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Social Policy and Drug Research
by Daniel Patrick Moynihan
The major idea that the author discussed in this article was how current social policy is aimed at decreasing the use of illegal substances? The question progresses whether research efforts must stick to this policy in order to be considered ethical. If research is to be judged in fair terms, what effect does this have on the selection of research projects to be funded, how the research is done? and how the findings are treated by the public, as represented by both professionals and the media? All these questions need to be taken into considerations while looking at this current social policy. The author presented to us that we have to understand what is causing this
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One general idea he put out there to the public was “Drug use-and abuse-represents simply one more instance of the impact of technology on society”. The author supported his statement by saying how “this is the central experience of modern society. At one or two removes, most of the ills we suffer are the consequences of technology. That is to say, the bad results that accompany the good ones- good results which led to the adoption of the technology in the first place.”
To date, there are five large and important areas of research that have been either neglected: (1) the sequence of drugs used and the development of different drug-using patterns; (2) the individual, group, and cultural factors influencing low-risk and high-risk outcomes among equivalent drug users; (3) the changing attitudes of both users and nonusers toward psychoactive drug use; (4) the impact of the media on drug use and drug choice; and (5) the process of socialization as it applies to patterns of drug use (http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/lsd/zinberg7.htm). I feel that we should also focus on studies: how drugs influence individual health and behavior, what use is being made of drug research, and how its findings influence public policy decisions.
I hope that this drug research will stimulate other investigators/researchers to accept long-term, studies of psychoactive drug-using behavior as a
Drug abuse is one of the most discouraged behaviors in our country. In the United States of America, we, the people value several things, some of which are freedom, expanding and taking care of our families and our financial security. We, the people, take such things for granted. We also discourage some behavior, such as crime, laziness and use of illegal drugs.
Drugs. They have entered our communities, our schools, our neighborhoods, our homes. For generations now they have been affecting our society; influencing politics, laws, wars, science, and the overall structure of society. Russia and Mexico have had some of the highest involvement in drugs, and the fight against them. In Russia almost 6 percent of the total population, which is about 8.5 million people are drug addicts, or regular users. Russia has also become increasingly involved in the trafficking of drugs. In comparison Mexico has been one of the largest marketplaces for drugs, and has been a major producer and exporter of marijuana and heroine. In order to further better their countries, Russia and Mexico have implemented certain policies to restrict, outlaw, or limit drugs and the trafficking of them. This paper is going to compare Russia’s and Mexico’s policies on drugs, it will explore the history and background of both countries policies, the effectiveness of each of the countries policies, and will compare the two countries policies. In this comparison we will discover which country if any has had a more effective policy on drugs.
There are many differing viewpoints in the United States when dealing with drug policy. Within the political arena, drug policy is a platform that many politicians base their entire campaigns upon, thus showing its importance to our society in general. Some of these modes within which drug policy is studied are in terms of harm reduction, and supply reduction. When studying the harmful effects of drugs, we must first to attempt to determine if drug abuse harms on an individual level of if it is a major cause of many societal problems that we face today. In drawing a preliminary conclusion to this question we are then able to outline the avenues of approach in dealing
At first Chapman does not limit his perspective to one side of criticizing the use of illegal drugs in society. Instead, he deals with this subject in a broad way. He argues over the fact that the use of these prohibited drugs costs the government a lot of money, police time and prison space and how in spite of taking several administrative steps, the government has suffered from a colossal failure in stopping the drug abuse. He provides the data in support of his argument which is direct and precise. Through the example of Bennett, he tries to convey the message that people are not willing to have the spread of drug abuse in citizenry. A survey was conducted asking people to respond to the following question: if illegal
The United States Drug Policy evolved after the 1900s when laws dictating drug abuse became prevalent. The targeted audience for the War on Drugs was aimed at helping the upper-class citizens and not the lower-class citizens which ultimately caused the government to become hypocrites. The United States War on Drug Policy was supposed to help America as a whole and not select classes. The supply of drugs entering into the United States did not seem to be affected after numerous different strategies were instilled by different presidents and government officials. Without a successful strategy to end the spread of drug usage we as a country have lost the War on Drugs. An unintended consequence from the United States drug policies to thwart drug
As a major policy issue in the United States, the War on Drugs has been one of the most monumental failures on modern record. At a cost of billions of taxpayer dollars, thousands of lives lost and many thousands of others ruined by untreated addiction or incarceration, America's policy orientation concerning drug laws is due for reconsideration. Indeed, the very philosophical orientation of the War on Drugs and of the current drug policy in the United States has been one of prosecution and imprisonment rather than one of decriminalization, treatment and rehabilitation. As our medical and scientific communities characterize addiction as a disease, the United States government continues to characterize this disease as a crime. And in doing so, it has created an unnecessary criminal class in the United States. The research, supplemental political cartoons and proposed research will set out to prove that stiffer drug laws will only have the impact of criminalizing countless drug addicts who might otherwise benefit substantially from rehabilitation and other treatment-based strategies. With a specific focus on the prohibition of marijuana even for medical use, and using the Toulmin model for putting forth and completing the argument, the research will set out to demonstrate the irrational
