NCJ Number
155026
Date Published
1980
Length
19 pages
Annotation
The Drug Abuse Council was established in 1972; its final report issued after 7 years emphasizes that the challenge facing the United States regarding drugs is to determine how best to live with the inevitable availability of psychoactive drugs while mitigating the harmful aspects of their misuse, whether the drugs are legal or illegal.
Abstract
The latest national survey indicates that two-thirds of adults regularly use alcohol and some 13 million adult and youthful drinkers are said to be problem drinkers. The recommended approach requires a focus on education, public health, treatment, and rehabilitation measures. Other needs are an expanded research effort, a more effective Federal coordination mechanism, closer coordination of law enforcement and treatment agencies, and improvements in drug treatment and prevention programs. Treatment for drug dependence should also be available mainly because people need help, not as a behavior or crime control measure. Research should also focus on the potential of using heroin in the treatment of heroin addition and the effects of drug laws and drug law enforcement on personal decisions to use or not use illicit drugs. Legislative efforts should also continue to decriminalize at Federal and State levels the possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal use.