U.S. Drug Problem and the U.S. Drug Culture: A Public Health Solution (From Drug Legalization Debate, P 161-182, 1991, James A. Inciardi, ed. -- See NCJ-127678)

• NCJ Number: 127686
• Author(s): S Jonas
• Date Published: 1991
• Length: 22 pages
• Sale Source: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

In order to decrease the deleterious effects of the recreational drugs in society today, it will be necessary to significantly reduce the influence of the tobacco and alcohol industries.

Abstract

There are five major recreational drugs used in the U.S. that cause health problems: tobacco, alcohol, heroin, cocaine, and marijuana. All of the drugs are addicting or potentially addicting. Also, there is a serious risk of unintentional injury to self and others associated with intoxication with any of these drugs. There are many powerful special interests arrayed against the development of an effective program to significantly reduce recreational drug use and abuse. The opposition from the tobacco, alcohol, advertising, publishing, electronic media, and professional sports industries to any comprehensive antidrug program would be intense and immense. Also, very strong opposition to a comprehensive drug abuse control program would come from the currently illegal drug industry itself. Solution is possible only if the two principal U.S. drug industries, tobacco and alcohol, drastically change or are made to drastically change their goals and ways of doing business. 36 references