NCJ Number
216748
Journal
Journal of Scandinavian Studies in Criminology and Crime Prevention Volume: 7 Issue: 1 Dated: 2006 Pages: 36-45
Date Published
2006
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This paper discusses three types of drug policies: drug laws, drug prevention strategies, and drug treatment strategies that could be used to improve drug policies.
Abstract
The question under consideration is which route should be used in treating drug abuse: prevention, punishment, or rehabilitation. Research suggests that drug abuse prevention and treatment have statistically and clinically significant effects. Studies clearly indicate that many drug treatment strategies offered in jails or prisons are more effective than incarceration alone in reducing recidivism. Research has made it possible to identify successful prevention and treatment programs for drug abusers. This paper addresses what scientific research tells us about effective programs and how this information could be used to guide drug policies. The paper addresses three types of drug policies: drug laws, drug prevention strategies, and drug treatment strategies that might be used to improve drug policies. For each of these areas, the paper discusses what criminological research tells us about the best practices. References