The Face of Social Suffering

_ The face of social suffering : the life history of a street drug addict

The book entitled the face of Social Suffering by Merrill Singer tells us about the life story of a drug addict who poses and tries to answer questions of many broad public concerns about social responsibility illicit drug use , hidden economies and social inequality

The author tries to give us a clearer view about health impact of alcohol and illicit drug use based on an interview with a man whose name is Tony who is a street drug

addict who grew up from the inner city . He learned ways of selling and using this prohibited medicine from his father . In the latter part he became an enforcer in a street gang then he was also imprisoned . He has done heartless violent acts and learned on that he was also suffering from HIV infection

United States political economy is clearly shown in the book whereas Tony 's life story can be considered as an insider and a personal view of a marginalized world that intertwines with the society and politics

One unique thing with the story is that it attempted to understand different forces that contribute to risky behaviours that one may get from using drugs especially during the time when drug users know about its deadly and damaging connection to various diseases

The book discusses important issues about social inequality in our society was structured and its great impact to the lives and options of those people who are unfortunately at the bottom of the social ladder

The book is divided into 8 fruitful chapters that give readers a clearer picture about Tony 's life . Each chapter lets us imagine the scenario that the character underwent all the events and transitions from one point of his life to another

The first chapter of the book is entitled A Life on the Edge where an introductory part about his life was given . How important it is to know other lives , What catches my attention is the sub-chapter of chapter one The History of Life History where ones life history is really relevant in the character of Tony in the story . He was clearly introduced to us in the first chapter and later on was fully developed in the next chapter that tells us how he became that person The next chapter which is Into the World : Of Drugs and Families explained who 's the great influence why is that Tony turned out to be a street drug addict . For the person whom instead is giving him proper guidance , care , attention and stands up for the family is the same person who made him take drugs and introduced him to the darker world of drug addiction . As the saying goes it runs in the family is what the exact scenario that can be drawn out of these words . Like father , Like Son as what they say . Whereas in addiction family tends to break and the only god for...