SOME YEARS ON - EVOLUTIONS IN THE 'BRITISH SYSTEM' (FROM PROBLEMS OF DRUG ABUSE IN BRITAIN, 1978, BY D J WEST SEE NCJ-48378)

• NCJ Number: 48379
• Author(s): G EDWARDS
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 51 pages
• Corporate Author: University of Cambridge
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Historical Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE PROLIFERATION OF DRUG ABUSE IN THE 1960'S IS BRIEFLY DESCRIBED, AND PREVENTION THROUGH 'COMPETITIVE PRESCRIBING', CASE-DIRECTED RESPONSE TO THE ADDICT, COMPULSIVE TREATMENT, AND CLINICS ARE DISCUSSED.

Abstract

THE EXPANSION OF DRUG ABUSE IN THE EARLY PART OF THE 1960'S IN BRITAIN LED TO THE PASSING OF COMPREHENSIVE DRUG CONTROL LEGISLATION IN 1967, WHICH RESULTED IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF CLINICS INTENDED TO PREVENT AND TREAT DRUG ABUSE. THE CLINICS ENGAGED IN WHAT IS CALLED 'COMPETITIVE PRESCRIBING' OF ADDICTIVE SUBSTANCES, INCLUDING HEROIN, WHICH AIMED AT COMPETING WITH THE ILLICIT DRUG MARKET. WHILE CLINICS DID CONTROL EXCESSIVE USE OF THE DRUGS PRESCRIBED AND DROVE UP THE PRICE OF CERTAIN DRUGS IN THE ILLICIT MARKET, THE PROLIFERATION OF MULTIPLE DRUG USE AS AN ENDEMIC PATTERN NARROWED THE IMPACT OF THE PRESCRIBING OPERATIONS OF THE CLINICS. THE INPATIENT TREATMENT OPERATIONS OF THE CLINICS, ORIGINALLY ENVISIONED AS THE MOST EFFECTIVE CONTEXT FOR TREATING DRUG ABUSE, PROVED TO BE UNATTRACTIVE ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS TO ANY BUT THE MOST HIGHLY MOTIVATED OF THE ADDICT CLIENTS AND OUTPATIENT TREATMENT BECAME THE GENERAL PRACTICE. THE PRESENT ROLE OF DRUG INPATIENT UNITS IS RECOMMENDED FOR RESEARCH. COMPULSORY TREATMENT OF ADDICTION WAS SPCIFICALLY REJECTED IN THE PASSAGE OF THE DRUG ACT OF 1967; AS A RESULT, ADDICTS WITH SERIOUS DEVIANT BEHAVIOR ARE SENT TO PRISONS LACKING THE ALTERNATIVE OF COMPULSORY HOSPITALIZATION. THE WHOLE QUESTION OF THE CONTROL OF ADDICT BEHAVIOR WITHIN THE SOCIAL STRUCTURE IS BELIEVED TO BE RIPE FOR RESEARCH. REJECTING THE NOTION THAT CLINICS ARE EFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING DRUG ABUSE, THEIR TREATMENT EFFECTIVENESS IS EXAMINED AND OPERATIONS WERE FOUND TO BE LACKING IN STANDARDIZED PROCEDURE, WHILE RECORDS WERE DEEMED INSUFFICIENT TO MEASURE THE IMPACT OF TREATMENT AS PRACTICED BY EACH CLINIC. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT WHAT IS REQUIRED IS MORE RESEARCH ON THE CLINICS AND NOT AN ACCOUNT OF WHAT THEY HAVE ACHIEVED. THE TWO PREVENTION APPROACHES RECOMMENDED FOR EXPERIMENTAL APPLICATION ARE MEASURES TO DEAL WITH THE BROAD AREA OF DRUG MANUFACTURING AND PHARMACY CONTROL AND SECURITY; AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PILOT PROJECT EMPLOYING CASE FINDING--AN AGGRESSIVE DRAWING OF ADDICTS IN A GIVEN AREA INTO TREATMENT TO LIMIT THEIR EVANGELIZATION OF NEW DRUG ABUSERS. (RCB)