NCJ Number
11592
Date Published
1973
Length
17 pages
Annotation
ARGUMENT THAT SOME LEGAL CONTROLS ON DRUG USE MAY ACTUALLY INCREASE THE INCIDENCE OF DRUG RELATED CRIMES.
Abstract
WHILE CANNABIS DERIVATIVES HALLUCINOGENS OR PSYCHEDELICS DO NOT APPEAR TO CAUSE CRIME, CONCLUSIONS ON THE RELATIONSHIP OF ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOR TO USE OF AMPHETAMINES AND HEROIN ARE FAR FROM CLEAR. WHATEVER THIS RELATIONSHIP MIGHT BE, POSSIBLE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF ANTIDRUG LEGISLATION WOULD SEEM TO OUTWEIGH THE BENEFITS TO SOCIETY. THESE EFFECTS MIGHT INCLUDE A RISE IN ALCOHOLISM AND USE OF BARBITUATES, OR THE APPEARANCE OF NEW PSYCHOACTIVE DRUGS WITH UNKNOWN SIDE EFFECTS. MOREOVER, THE DRUG ABUSE COUNCIL CONTENDS THAT ADDED DRUG PENALTIES ARE UNNECESSARY IN LIGHT OF PROGRESS BEING MADE BY TREATMENT PROGRAMS.