NCJ Number
134195
Date Published
1983
Length
247 pages
Annotation
The book analyzes what the criminal justice system can and should do about heroin in the United States, and the author notes that existing policies harm criminal justice institutions, those who are addicted, and those upon whom addicts prey.
Abstract
Free availability of heroin is viewed as a way of improving the lives of addicts and those they victimize and of enhancing the integrity of criminal justice processes. On the other hand, free availability would hurt those who would not otherwise have encountered heroin, and who would then become addicted. Free availability would also hurt those who would suffer more from personal and public health aspects of a greatly increased addiction rate than they do from the many ramifications of existing heroin policies. Heroin maintenance would injure those who would have to foot the bill, those who live in the vicinity of a heroin distribution center, and those who become addicted through diversion from the system. On the other hand, heroin maintenance would improve the lot of present addicts and those they victimize. Heroin maintenance would mitigate the problems of black and Hispanic communities that include the largest number of both addicts and victims. The nature of heroin and the capacity of society to cope with it indicate that the drug and related social problems will persist. The author discusses the development of outreach programs for heroin addicts, heroin prohibition, addiction as a crime under the law, and treatment. Footnotes