HEROIN PARAPHERNALIA - BREAKDOWN OF A FIX

• NCJ Number: 14821
• Journal: Criminal Law Bulletin Volume: 10 Issue: 6 Dated: (JULY-AUGUST 1974) Pages: 493-515
• Author(s): S CHRISTIANSON
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 23 pages
• Corporate Author: Warren, Gorham and Lamont, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

REVIEW OF THE VARIOUS ITEMS OF NARCOTICS PARAPHERNALIA USED TO ADMINISTER, DILUTE, OR PACKAGE ILLICIT DRUGS AND THE EFFECT OF LAWS WHICH ATTEMPT TO MAKE POSSESSION OF THESE ITEMS UNLAWFUL.

Abstract

PARAPHERNALIA TYPICALLY ARE ENVISIONED AS ACCOUTERMENTS, TRAPPINGS, OR ANCILLARY ITEMS THAT ACCOMPANY A PARTICULAR ACTIVITY OR MATERIAL. AMONG HEROIN ADDICTS, THE MOST COMMONLY USED ONES ARE HYPODERMIC NEEDLES AND SYRINGES, QUININE, MILK SUGARS, MANNITOL, GLASSINE ENVELOPES, AND GELATIN CAPSULES. ADDICTS ARE ALSO REKNOWNED FOR THEIR INGENUITY IN SUBSTITUTING CELLOPHANE BAGS FOR GLASSINES, BICARBONATE OF SODA FOR QUININE, AND SO ON, DEPENDING UPON SUPPLY AND DEMAND. SOME OF THESE DRUG IMPLEMENTS MAY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MANY OF THE SUPPOSED HEROIN OVERDOSE DEATHS AND DISEASES THAT HAVE LONG INFLUENCED OUR THINKING ABOUT HEROIN. THEIR HIGH COST HELPS TO EXPLAIN WHY HEROIN ADDICTION HAS PROVEN SO EXPENSIVE, BOTH FOR THE ADDICT AND THE LARGER SOCIETY. THEIR MERCHANDISING HAS BECOME BIG BUSINESS. A MAJORITY OF STATES PROHIBIT THE POSSESSION OR SALE OF ITEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR NARCOTICS USE, THE LATTER BEING REGARDED AS HARMPRODUCING. SUCH LAWS HAVE HAD AS A STATED AIM THE REDUCTION OF NARCOTICS OFFENSES AND OFFENSES ARISING FROM ADDICTION, I.E., MUGGINGS, BURGLARIES. SEVERAL INCONSISTENCIES EMERGE IN THIS CONNECTION. FIRST, IT IS NOT KNOWN EXACTLY HOW LAWS CONTROLLING HEROIN PARAPHERNALIA WOULD RESULT IN A REDUCTION IN THE INCIDENCE OF NARCOTICS USE. AS FAR AS DRUG-RELATED STREET CRIMES ARE CONCERNED, THE NEW LAWS APPEAR TO HAVE CAUSED THE COST OF PARAPHERNALIA TO SKYROCKET, SO THAT IT WOULD LOGICALLY FOLLOW THAT ADDICTS NOW HAVE TO STEAL MORE TO SUPPORT THEIR HABIT. FINALLY, THE NEW LAWS SEEK TO CONTROL ITEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HEROIN USE, ALTHOUGH, AS THE RECENT CONSUMERS UNION STUDY SUGGESTS, HEROIN PER SE IS APPARENTLY NOT AS HARMFUL AS WIDELY ASSUMED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)