NCJ Number
14807
Date Published
1970
Length
256 pages
Annotation
EXAMINES THE PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS, DIFFERENT TYPES, CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ADDICT, TREATMENT PROGRAMS, AND ATTITITUDES.
Abstract
DISCUSSION COVERS BOTH PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DRUG DEPENDENCE, EXPLAINING WHICH DRUGS LEAD TO WHICH AND HOW THE TWO OFTEN OVERLAP. THERE ARE COMPLETE DESCRIPTIONS OF ALL DRUGS THAT CAN BE DANGEROUS WHEN MISUSED - THE OPIUM DERIVATIVES, CODEINE, HEROIN. EACH DRUG IS GIVEN AN INDEPTH EXAMINATION AS TO THE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL EFFECTS PRODUCED, THE USUAL DOSAGE PRESCRIBED BY A DOCTOR, THE TIME IT TAKES TO WORK, HOW LONG BEFORE IT WEARS OFF, THE VARIOUS FORMS IT COMES IN, THE DIFFERENT WAYS IT CAN BE TAKEN, AND THE EXPECTED WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS. THE AUTHOR DESCRIBES THE LIFE OF A TYPICAL ADDICT, THE UPPER-MIDDLE CLASS ADDICT, AND SHE TELLS HOW TO RECOGNIZE AN ADDICT, WHAT HE LOOKS LIKE, AND HOW HE GOES ABOUT GETTING THE DRUGS HE NEEDS. THERE IS COMPLETE COVERAGE OF THE VARIOUS METHODS OF TREATMENT, AND THE AUTHOR EXAMINES THE RELATIVE MERITS OF SUCH EXPERIMENTS AS SYNANON, METHADONE TREATMENT, AND OTHER PRIVATE AND GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS AND NARCOTICS PROGRAMS. AN EVALUATION IS PRESENTED OF THE ARGUMENTS GIVEN FOR AND AGAINST DRUG-TAKING, THE PRESENT DRUG LAWS, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES (HOW THEY WORK AND HOW EFFECTIVE THEY ARE), AND THE PROBLEMS THAT RESULT FROM JAILING AN ADDICT. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)