The Cultural Economy Approach to Studying Chronic Disease Risks, with Application to Illicit Drug Use

Chronic disease epidemiologists concede that there are very few successful interventions for what are variously referred to as "diseases of modernity," "diseases of affluence," and "diseases of comfort" tenaciously plaguing the last half century. Lying behind the chronic noncommunicable disease figures are lifestyle risks or the risks that flow from consumption behaviors, including what might be considered "dangerous consumptions." This chapter outlines a method that enables public health researchers to interrogate the drivers of consumption behaviors. This approach draws on sociological theory to articulate the importance and interdependence of culture and economy in shaping consumption practices. The proposed cultural economy approach provides a practical framework for illuminating the mid- and upstream determinants of some common health behaviors. The value of the approach is demonstrated through its application to the dangerous consumption of illicit drug use.