Which illustrates a constructionist definition of or approach to what a drug is?

• A. A Drug is defined by a substance's chemical structure
• B. B Drug is defined by psychoactivity
• C. C Drug is defined by illegal or illicit status
• D. D Drug is defined by criminogenic effects—the fact that it causes criminal and violent behavior

Answer: (C)

A constructionist view treats the label “drug” as something created by social processes—laws, policy decisions, and cultural judgments—rather than a fixed inherent property of the substance. Defining a drug by its illegal status shows this, because what counts as a drug depends on what a society prohibits at a given time and place; this can change with policy shifts, debates, or enforcement. By contrast, defining a drug by chemical structure or by psychoactive effects anchors the category in the substance’s inherent properties rather than social labeling. Focusing on potential crime-causing effects emphasizes outcomes of use rather than how the term is socially constructed.