NEW MASSACHUSETTS DRUG LAW - A PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT

• NCJ Number: 41527
• Journal: International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 18 Issue: 1 Dated: (1974) Pages: 33-39
• Author(s): N D RIZZO; W A PERKINS; E PAWLOWSKI
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 7 pages
• Corporate Author: Assoc for Psychiatric Treatment of Offenders
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

THE DRUG LAW OF 1969 PROVIDES PUBLICLY SUPPORTED MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR PERSONS WHO ARE DRUG DEPENDENT DIVERTING THE DRUG OFFENDER FROM THE STRICT CONFINES AND PROCEDURES OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

Abstract

THIS ARTICLE, THOUGH ACCEPTING THAT THE OLD PUNITIVE APPROACH TO DRUG ADDICTION HAS FAILED, IS SKEPTICAL THAT THE NEW MEDICAL REHABILITATIVE APPROACH OF THE NEW LAW HAS MORE TO OFFER. THE STUDY SHOWS THAT THE PROGRAMS UNDER THE LAW HAVE MOTIVATED A FEW DRUG TAKERS TO GIVE UP THEIR HABIT, BUT THE MAJORITY WANT TO ESCAPE BOTH PRISON AND TREATMENT AND TO TRY TO TREAT THEM WOULD BE UNPRODUCTIVE AND VERY EXPENSIVE.(AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)...TWH