NCJ Number
166784
Editor(s)
B Leone,
S Barbour,
B Stalcup,
C Wekesser
Date Published
1997
Length
192 pages
Annotation
Recognizing that chemical addiction exacts an enormous tool on individuals, families, and society as a whole, this anthology explores opposing viewpoints on the nature of drug addiction and its causes and cures.
Abstract
The opposing viewpoints are contained in four chapters: (1) nature of chemical dependency; (2) what causes chemical dependency; (3) effective treatment of chemical dependency; and (4) drug law reform. The first chapter examines heroin, alcohol, and marijuana use. The second chapter notes biological and cultural factors that contribute to chemical dependency and examines the media's role in glamorizing drug and alcohol use. The third chapter focuses on effective chemical dependency treatment approaches and looks at acupuncture, biofeedback, religion, methadone, and Alcoholics Anonymous. The final chapter addresses drug legalization, racist dimensions of Federal drug laws, whether the United States should pressure Colombia to strengthen its antidrug efforts, and whether the United States should replicate drug policies in the Netherlands. References, tables, and figures