NCJ Number
119462
Date Published
1987
Length
238 pages
Annotation
This report by the Royal College of Psychiatrists defines drug misuse and dependence, details the medical history and use of controlled and illicit drugs in Britain, and discusses prevention and treatment strategies as well as legal and policy proposals for controlling illicit drug use.
Abstract
The report calls for informed debate on the drug abuse issue and government's role in treating and preventing abuse. Drugs that act on the mind are identified and drug misuse is defined. The medical, pharmacological, and historical uses of the following drugs are detailed: opiates, alcohol, tobacco, cocaine, amphetamines, hallucinogens, cannabis, solvents, and psychotropic drugs. Prevention problems are identified, including curtailing cultivation, customs and police action, and prescription control. Treatment of addicts is discussed in detail, as are legal and policy considerations. The report concludes with a series of specific recommendations for clarifying drug issues and solving drug problems.