RESPECTABLE PUSHERS

• NCJ Number: 58361
• Journal: DRUG ENFORCEMENT Volume: 4 Issue: 1 Dated: (FEBRUARY 1977) Pages: 26-35
• Author(s): G THATCHER
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 10 pages
• Corporate Author: Drug Enforcement Admin
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: REPRINTED FROM THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR, 1976

Annotation

THE ILLEGAL DISPENSING OF DANGEROUS DRUGS BY MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS IS ANALYZED, AND VARIOUS LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS DESIGNED TO COMBAT THE PROBLEM ARE DESCRIBED, ALONG WITH BROAD SUGGESTIONS FOR PREVENTION.

Abstract

GREED, LUST, THE SALVAGING OF A FAILING PRACTICE, SELF-ADDICTION, SENILITY, AND RATIONALIZATION ARE SOME OF THE REASONS WHY MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS SELL OR BARTER LARGE VOLUMES OF DRUGS ILLEGALLY. WHILE ONLY ABOUT 1 OR 2 PERCENT OF THE 516,990 PROFESSIONALS PERMITTED TO HANDLE DANGEROUS DRUGS KNOWINGLY SELL THEM TO ABUSERS OR STREET-LEVEL DEALERS, THIS SMALL PERCENTAGE CAN STILL DISPENSE HUGE QUANTITIES OF DRUGS INTO THE ILLEGAL TRADE. THE FEDERAL DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION'S ATTACK ON THHIS PROBLEM CONSISTS OF THE FOLLOWING EFFORTS: (1) INCREASE OF INVESTIGATORS OF THE MEDICAL DRUG INDUSTRY FROM 198 TO 254 (1977); (2) EXPANSION OF SPECIAL FEDERAL INVESTIGATION UNITS AT THE STATE LEVEL TO FIVE MORE STATES BEYOND THE PRESENT NINE (1977); (3) ISSUE OF NEW DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE GUIDELINES FOR U.S. ATTORNEYS WHO PROSECUTE DOCTORS AND PHARMACISTS; BY AND (4) REVISION OF COMPLEX STATE LAWS GOVERNING DRUG SALES UNDER A MODEL LAW PROPOSED AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. IN ADDITION, THERE ARE STATE DIVERSION INVESTIGATION UNITS, SPECIAL POLICE SQUADS FUNDED BY DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION AND LEAA TO COMBAT DRUG PEDDLING BY PHYSICIANS AND PHARMACISTS. RECOMMENDATIONS ON WAYS TO CONTROL DRUG DIVERSION, BASED ON A 6-MONTH STUDY OF THE PROBLEM, INCLUDE (1) A MORE ACTIVE ROLE FOR STATE AND LOCAL PHARMACY AND MEDICAL SOCIETIES, (2) ASSISTANCE FROM THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION IN COMBATING DIVERSION, (3) STATE AND LOCAL PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY-SUPPORTED TELEPHONE CHAINS OR HOTLINES TO COMBAT DRUG DIVERSION; (4) INVOLVEMENT OF THE AMERICAN PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION, (5) A CHANGE IN PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURING COMPANIES' DRUG ADVERTISING, (6) EMPHASIS BY MEDICAL SCHOOLS ON ETHICAL QUESTIONS SURROUNDING ABUSE-PRONE DRUG PRESCRIPTION; AND (7) AWARENESS BY FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS OF THEIR PATERNS OF DRUG USE. (RCB)