NCJ Number
65693
Date Published
1978
Length
129 pages
Annotation
TENTATIVE VIEWS ON THE CONTROL OF THE NONMEDICAL USE OF NARCOTIC, ANALGESIC, SEDATIVE AND PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA ARE PRESENTED BY THE ROYAL COMMISSION INTO THE NON-MEDICAL USE OF DRUGS.
Abstract
PUBLIC MISUNDERSTANDINGS ABOUT DRUG USE ARE IDENTIFIED, AND INFORMATION ON THE RATES OF USE OF VARIOUS DRUGS AND THE NATURE OF ADDICTION OR DEPENDENCE ARE PROVIDED. COMMON MISPERCEPTIONS ARE RELATED TO CONFLICTS BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT MEANINGS OF DRUG-RELATED TERMS WHICH ARE USED IN POPULAR, SCIENTIFIC, AND LEGAL CONTEXTS WITHOUT BEING CONSISTENTLY OR CLEARLY DEFINED. OTHER MISUNDERSTANDINGS ARE PUBLIC MYTHS, SUCH AS THE EXISTENCE OF A SUBSTANTIAL CONSENSUS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY OPPOSED TO THE NONMEDICAL USE OF DRUGS ARE DESCRIBED. ALSO, THE OFFICIAL CONTROLS ALREADY AVAILABLE IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA FOR REGULATING THE PRESENCE OR USE OF DRUGS ARE DESCRIBED. THE LEGAL, MEDICAL, AND SOCIAL CONTROL POWERS AVAILABLE TO THE GOVERNMENT AND THE COMMUNITY TO REGULATE THE USE OF DRUGS ARE EXPLAINED. IN SOME AREAS OF DRUG CONTROL (E.G., THE USE OF MOOD-ALTERING DRUGS), UNOFFICIAL CONTROLS CAPABLE OF ADAPTATION ARE MORE EFFECTIVE THAN CRIMINAL SANCTIONS, WHICH ARE MORE APPROPRIATE WHERE SOCIAL POLICY AIMS AT ENTIRELY ELIMINATING THE USE OF CERTAIN DRUGS. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATIONS, AND INDIVIDUAL PRACTITIONERS PROVIDING TREATMENT FACILITIES FOR DRUG-DEPENDENT PERSONS IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA ARE ALSO DESCRIBED. FINALLY, THE FOLLOWING POLICY ISSUES ARE CONSIDERED: 1) ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST THE RETENTION OF CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR THE USE AND POSSESSION OF NARCOTIC AND PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS, 2) TYPES OF ORGANIZED RESPONSES TO BE DEVELOPED FOR THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF DRUG USE, AND 3) THE AVAILABILITY OF SINGLE AND COMPOUND ANALGESIC DRUGS. FOOTNOTES AND AN INDEX ARE PROVIDED. THE COMMISSION'S PURPOSE IS OUTLINED IN THE APPENDIX. (DEG)