NCJ Number
25619
Editor(s)
R L RACHIN,
E H CZAJKOSKI
Date Published
1975
Length
194 pages
Annotation
A COLLECTION OF SEVEN ESSAYS DEALING WITH DRUG ABUSE, DRUG ABUSE CAUSES, METHODS OF DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION AND CONTROL, DRUG TREATMENT, AND THE EFFECTS OF DRUG CONTROL LEGISLATION.
Abstract
IN THE LEAD ESSAY, THE AUTHOR TAKES CRITICAL CRIMINOLOGY IN HAND AS HE DESCRIBES HOW ITS MECHANISMS, STRATEGIES, AND IDEOLOGIES BECOME AN INTEGRAL PROBLEM IN THEMSELVES; HE WRITES OF THE 'DRUG PROBLEM' PROBLEM, WHICH THREATENS AMERICAN VALUES OF FREEDOM, PRIVACY, AND PERSONAL SECURITY. THE NEXT ESSAY TRACES THE BUREAUCRATIC SELFAGGRANDIZEMENT OF THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF NARCOTICS UNDER COMMISSIONER ANSLINGER WHICH, THE AUTHOR CONTENDS, OCCURRED BY MEANS OF CONVINCING CONGRESS OF THE MENACE OF MARIJUANA AND THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING IT A FEDERAL PROBLEM INSTEAD OF ONLY A STATE PROBLEM. IN EFFECT, THE AUTHOR SHOWS HOW MARIJUANA AND ITS USERS BECOME A PART OF BUREAUCRATIC ENTERPRISE. THE ADMINISTRATIVE DISCRETION EXERCISED BY POLICE IN ENFORCING DRUG LAWS IS EXAMINED IN TWO SEPARATE ARTICLES. THE FIRST EXAMINES THE POLICE OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND THE SECOND LOOKS AT THE POLICE IN GREAT BRITAIN. IN THE SEPARATE CONTEXTS, BOTH ARTICLES ILLUSTRATE HOW POLICE POLICY CAN AFFECT THE ESTABLISHED LEGAL PROCESSES SURROUNDING THE DRUG OFFENDER. AN ESSAY IS ALSO INCLUDED WHICH AIMS AT REVERSING THE POSTURE OF THE DRUG PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR FROM THAT OF A CUSTODIAN OF THE STATUS QUO WHO SEEKS TO BEND THE HAPLESS DRUG OFFENDER TOWARD CONFORMITY TO THAT OF A CATALYST FOR INDUCING POSITIVE CHANGES WITHIN THE SOCIAL SYSTEM. THE BUREAUCRATIC AND ORGANIZATIONAL DIFFICULTIES OF PLANNING AND ESTABLISHING A MULTICOMPONENT DRUG TREATMENT CENTER ARE OUTLINED, WITH THE AID OF A CASE STUDY, IN THE SECOND TO LAST ESSAY. IN A FINAL ARTICLE, THE AUTHOR WRITES OF THE ECONOMIC INCOMES FROM THE TRAFFIC IN HEROIN AND OF HOW FACTORS OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND AFFECT THE ORGANIZATIONAL PATTERNS SURROUNDING DRUG ABUSE CONTROL. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)