Innocent Bystanders : Developing Countries and the War on Drugs
Drug use and abuse is one of the most difficult challenges facing the contemporary world. If it is true that there has always been consumption of different types of drugs in different societies, although not in all of them, it is no less true that...
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| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Washington, DC: World Bank and Palgrave Macmillan
2012
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| Online Access: | http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000333037_20100325005015 http://hdl.handle.net/10986/2420 |
| Summary: | Drug use and abuse is one of the most
difficult challenges facing the contemporary world. If it is
true that there has always been consumption of different
types of drugs in different societies, although not in all
of them, it is no less true that it generally took place in
restricted, socially regulated realms, especially in
ritualistic ceremonies. This is not the case today. Drug use
has spread to all segments of society, with hedonistic
motivations; although it is often not socially sanctioned,
users are at times, depending on the drug, treated with
leniency. It is well-established that all drugs are harmful
to the health, even the legal ones, such as alcohol and
tobacco, and that some drugs are more harmful, such as
heroin and crack. The discussion of 'gateway
drugs' is a medical issue on which there is no
consensus. For the purposes of public policy design, the
important thing to keep in mind is that drugs produce
negative consequences for both users and societies in
general, and that minimizing their consumption should be the
main goal. The salient discussion, therefore, is about
choosing among different strategies to achieve the same
goal. Most of all, this book contributes to the debate by
shedding light on the understanding of the economics and
logistics of the drug market. |
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