennell, 2000; Morice, 2000.
psychoactive drugs they sell are also major
75. Bulard, 2000;De Brie, 2000; Quéau, 2000;
beneficiaries (Chomsky, 1992, chap. 4;
Vidal-Beneyto, 2000; Viveret, 2000.
Lemoine, 2000; 2001; Buchanan & Wallack,
1998) .
76. Giddens, 1998; Goytisolo & Grass,1999;
Dixon, 2000.
69. An outstanding Canadian example is the late
Gil Puder, of the Vancouver Police Depart-
77. Poole, 1998.
ment (Puder, 1998) .
78. Fagan, 2000.
70. e.g., Bourdieu, 1998; Dufour, 2001.
26 • Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
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The Roots of Addiction • 31
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