NCJ Number
170666
Date Published
1997
Length
5 pages
Annotation
Excerpts from the 1967 report of the President's Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice are provided to demonstrate the importance of effective drug control policies.
Abstract
The report notes the United States has based its drug control policies on two judgments: (1) drug abuse is an evil to be suppressed; and (2) drug abuse can be most effectively controlled by criminal enforcement and penal sanctions. The report also indicates that the nonmedical use of dangerous drugs can lead to arrest and incarceration, that a general revision of criminal codes pertaining to illicit drugs should be undertaken, that many claims about undesirable outcomes of amphetamine use are not supported by evidence, and that scientific and official reporting about drug effects may be subject to strong bias and may reflect preconceived ideas rather than an adequate appraisal of evidence. Excerpts from the report also show that drug law enforcement officials need to focus on facts and to solve real problems associated with drug use, that punitive approaches may cause further problems, and that measures other than laws should be considered in reducing drug risks. Finally, the report emphasizes the importance of being realistic when planning drug prevention programs.