SOCIAL POLICY ON DANGEROUS DRUGS - A STUDY OF CHANGING ATTITUDES IN NEW YORK AND OVERSEAS

• NCJ Number: 12926
• Journal: St John's Law Review Volume: 48 Issue: 1 Dated: (OCTOBER 1973) Pages: 48-103
• Author(s): C R HARDT; R BROOKS
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 56 pages
• Corporate Author: St John's Law Review
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF DRUG ABUSE, LEGISLATION, AND TREATMENT PHILOSOPHIES IN NEW YORK STATE, JAPAN, THE UNITED KINGDOM, SWEDEN, AND THE NETHERLANDS.

Abstract

THE PHILOSOPHIES OF THE FOREIGN COUNTRIES STUDIED IN THIS REPORT ARE COMPARABLE IN FOUR MAJOR AREAS. FIRST, THEY HAVE A CLEAR GOAL AND A FIRM COMMITMENT TO IT. SECOND, THE SOCIAL CLIMATE IN THESE COUNTRIES PERMITS THE ADDICT TO DEVELOP A PRODUCTIVE LIFE STYLE. THIRD, THEIR PENAL PROGRAMS ARE CONSISTENT WITH A SOCIAL PURPOSE THAT ENJOYS COMMUNITY SUPPORT. LAST, THERE IS A HIGH DEGREE OF COORDINATION BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES AND THE COMMUNITY. THE MAGNITUDE OF THE PROBLEM AND THE CLOSE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE AMERICAN ADDICT AND THE CRIMINAL LIFE STYLE ARE THE MAJOR DIFFERENCES BETWEEN NEW YORK AND THE FOREIGN COUNTRIES. AN EFFECTIVE PROGRAM FOR NEW YORK WOULD AIM NOT ONLY AT THE USE OF SPECIFIC DRUGS (THUS IGNORING THE SUBSTITUTION OF ONE DRUG FOR ANOTHER) BUT AT THE SOCIAL CAUSES FOR THIS PROBLEM. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)