NCJ Number
121078
Date Published
1989
Length
13 pages
Annotation
The trend in fighting the drug problem is to construct disincentives for both the buyers and the sellers of drugs.
Abstract
One program that has been developed as a result of this trend is the Drug Use Forecasting (DUF) program. Already in operation in 22 cities, this program tracks shifts in the use of specific drugs by the urinalysis of arrestees. Preliminary findings indicate that the drug test data have a forecasting potential that may enable officials to estimate changes in a city's future crime rates, drug-related hospital emergency room admissions, and trends in child abuse. Other efforts being made include seizing assets of both sellers and users, cracking down on street sales, and civil abatement procedures. Certain laws have been expanded to include seizure of capital invested in condominiums, ships, planes, and horse ranches. The strategy is to raise the cost of doing business for drug dealers by cutting profit margins. Prosecuting money laundering activity is another avenue for way-laying those supporting drug trafficking.