NCJ Number
142716
Date Published
1993
Length
459 pages
Annotation
This comprehensive examination of drug abuse covers neuropharmacological, psychological, and sociological dimensions of the problem, as well as drug abuse treatment and prevention, drug law enforcement, and related policy issues.
Abstract
The first chapter introduces the subject of drug abuse, attempts to estimate the extent of the problem, and elaborates on the connection between drugs and crime. Subsequent chapters are concerned with the history of drug abuse, physiological aspects of drug abuse, and the psychology and sociology of drug abuse. Drug treatment and prevention efforts are reviewed, along with the business of drugs and the law enforcement response. Several policy recommendations are offered: (1) institute an educational program at elementary, high school, and college levels that fully presents all aspects of drug use; (2) decriminalize marijuana for personal use to conserve valuable criminal justice resources and avoid stigmatizing persons unnecessarily; (3) reduce the supply of drugs by enhancing law enforcement; (4) reduce the supply of drugs from source countries; and (5) reduce the consumer market by expanding local law enforcement efforts and assign all convicted drug abusers to intensive probation supervision or incarceration followed by intensive parole supervision; (6) drastically expand drug treatment programs; (7) provide educational and vocational training for drug abusers who enroll in treatment programs; and (8) enact and enforce legislation to prohibit employment discrimination against former drug abusers. Review questions accompany each chapter. References, tables, figures, and photographs