NCJ Number
157657
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 22 Issue: 5 Dated: (May 1995) Pages: 26-35
Date Published
1995
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This article discusses various approaches to preventing and reducing the incidence of drug use in America, focusing on the role played by law enforcement.
Abstract
The statistics show that while the use of some drugs, for example, cocaine, has decreased in recent years, adolescents continue to use drugs ranging from marijuana to heroin in record numbers. Experts believe these trends are due to changing attitudes toward drugs, attributable to less media attention, fewer messages about the harmfulness of drugs, glamorization of drug use by celebrity figures, and new funding and campaigns by pro- legalization groups. Most law enforcement officials and people in related professions believe there is a direct link between drug use and crime, particularly violent crime. In addition to the arrest and prosecution of drug offenders, which causes severe backlogs in the criminal justice system, other components of an effective anti- drug program must include education and prevention, as well as treatment and deterrence. This article describes some innovative anti-drug programs operating in cities across the country.