Drug policy and the public good

Includes bibliographical references (pages 295-365) and index.

This book is an objective analytical basis on which to build global drug policies. It presents the accumulated scientific knowledge on drug use in relation to policy development on a national and international level. By also revealing new epidemiological data on the global dimensions of drug misuse, it questions existing regulations and highlights the growing need for evidence-based, realistic, and coordinated drug policy. It discusses four areas of drug policy; primary prevention programs in schools and other settings; supply reduction programs, including legal enforcement and drug interdiction; treatment interventions and harm reduction approaches; and control of the legal market through prescription drug regimes. In addition, it analyses the current state of global drug policy, and advocates improvements in the drafting of public health policy. It is a global source of information and inspiration for policymakers involved in public health and social welfare. There is a new research on illicit and prescription drug use, it is also a tool for academics, and a significant contribution to the translation of addiction research into effective drug policy.