Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Social Pharmacology: Integrating Pharmaceutical and Social Science Research on Drug Effects

  • Clinical and Nonclinical Drug Development
  • Published:
Drug information journal : DIJ / Drug Information Association Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Social pharmacology is the study of the influence of social and cultural variables on drug effects and use. It considers concepts and variables that in the past have been called “nonspecific” or “nonpharmacological” in nature. Social pharmacology refers to those variables that are not pharmaceutical in nature, but that still can have a profound influence on drug action and the occurrence of specific drug effects as perceived and interpreted by the user. Research on these variables, such as suggestibility, knowledge and information, user set, setting, and attribution, has been conducted for many years.

Social pharmacology provides a framework for identifying and classifying variables and how they function to modify drug action to produce drug effects in humans. It is the primary approach for integrating pharmaceutical variables with social and cultural variables to assist in explaining and understanding user-generated descriptions of their drug experiences, with the goal of improving outcomes of patient drug therapy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Hrobjartsson A, Gotzsche PC. Is the placebo powerless? An analysis of clinical trials comparing placebo with no treatment. New Engl J Med. 2001;344:1594–1602.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Bailar JC. The powerful placebo and the Wizard of Oz. New Engl J Med. 2001;344:1630–1632.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Lennard HL. Mystification and Drug Misuse. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass; 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Montagne M. De l’activite pharmacologique a l’usage des drogues: la construction des connaissances sur les psychotropes. [From pharmacological activity to drug use: Constructing knowledge about psychotropic drugs.] Sante Mentale au Quebec. 1997;22:149–163.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Cappell HD, Pliner PL. Volitional control of marijuana intoxication: A study of the ability to come down on command. J Abnorm Psych. 1973;82: 428–434.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Naditch MP. Individual differences and setting as determinants of acute adverse reactions to psychoactive drugs. J Nerv Ment Dis. 1975;161: 326–335.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Montagne M. The promotion of medications for personal and social problems. J Drug Issues. 1992;22:389–405.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Fisher S. Nonspecific Factors as Determinants of Behavioral Response to Drugs. In: DiMascio A and Shader Rl, eds. Clinical Handbook of Psychopharmacology. New York, NY: Science House; 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Schou M. The integrated approach. On the significance of pharmacological and nonpharmacological factors when lithium prophylaxis fails. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1988;78(Suppl. 345):119–123.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Harrington A, ed. The Placebo Effect: An Interdisciplinary Exploration. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Montagne M, Vogt DD. Toward an integrative framework for the comprehensive study of drug-taking behaviors and experiences. Int J Addict. 1983;18:959–970.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. James W. Subjective effects of nitrous oxide. Mind. 1882;7:186–208.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Lennard HL. A Proposed Program of Research in Sociopharmacology. In: Leiderman, PH and Shapiro D, eds. Psychobiological Approaches to Social Behavior. Palo Alto. CA: Stanford University Press; 1964.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Barchas PR, Barchas JD. Sociopharmacology. In: Barchas JD and Barchas PR, ed. Psychopharmacology: From Theory to Practice. New York, NY: Oxford University Press: 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  15. McGuire MT, Raleigh MJ, Brammer. GL Sociopharmacology. Ann Rev Pharmacol Toxicol. 1982; 22:643–661.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Lennard HL Epstein LJ, Katzung BG. Psychoactive drug action and group interaction process. J Nerv Ment Dis. 1967;145:69–78.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Zinberg NE. Drugs, Set and Setting. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press; 1984.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Uhlenhuth EH. Drug, doctor’s verbal attitude, and clinical setting in the symptomatic response to psychotherapy. Psychopharmacologia. 1966;9: 392–418.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Classen W, Feingold E. Netter P. Influence of sensory suggestibility on treatment outcome in headache patients. Neuropsychobiol. 1983;10: 44–47.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Deltilo JA. Suggestibility and placebo effect. Clin Exp Rheumat. 1985;3:97–98.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Bruck M, Ceci SJ, Francoeur E. Barr R. “I hardly cried when I got my shot!” Influencing children’s reports about a visit to their pediatrician. Child Develop. 1995;66:193–208.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Carlin AS. Bakkar CB, Halpern L, Post RD. Social facilitation of marijuana intoxication: Impact of social set and pharmacological activity. J Abnorm Psych. 1972;80:132–140.