Drug Addiction is a pathological or abnormal condition, which arises due to frequent drug use. The disorder of addiction involves the progression of acute drug use to the development of drug-seeking behavior, the vulnerability to relapse, and the decreased, slowed ability to respond to naturally rewarding stimuli.
DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) - The mission of the DEA is to enforce the controlled substances laws and regulations of the United States and bring to the criminal and civil justice system of the United States, or any other competent jurisdiction, those organizations and principal members of organizations, involved in the growing, manufacture, or distribution of controlled substances appearing in or destined for illicit traffic in the United States; and to recommend and support non-enforcement programs aimed at reducing the availability of illicit controlled substances on the domestic and international markets.
Cannabis - Also known as marijuana and marihuana, cannabis refers to any number of preparations of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug. The most common form of cannabis used as a drug is the dried herbal form.
The typical herbal form of cannabis consists of the flowers and subtending leaves and stalks of mature pistillate or female plants. The resinous form of the drug is known as hashish (or merely as 'hash').
The majorpsychoactive chemical compound in cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol (commonly abbreviated as THC). Cannabis use has been found to have occurred as long ago as the third millennium B.C. In modern times, the drug has been used for recreational, religious or spiritual and medicinal purposes. The United Nations (UN) estimated that in 2004 about 4% of the world’s adult population (162 million people) use cannabis annually, and about 0.6% (22.5 million) use it on a daily basis. The possession, use, or sale of cannabis preparations containing psychoactive cannabinoids became illegal in most parts of the world in the early twentieth century. Since then, some countries have intensified the enforcement of cannabis prohibition, while others have reduced it.
Controlled Substance - a substance regulated by the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), enacted into law by Congress as Title II of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970. The CSA is the federal drug policy under which the manufacture, importation, possession, use and distribution of certain substances is regulated. The Act also served as the national implementing legislation for the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs.
The legislation created five Schedules (classifications), with varying qualifications for a substance to be included in each. Two federal agencies, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Food and Drug Administration, determine which substances are added or removed from the various schedules, though the statute passed by Congress created the initial listing. Classification decisions are required to be made on criteria including potential for abuse (an undefined term), currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, and international treaties.
Some examples of drugs in these Schedules are as follows:
- Schedule I — drugs with a high abuse risk. These drugs have NO safe, accepted medical use in the United States. Some examples are heroin, marijuana, LSD, and PCP.
- Schedule II — drugs with a high abuse risk, but also have safe and accepted medical uses in the United States. These drugs can cause severe psychological or physical dependence. Schedule II drugs include certain narcotic, stimulant, and depressant drugs. Some examples are morphine, cocaine, oxycodone (Percodan®), methylphenidate (Ritalin®), and dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine®).
- Schedule III, IV, or V — drugs with an abuse risk less than Schedule II. These drugs also have safe and accepted medical uses in the United States. Schedule III, IV, or V drugs include those containing smaller amounts of certain narcotic and non-narcotic drugs, anti-anxiety drugs, tranquilizers, sedatives, stimulants, and non-narcotic analgesics. Some examples are acetaminophen with codeine (Tylenol® No.3), paregoric, hydrocodone with acetaminophen (Vicodin®), diazepam (Valium®), alprazolam (Xanax®), propoxyphene (Darvon®), and pentazocine (Talwin®).
Decriminalization is the abolition of criminal penalties in relation to certain acts, perhaps retroactively, though perhaps regulated permits or fines might still apply. The reverse process is criminalization.
Decriminalization reflects changing social and moral views. A society may come to the view that an act is not harmful, should no longer be criminalized, or is otherwise not a matter to be addressed by the criminal justice system. Examples of subject matter which have been the subject of changing views on criminality over time in various societies and countries include: abortion, homosexuality, public nudity, etc.
While decriminalized acts are no longer crimes, they may still be the subject of penalties; for example a monetary fine in place of a criminal charge for the possession of a decriminalized drug. This should be contrasted with legalization, which removes all or most legal detriments from a previously illegal act.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA or USFDA) - An agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, one of the United States federal executive departments, responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the regulation and supervision of food safety, tobacco products, dietary supplements, prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceutical drugs (medications), vaccines, etc.
Harm Reduction - Refers to a range of public health policies designed to reduce the harmful consequences associated with drug use and other high risk activities. Many advocates argue that prohibitionist laws criminalize people for suffering from a disease and cause harm, for example by obliging drug addicts to obtain drugs of unknown purity from unreliable criminal sources at high prices, increasing the risk of overdose and death.
