Draft:Responsibility Assignment Narrative

Introduction
The Responsibility Assignment Narrative (RAN) is a methodological framework initially outlined by Daniel Waterman and edited by Casey William Hardison in their 2013 book Entheogens, Society & Law: Towards a Politics of Consciousness, Autonomy & Responsibility​​. This approach is particularly relevant for analyzing language and narratives surrounding drugs, their users, effects, social implications, and legal status, including drug policy and approaches to ameliorating drug-related harms.

Origins and Context
Daniel Waterman, an author with a background in fine arts and extensive experience in indigenous shamanic practices, developed the concept of RAN. His collaborator, Casey William Hardison, a natural philosopher and advocate for cognitive liberty, edited the work while incarcerated for manufacturing psychedelic substances​​. Their collaboration reflects a profound inquiry into the ethics and politics of consciousness and responsibility.

Relation to Critical Discourse Analysis
RAN shares similarities with Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) in that both methodologies scrutinize the power dynamics and ideologies embedded within language. CDA, as described by Norman Fairclough and others, examines how discourse shapes and is shaped by societal structures of power and control. However, RAN distinguishes itself by focusing specifically on how responsibility is assigned within these narratives. It investigates the implications of attributing blame or credit in discussions about drugs and their societal impact.

Core Principles of RAN

 * Assigning Responsibility: RAN emphasizes the importance of clearly identifying who or what is responsible for the various aspects of drug use and its consequences. This includes understanding the roles of individuals, communities, institutions, and policies in shaping drug-related outcomes.
 * Explicit vs. Implicit Responsibility: A critical aspect of RAN is making explicit the often implicit assignments of responsibility in discourse. When responsibility is not clearly articulated, it can undermine both individual self-regulation and collective efforts to mitigate harm.
 * Empowerment through Clarity: By elucidating the assignments of responsibility, RAN seeks to empower individuals and communities. Clear responsibility assignments enhance the ability of drug users to make informed decisions and enable society to implement more effective harm reduction strategies.
 * Empowerment through Clarity: By elucidating the assignments of responsibility, RAN seeks to empower individuals and communities. Clear responsibility assignments enhance the ability of drug users to make informed decisions and enable society to implement more effective harm reduction strategies.
 * Empowerment through Clarity: By elucidating the assignments of responsibility, RAN seeks to empower individuals and communities. Clear responsibility assignments enhance the ability of drug users to make informed decisions and enable society to implement more effective harm reduction strategies.

Application in Drug Policy and Harm Reduction
In drug policy, the failure to explicitly assign responsibility can lead to misguided approaches that exacerbate harm. For instance, punitive measures often place the burden solely on drug users without addressing systemic issues such as social inequality, inadequate healthcare, and flawed legal frameworks. RAN advocates for a more nuanced understanding of responsibility that includes policymakers, healthcare providers, law enforcement, and society at large.

Here are three examples to illustrate the utility of Responsibility Assignment Narrative (RAN):

Distinctions between Effects and Outcomes:

"The distinctions effect and outcome interpret causality with the aim of determining agency and moral responsibility. These interpretations then propose various actions or interventions. Thus, the differences between effect and outcome play a critical role in the balancing and differentiation of individual rights and collective responsibilities. Depending on how causality is interpreted, an individual may be held morally responsible for causing a given situation or may be considered an innocent bystander or even a victim, in which case responsibility devolves to the community as a whole" (p. 17)​​.

This quote highlights how RAN explicitly examines the assignment of agency and moral responsibility. Unlike CDA, which generally focuses on how power and ideology are embedded in language, RAN provides a structured approach to discern who is held accountable in various scenarios. This precision in interpreting causality and responsibility makes RAN particularly useful for formulating policies and interventions aimed at balancing individual and collective responsibilities.

Complexities of Assigning Responsibility:

"There is however a secondary responsibility relating to why the drug user took that particular drug, took too much, whether they were aware of what they were doing, the quality, potency or effects of the drug, etc., as well as to the extended circumstances surrounding drug use, including the user’s personal background (abuse, neglect, employment status, disability, mental health) and to social, economic and political conditions, e.g., racial abuse, social exclusion, education, employment prospects, health care, child support etc." (p. 19)​​.

This quote illustrates the depth of analysis that RAN offers by considering multiple layers of responsibility. While CDA might identify the social and political contexts influencing discourse, RAN goes further by dissecting the reasons behind drug use and the multifaceted responsibilities of individuals and society. This holistic view is crucial for developing comprehensive harm reduction strategies and effective drug policies that address root causes rather than just symptoms.

Empowerment through Interpretation:

"When we acknowledge that meaning is something we create, it opens up a space in which we feel free to reconsider our interpretations, to adopt other more inspiring, empowering or meaningful ones, and in doing so we reclaim our responsibility and regain control of that part of our lives over which we have artistic license" (p. 23)​​.

This quote emphasizes the empowering aspect of RAN by encouraging individuals to reinterpret their experiences and narratives. While CDA often focuses on revealing how discourse perpetuates power imbalances, RAN empowers individuals by making them aware of their capacity to reinterpret and reclaim responsibility. This empowerment is vital for enabling self-regulation and fostering personal and societal resilience against drug-related harms.

These examples underscore how RAN’s explicit focus on the assignment of responsibility and its multidimensional approach to analyzing causality and agency provide unique and valuable insights that extend beyond the scope of Critical Discourse Analysis.

Conclusion
The Responsibility Assignment Narrative offers a powerful lens for analyzing and improving discourse on drugs and their societal implications. By clearly assigning responsibility, it helps uncover the underlying assumptions and power dynamics that shape these narratives. This clarity is crucial for developing policies and practices that genuinely reduce drug-related harms and promote a more just and equitable society.

References and Further Reading

Critical Discourse Analysis

Drug Policy Reform

Harm Reduction

Entheogens, Society & Law: Towards a Politics of Consciousness, Autonomy & Responsibility, Daniel Waterman & Casey William Hardison (Ed.) Melrose, 2013.