The Search for Rational Drug Control [Paperback]

This book presents a comprehensive examination of the drug control policy process in the United States.Providing a foundation for improved drug control policy in the U.S., this study argues that protection of children and youth should shape policy toward illicit crime. It also notes that youth protection objectives may limit the effectiveness of some drug controls.Providing a foundation for improved drug control policy in the U.S., this study argues that protection of children and youth should shape policy toward illicit crime. It also notes that youth protection objectives may limit the effectiveness of some drug controls.This book presents a comprehensive examination of the drug control policy process in the United States. How are policy choices identified, debated and selected? How are the consequences of governmental policy measured and evaluated? How, if at all, do we learn from our mistakes? Zimring and Hawkins present different ways of understanding American drug policy and provide a foundation for an improved policy process. They argue that protection of children and youth should shape policy toward illicit crime, with attention to the fact that youth protection objectives may limit the effectiveness of some drug controls.Preface; Part I. The Drug Problem: Introduction; 1. Ideology and policy - a look at the national drug control strategy; 2. What is a drug? and other basic issues; 3. Prohibitions and the lessons of history; 4. The wrong question: critical notes on the decriminalization debate; Part II. The Drug Control Policy Process: Introduction; 5. The universal proposition - children and drug control policy; 6. Drug control policy and street crime; 7. The federal role in a national drug strategy; 8. Memorandum to a new drug czar; Appendix; References. This volume, as its title indicates, is a serious effort to point the way to moderation. Journal of Criminal Justice An important book on how to think about drug policy in the United States. ZimrinlCD