NCJ Number
52552
Date Published
1978
Length
354 pages
Annotation
THIS COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION OF DRUG ABUSE AND ITS EFFECTS AND OF EFFORTS TO CONTROL DRUG USE AND TO TREAT ADDICTS IS DIRECTED AT CRIMINAL JUSTICE STUDENTS AND HUMAN SERVICE AND DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION PERSONNEL.
Abstract
THE PREVALENCE OF DRUG-RELATED CRIME IS ILLUSTRATED USING ARREST, DISPOSITION, AND CORRECTIONS DATA. STIMULANTS, DEPRESSANTS, HALLUCINOGENS, AND CANNABIS ARE DESCRIBED IN TERMS OF THEIR USE. EFFECTS ON THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM AND THE DISCOVERY AND LEGITIMATE AND ILLEGITIMATE USES. VARIOUS PATTERNS OF ABUSE, THE EFFECTS THAT USERS HOPE TO PRODUCE, AND THE UNWANTED EFFECTS THAT THEY OFTEN SUFFER ARE DETAILED. THE TEXT ALSO CONSIDERS THE LEGISLATIVE RESPONSE TO DRUG ABUSE AT BOTH THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVEL AND DISCUSSES CRITICISMS OF CURRENT DRUG LAWS. THERE IS AN APPARENT TREND TOWARD DECRIMINALIZATION OF MARIHUANA POSSESSION, SEVERE PUNISHMENT OF DRUG PUSHERS, AND RECOGNITION OF THE RIGHT OF DRUG DEPENDENT PERSONS TO TREATMENT. DRUG TRAFFICKING PATTERNS ARE OUTLINED, AS WELL AS DRUG LAW ENFORCEMENT STRATEGY AND TECHNIQUES; E.G., USE OF INFORMANTS, UNDERCOVER WORK, AND DRUG RAIDS. LEGAL LIMITATIONS OF POLICE OFFICERS IN DEALING WITH DRUG OFFENDERS ARE ALSO NOTED. THE FINAL CHAPTERS EXAMINE REHABILITATION AND TREATMENT OF USERS AND WITH DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION. THE EXPERIENCE OF CORRECTIONS IN DEALING WITH DRUG-ADDICTED INMATES IS CONSIDERED, FOLLOWED BY A SUMMARY OF CURRENT PROGRAMS FOR ADDICTS, THE MOST SUCCESSFUL OF WHICH HAS BEEN METHADONE MAINTENANCE. THE ROLE OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROFESSIONAL IN DRUG ABUSE EDUCATION ALSO IS DESCRIBED. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS ARE PROVIDED AT THE END OF EACH CHAPTER, AND THE APPENDIXES CONTAIN A DRUG ABUSE GLOSSARY AND SELECTED DRUG OFFENDER CASE PROFILES. AN INDEX IS PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--DAG)