According to herbert blumer the first stage of a social problem is

Social problem is any condition or behavior that have negative consequences for large number of people which need to be addressed. Societal recognition is the first stage of social problem according to the Herbert example when the drunk driving is born.

Herbert Blumer felt there were four stages of a social problem. The first one he titled "social ferment," or emergence. In social ferment, society recognizes a problem actually exists. Society is dissatisfied, but it has not organized as a single unit yet to combat the problem.