Legalization – The process of removing a legal prohibition against something which is currently not legal.
Legalization is a process often applied to what are regarded, by those working towards legalization, as victimless crimes, of which one example is the consumption of illegal drugs.
Legalization should be contrasted with decrimininalization, which removes criminal charges from an action, but leaves intact associated laws and regulations.
Narcotic - Strictly refers to any psychoactive compound with morphine-like effects. “Narcotic” is a term derived from the Greek word for stupor. It originally referred to a variety of substances that relieved pain and dulled the senses. Now, the term is used in a number of ways. Some people define narcotics as substances that bind at opiate receptors (cellular membrane proteins activated by substances like heroin or morphine) while others refer to any illicit substance as a narcotic. From a legal perspective, narcotic refers to opium, opium derivatives, and their semi-synthetic substitutes.
ONDCP - The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, a former cabinet level component of the Executive Office of the President of the United States, was established in 1988 by the Anti-Drug Abuse Act. Its stated goal is to establish policies, priorities, and objectives to eradicate illicit drug use, manufacturing, and trafficking, drug-related crime and violence, and drug-related health consequences in the U.S.
The office of Director of National Drug Control Policy is colloquially known as the "Drug Czar", a term first used in the media by then-Senator Joe Biden in October 1982. In addition to running the ONDCP, the director evaluates, coordinates, and oversees both the international and domestic anti-drug efforts of executive branch agencies and ensures that such efforts sustain and complement State and local anti-drug activities.
Prohibition - The prohibition of drugs through sumptuary legislation or religious law is a common means of attempting to control drug use. Prohibition of drugs has existed at various levels of government or other authority, from the Middle Ages to the present.
While most drugs are legal to possess, many countries regulate the manufacture, distribution, marketing and sale of some drugs, for instance through a prescription system. Only certain drugs are banned with a "blanket prohibition" against all use. However, the prohibited drugs generally continue to be available through the illegal drug trade.
Public Policy - Declared State objectives relating to the health, morals, and well being of the citizenry. In the interest of public policy, legislatures and courts seek to nullify any action, contract, or trust that goes counter to these objectives even if there is no statute that expressly declares it void.
Prison Industrial Complex - Refers to all of the businesses and organizations involved in the construction, operation, and promotion of correctional facilities and the services they provide. Such groups include private corrections companies, corporations that contract prison labor, construction companies, surveillance technology vendors, and the lobbyists and Lobby groups that plurally represent them.
The Prison Industrial Complex also includes Schools who serve prisons and many other private contractors who provide Restorative Justice programs to inmates during incarceration and post-release.
Restorative justice - An approach to justice where offenders are encouraged to take responsibility for their actions and "to repair the harm they've done- by apologizing, returning stolen money, or (for example) doing community service". It is based on a theory of justice that focuses on crime and wrong doing as acted against the individual or community rather than the state. In restorative justice processes the justice system has the person who has done harm and the person who has been harmed take an active role. The victim may receive an apology, direct reparation or indirect action to restore or fix the damage. Restorative Justice can involve a fostering of dialog between the offender and the victim show the highest rates of victim satisfaction, true accountability by the offender, and reduced recidivism (repeat offences).
Sources:
Wikipedia
www.businessdictionary.com
www.washingtonpost.com
www.justice.gov
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Discussion Groups
Our drug policy is a problem. Can’t we talk about it? MATV’s Drug Policy Discussion groups facilitate the exchange of information and encourage individuals to develop informed opinions about the issue. Contact Us for meeting dates and times.
House Party with a Purpose
MATV’s house parties are a fun-filled way to get people together and learn about drug policy. Guests not only have a good time, but they also appreciate receiving valuable information about an issue that seldom receives balanced coverage in the media. There is no hard selling. We offer “opportunities” and privileges”. We also play a game that graphically illustrates the impact of the drug war on certain communities. And party guests respond enthusiastically.
The host invites guests, and serves light refreshments…We do the rest.
If you would like to host a house party, click on Contact Us and let us know.
The Councils
MATV’s three drug policy councils focus on Prevention; Public Health: and Criminal Justice. Each council is composed of leading professionals, educators, activists and students who bring research, analysis, best practices and legislative action to the drug policy conversation. Councils may convene town hall meetings and other public forums and engage the media to facilitate public education and advocacy for reform.
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