NCJ Number
82579
Journal
Police Studies Volume: 5 Issue: 1 Dated: (Spring 1982) Pages: 14-17
Date Published
1982
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Drug crime prevention activities in the Federal Republic of Germany are described.
Abstract
Parallel with more effective law enforcement and prosecution of drug offenders, an increase in drug trafficking and consumption has occurred in the Federal Republic of Germany. Heroin availability remains high, and the price is stable. The increasing availability of heroin is anticipated on the German market, primarily because of the bumper crop reported in the Golden Triangle. A cocaine wave also appears to be developing. One of the crime prevention approaches is an increase in deterrence effectiveness by police action. One step in this area has been the establishment of the Narcotics Identification Service, which classifies heroin exhibits according to the process by which they were manufactured, thus aiding in investigation, Further, technical equipment has been developed for the detection of drugs. Another prevention activity by the police has been the dissemination of public information to increase public awareness of drug abuse problems. Efforts have been made to increase law enforcement activities against smugglers and traffickers who are not drug addicts themselves, while treatment alternatives have been emphasized as the prevention strategy with drug users. The high rate of recidivism among temporarily detained users is evidence that the current emphasis on police suppressive work alone cannot solve the drug problem. Closer cooperation between the police and social service agencies is advocated as a means of increasing the number of users receiving treatment.