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Carlin AS. Post RD, Bakkar CB. Halpern LM. The role of modeling and previous experience in the facilitation of marijuana intoxication. J Nerv Ment Dis. 1974;159:275–281.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Jones RT. Marijuana-induced high: Influences of expectation, setting, and previous drug experience. Pharmacol Rev. 1971;23:359–369.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Morris LA, O’Neal EC. Judgements about a drug’s effectiveness: The role of expectations and outcomes. Drugs Health Care. 1975;2:179–186.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Penick SB, Fisher S. Drug-set interaction: Psychological and physiological effects of epinephrine under differential expectations. Psychosomat Med. 1965;27:177–182.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Crow R, Gage H, Hampson S, Hart J, Kimber A, Thomas H. The role of expectancies in the placebo effect and their use in the delivery of health care: A systematic review. Health Technol Assess. 1999;3(3):iii–48.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Montagne M. Social knowledge and experiences with legal highs. J Drug Issues. 1984:14:491–507.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Smith HW. Effects of set on subject’s interpretation of placebo marijuana effects. Soc Sci Med. 1978;12:107–109.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Del Porto JA, Masur J. The effects of alcohol, the and diazepam in two different social settings: A study with human volunteers. Res Comm Psychol Psychial Behav. 1983;9:201–212.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Powell J. Conditioned responses to drug-related stimuli: Is context crucial? Addiction. 1995;90: 1089–1095.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Stix AH. Chlordiazepoxide (LibriumR): The effect of a minor tranquilizer on strategic choice behavior in the Prisoner’s Dilemma. J Conflict Resol. 1974;18:373–394.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Grube JW. Weir IL, Getzlaf S, Rokeach M. Own value system, value images, and cigarette smoking. Personal Soc Psychol Bull. 1984;10:306–313.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Rickels K, Cattell R. MacAfee A, Hesbacher P. Drug response and important external life events in the patient’s life. Dis Nerv Syst. 1965;26: 782–786.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Wilder J. Adrenalin and the Law of Initial Value, a critical survey. Exper Med Surg. 1957;15:47–55.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Schachter S, Singer JE. Cognitive, social, and psychological determinants of emotional states. Psychol Rev. 1962;69:379–399.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Morris LA, O’Neal EC, Drug name familiarity and the placebo effect. J Clin Psychol. 1974;30: 280–282.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Montagne M. The metaphorical nature of drugs and drug taking. Soc Sci Med. 1988;26:417–424.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Rhodes LA. “This will clear your mind”: The use or metaphors for medication in psychiatric settings. Cult Med Psychial. 1984;8:49–70.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Coldman R. Montagne M. Marketing mind mechanics: Decoding antidepressant drug advertisements. Soc Sci Med. 1986;22:1047–1058.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Montagne M. Mass media representations as drug information for patients: the Prozac phenomenon. Sub Use Misuse. 2001;36:1261–1274.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Montagne M. The influence of literary and philosophical accounts on drug taking. J Drug Issues. 1988;18:229–244.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Bledsoe CH, Coubaud MF. The reinterpretation of Western pharmaceuticals among the Mende of Sierra Leone. Soc Sci Med. 1985;21:275–282.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Joralemon D. The role of hallucinogenic drugs and sensory stimuli in Peruvian ritual healing. Cult Med Psychiat. 1984;8:399–430.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Lyttle T. Montagne M. Drugs, music, and ideology: A social pharmacological interpretation of the acid house movement. Int J Addict. 1992;27: 1159–1177.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Balant LP, Balant-Gorgia EA. Cultural differences: Implications on drug therapy and global drug, development. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2000; 38:47–52.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Orcutt JD. Normative definitions of intoxicated states: A test of several sociological theories. Soc Prob. 1978;25:385–396.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Morris LA, Kanouse DE. Labelling and drug effects. Clin Invest Med. 1981;4:215–219.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Montagne M. Social Pharmacology. New York. NY: Kluwer Academic Press: 2005 (in press).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, 179 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA

    Michael Montagne PhD (Professor of Social Pharmacy)

Authors
  1. Michael Montagne PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael Montagne PhD.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Montagne, M. Social Pharmacology: Integrating Pharmaceutical and Social Science Research on Drug Effects. Ther Innov Regul Sci 38, 315–320 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1177/009286150403800402

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/009286150403800402

Key Words

Search

Navigation