NCJ Number
57881
Journal
TOXICOMANIES Volume: 11 Dated: (MARCH 1978) Pages: 67-70
Date Published
1978
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE NEED FOR POLICE TO ASSUME AN EDUCATOR-ROLE IN DEALING WITH YOUTHS WHO USE DRUGS OR WHO ARE AT-RISK IS DISCUSSED.
Abstract
DESPITE THE UPROAR A FEW YEARS AGO ABOUT DRUG ABUSE BY YOUTHS, TODAY'S SOCIETY APPEARS TO HAVE ACCEPTED 'SOFT' DRUG CONSUMPTION (I.E., MARIHUANA) AS A NORM. POLICE HAVE BEEN CONFOUNDED IN THEIR ATTEMPTS TO DETAIN SIMPLE DRUG USERS BY THE OVERWHELMINGLY WIDESPREAD INCIDENCES AND HAVE TURNED TO ARRESTING ONLY TRAFFICKERS, AND JUDGES ARE INCREASINGLY INCLINED TO DISPENSE WITH SEVERE PENALTIES FOR SOFT DRUG USERS. PUBLIC OFFICIALS, RATHER THAN CHANGE LEGISLATION TO MEET THE CHANGING NORM OR TO REVERT TO REPRESSION, CHOOSE TO EMPHASIZE PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL MEASURES. HOWEVER, EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION DOCUMENTARIES, CONFERENCES, AND DEBATES HAVE NEVER BEEN EVALUATED TO DISCOVER THE DURABILITY OF THEIR IMPRESSION. PEER OR SOCIAL PRESSURES TO USE DRUGS PERSIST, AND THE CONDITIONS CONTRIBUTING TO CONTINUED DRUG USE ARE OFTEN EMOTIONAL, SOCIAL, OR HABITUAL, OFTEN UNAFFECTED BY THE RATIONAL APPROACH TAKEN BY EDUCATION. EXPERIENCE HAS SHOWN THAT DRUG EDUCATION AND INTERVENTION BY THE POLICE IN THE SCHOOLS CAN BE HELPFUL, PARTICULARLY BY REACHING YOUTHS AT-RISK. HOWEVER, THE EMPHASIS IN POLICE TRAINING SHOULD PROVIDE MORE SPECIFIC INFORMATION REGARDING THE CHEMICAL, SOCIAL, AND CULTURAL ASPECTS OF DRUG USE AND SHOULD SUPPLY CONCRETE INFORMATION ON HOW TO INTERVENE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. NO REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. --IN FRENCH. (MHP)