Drugs in society

Chapter_13.ppt

Chapter 13

Understanding Drug Control Policy

Drugs in Society:
Causes, Concepts, and Control , 7th ed.

The University of Adelaide, School of Computer Science

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer

Overview

This chapter will enable you to:

Understand social and political philosophies of drug policy
Learn which government and private agencies share responsibility for drug control
Appreciate the contribution of private industry to drug control
Compare and contrast federal drug control strategies
Consider both supply- and demand-oriented drug policies
Understand the utility of federal drug control legislation

DEVELOPMENT OF U.S. DRUG POLICY

Three of the more comprehensive drug policy acts focused on regulation, taxation, and prohibition

DEVELOPMENT OF U.S. DRUG POLICY

Today, criminal penalties for drug violations have become firmly embedded in drug control public policy
This is primarily conducted through a crime control policy
Many have argued that a more comprehensive medical model would be more effective

Demand Reduction

The premise is:

Make drugs so unappealing to purchase due to the fear of extreme penalties from law enforcement…..if less people purchase drugs, the price will increase….if the price increases too high, the profit margin will not be worth it

The Supply-Reduction Paradigm

The drug war is based on a supply-reduction strategy that seeks to:

eradicate or control drugs at their source

(2) interdict or seize drugs as they enter the country

(3) engage in intense domestic drug enforcement efforts primarily aimed at users and drug consumers

What does it promise?

The supply-reduction paradigm promises an enormous expenditure of resources, vast expansion of law enforcement authority, and large numbers of citizens being arrested and imprisoned. It is supposed to have a deterrent effect on drug use as well.

Does it work?

LEGAL TOOLS IN DRUG CONTROL