NCJ Number
182477
Journal
NSW Crime and Justice Bulletin Issue: 46 Dated: November 1999 Pages: 1-11
Date Published
November 1999
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This analysis of ways to minimize the harm associated with heroin use in Australia presents findings of recent research conducted by the New South Wales, Australia, Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research and argues that both drug law enforcement and drug treatment have a role in accomplishing this goal.
Abstract
Discussions of enforcement and treatment often regard them as alternative approaches to addressing the problem of illicit drugs. However, drug law enforcement affects both the monetary and non-monetary costs of heroin and thereby helps deter heroin use. In addition, drug law enforcement can encourage heroin users into treatment, thereby reducing some of the harm associated with heroin use. However, the available data also suggest that drug law enforcement can have unintended consequences that increase other harms associated with heroin use. These unintended consequences can include police corruption, increased property crime that individual heroin users commit to purchase heroin, and the health risks resulting from needle sharing and the use of unclean syringes. Findings suggest the need for policy improvements, including making treatment as readily available as possible to make it easier to leave the heroin market. The development of longer-acting alternatives to methadone should also reduce the frequency with which people seeking treatment for heroin dependence need to make contact with treatment providers. However, developing a rational drug policy will require further research in many areas, including the costs and benefits of specific policy proposals and the price elasticity of the demand for heroin. Figures, tables, notes, and 33 references