Alexa Cruz
Dr. Diane Tober
ANT 205-001
2 March 2024
The subject of obtaining ADHD medication in a college environment versus a regular environment can be closely examined through the lens of medical anthropology. Medical anthropology explores the intersection of culture, society, and health, offering insights into how medical practices and beliefs are shaped by cultural context. In this case, the availability and accessibility of ADHD medication can be influenced by cultural norms, social structures, and institutional policies within both college and non-college environments.
To support this research, I will draw upon key concepts and theories from class readings and discussions in medical anthropology. This might include texts like “Biomedicine: A Cultural Lag” by Nancy Scheper-Hughes and Margaret Lock’s “Encounters with Aging: Mythologies of Menopause in Japan and North America” which can offer theoretical frameworks for understanding how medical practices are culturally situated.
The methodology for this research will be ethnographic, involving immersive fieldwork to observe and understand the dynamics of obtaining ADHD medication in both college and non-college environments. Access to the community will be facilitated through participant observation, and interviews with individuals involved in the process (such as students, healthcare providers, and pharmacists).
Some of the research questions that could be addressed through this ethnographic investigation include: How do cultural attitudes towards ADHD and medication influence the process of obtaining ADHD medication in college versus non-college environments? – What are the institutional policies and practices that shape access to ADHD medication in these different contexts? – How do social networks and peer influences impact the use and distribution of ADHD medication among college students? – What are the experiences and perceptions of individuals who seek ADHD medication within these environments, and how do they navigate the healthcare system? – How do broader social and economic factors, such as insurance coverage and socioeconomic status, affect access to ADHD medication?
By exploring these questions within the framework of medical anthropology, we can gain a deeper understanding of the cultural, social, and institutional dynamics that shape the availability and use of ADHD medication in different settings