NCJ Number
48378
Editor(s)
D J WEST
Date Published
1978
Length
222 pages
Annotation
PROBLEMS AND ISSUES RELATED TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DANGEROUS DRUGS ACT OF 1967 ARE DISCUSSED, AND THE NEED FOR A REVISION OF THE CURRENT DRUG CONTROL POLICY IS CONSIDERED.
Abstract
THIS ANTHOLOGY IS COMPOSED OF PAPERS PRESENTED AT A CONFERENCE ON THE PROBLEMS OF DRUG ABUSE AND ITS CONTROL IN BRITAIN, WITH EACH PAPER FOLLOWED BY A PRESENTATION OF THE SUBSTANCE OF THE PANEL DISCUSSION RELATED TO THE ISSUES RAISED IN THE PAPER. A NUMBER OF THE PAPERS TRACE THE HISTORY OF DRUG MISUSE IN BRITAIN AND THE LEGISLATION DESIGNED TO DEAL WITH IT. THE MOST RECENT COMPREHENSIVE LEGISLATION WAS THE DANGEROUS DRUGS ACT ENACTED IN 1967. AMONG OTHER INITIATIVES, IT PROVIDED FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF DRUG DEPENDENCY CLINICS (DDC) IN HOSPITALS, WHOSE MEDICAL STAFFS ARE THE PRINCIPAL PROFESSIONALS LICENSED TO PRESCRIBE OPIATES. IT WAS THE INTENTION OF THE LAW THAT DDC WOULD COMBAT THE ILLEGAL DRUG MARKET, PARTICULARLY HEROIN BLACK-MARKETING, BY MAKING OPIATES AVAILABLE TO ADDICTS UNDER CAREFULLY MEASURED PRESCRIPTIONS WHILE TREATING ADDICTIONS. A FEW PAPERS DEAL WITH THE EFFECTS AND PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE OPERATION OF DDC. IT IS FREQUENTLY INDICATED THAT RESEARCH IS NEEDED TO MEASURE THE EXTENT TO WHICH DDC IS FULFILLING ITS INTENDED OBJECTIVES. SOME OF THE OBSERVED PROBLEMS OF CLINIC OPERATIONS ARE DISCUSSED. ONE OF THE MORE EFFECTIVE DRUG ABUSE TREATMENT PROGRAMS KNOWN AS 'CONCEPT HOUSES' IS DESCRIBED AND ITS DEVELOPMENT TRACED. A FEW OF THE PAPERS CONSIDER THE PRESENT POLICY OF DRUG CONTROL A FAILURE AND REVISIONS ARE PROPOSED. FOR INDIVIDUAL PAPERS, SEE NCJ 48379-48389. (RCB)