HEROIN, SOCIETY, PUBLIC POLICY - THE INFERNAL TRIANGLE (FROM EVALUATING ALTERNATIVE LAW-ENFORCEMENT POLICIES, 1979, BY RALPH BAKER AND FRED A MEYER, JR - SEE NCJ-65735)

• NCJ Number: 65740
• Author(s): D PHARES
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 11 pages
• Corporate Author: Lexington Books
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

HEROIN TRAFFIC IS ENCOURAGED BY HIGH PROFITS CAUSED BY CRIMINAL MONOPOLY AND SCARCITY, BUT SCARCITY MAY BE REDUCED BY LIMITED LEGALIZATION.

Abstract

INTRODUCED IN 1898, HEROIN NOW CLAIMS 600,000 ADDICTS; ITS ILLICIT TRADE MAKES AS MUCH MONEY AS A GIANT CORPORATION. MILLIONS ARE ALSO SPENT ON DRUG ADDICTION PROGRAMS BUT THE PROBLEM ONLY GROWS WORSE. USE OF HEROIN FIRST BECAME A SOCIAL CONCERN IN 1914 WHEN IT WAS LEGALLY BANNED AND ADDICTS WERE CLASSED AS CRIMINALS. BUT CRIMINAL MONOPOLY OF THE FLOURISHING HEROIN TRADE LED TO INCREASES IN PRICE AND CONSEQUENT CRIME AMONG ADDICTS TO PAY FOR THEIR HABITS. THE DRUG TRADE CONTINUES TO FLOURISH BECAUSE OF ITS GREAT PROFITS. TEN KILOS OF RAW OPIUM, COSTING $250, MAY BRING IN $400,000 ON THE STREET, WITH ALL PERSONS INVOLVED IN ITS DISTRIBUTION OR REFINEMENT, PROFITING. BECAUSE HEROIN IS ADDICTIVE, HAS NO VIABLE SUBSTITUTES, BECAUSE ADDICTS DEVELOP A TOLERANCE FOR IT, ITS MARKET IS EXTREMELY HARD TO DIMINISH. PUBLIC DRUG FIGHTING POLICY WILL REDUCE HEROIN TRADE REVENUES IF IT REDUCES DEMAND, BUT INCREASE THEM IF IT REDUCES SUPPLY. LIMITED DECRIMINALIZATION IS ALLEGED TO BE THE BEST POLICY, SINCE IT WOULD BREAK THE CRIMINAL SUPPLY MONOPOLY AND REDUCE PRICES, PROFITS, AND DRUG-RELATED CRIME. NOTES AND TABLES ARE INCLUDED. (PAP)