According to Barbor et al(2010), it explains that there are 5 different types of interentions and strategies relevant to drug policy. And one of the main strategies that our society strongly focused on are laws and regulations and punitive(Barbor et al., 2010, pg. 101). Currently, Canada’s regulation places marijuana strictly illegal. Canada introduced the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act in 1995 to strictly criminalize possession and trafficking marijuana(Best Advice, 1997, pg. 2). Our current legislation of the Controlled Drgus and Substances Act possess some flexibility in terms of punishing drug users. First-time possession of marijuana under 30 grams is punishable with summary conviction of 1000 dollars fine or six months of imprisonment. For non-first time possession or possession over 30 grams is dealt more seriously. Possession for the purpose of trafficking, production and import or export of marijuana can be punishable by a maximum penalty of life imprsionment(Best
interest groups are activity involved in the legislature process (on the national level) seeking to
Illegal drugs will always be the number one cause of criminal behavior. Within today’s society, drugs have taken a negative impact on individuals who buys and sell drugs. The negative consequences of drug abuse affect not only individuals who abuse drugs but also their families and friends, various businesses, and government resources. Although many of these effects cannot be quantified, ONDCP recently reported that in 2002, the economic cost of drug abuse to the United States was $180.9 billion. (National Drug Threat Assessment) Drugs are one of the major criminal issues that society faced for
The purpose of the drug free policy at the University of Central Oklahoma is to maintain a healthy environment on campus for all students and employees. As well as to educate students and employees about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse and to discourage the illegal possession and distribution of drugs and alcohol. This policy is useful because it helps prevent students and employees from putting their health in danger. If students or employees are interested in drug programs the University would be more than happy to refer them. Employees interested in drug and alcohol programs are referred to the University’s Employee Assistance Program provider, Mercy EAP which is available twenty-four hours a day. Students interested in drug and alcohol programs are referred to the Student Counseling Center located in Nigh University Center, which can be reached any time of the day as well.
Substance abuse has from time immemorial presented itself as a menace to the society. However, I believe that beyond the environment, biological and other factors technology and the surrounding community has played a gigantic role to ensure that drug abuse is at its peak. The display of individuals smoking on television and in lifestyle shows may be a major trigger for exploration, especially for the youth. As much as through technology we have ensured the world is a small global village a lot more has been compromised and that is inclusive of values and virtues that were one in existence. Drug abuse should, therefore, seek to find the root causes and reasons for abuse and not mere treatment of drug abuse cases. Tracking the cause will not
With prohibition in the United States, it actually increases the amount of banned substances. This quote was taken from an essay on the subject of drug prohibition. The data was recorded from New Jersey during several ride alongs with the police. "In the course of his research he noticed that every time police shut down such a market, two new ones would open." (David Borden 3) This was referring to drug houses. The logic is simple, when you close down a source of a product for such a booming market it opens up for competition to meet the supply and demand. Its simple capitalism. But as an example of how this increases crime, now you have two markets and since what they do is illegal, they do not have to play by the rules. So now you have two
The use of drugs is a controversial topic in society today. In general, addicts show a direct link between taking drugs and suffering from their effects. People abuse drugs for a wide variety of reasons. In most cases, the use of drugs will serve a type of purpose or will give some kind of reward. These reasons for use will differ with different kinds of drugs. Various reasons for using the substance can be pain relief, depression, anxiety and weariness, acceptance into a peer group, religion, and much more. Although reasons for using may vary for each individual, it is known by all that consequences of the abuse do exist. It is only further down the line when the effects of using can be seen.
This paper was prepared for Drugs, Society, and Human Behavior CRM 328, taught by Dr. Pappas.
Throughout history, the use of drugs, both for recreational and medical purposes, has had a profound impact on society that is still prevalent in today’s society. After the end of the Second World War, the pharmaceutical industry was booming and drugs became this tool that could solve all of human’s problems. Many companies invested in this area which led to many breakthroughs for cures; however, during this time period, another branched stemmed from all of this glory of drugs. The 1960s drug culture was a major epoch when the use of recreational drugs became widespread with the help of the media. The government missed an opportunity to enforce their drug laws during the emergence of drugs during this time which led to many problems afterwards; the government should have been stricter with their drug enforcement laws which could have prevented many problems: the widespread of LSD was dangerous to society, laws should be enforced so people cannot break them without consequences, and the damage of drug use depends on the type but is, ultimately, harmful to the user.