This title offers an in-depth analysis of the causes, consequences and treatments of illicit drug abuse. The author examines the effects of existing drug policies and proposes drug use legalisation within a regulated market as a viable alternative. Joshua assesses the factors that make individuals vulnerable to drug abuse and the pathways they may follow. As well as exploring the physical and psychological effects on the individual, Joshua examines the social and economic consequences for society. He highlights the pitfalls of a purely legal approach to drug abuse, which is primarily a health matter, and questions whether special drugs courts could be used as an alternative to the present criminal justice system. This book adds to the debate on whether most drugs could be sold in a regulated market in the same way as other drugs are, such as alcohol or nicotine.
This is the third title in a four volume series 'The Economics of Addictive Behaviours', consisting of three additional volumes on smoking, alcohol abuse and overeating.
John Joshua taught Economics to undergraduates and postgraduates in Melbourne, Australia, and China for many years. He holds PhDs in Sociology, Education and Economics, and his research interests are in the economic, educational, and psycho-social transformation of developing economies.
1. Introduction
2. Causes of the Abuse of Illicit Drugs
2.1 The Initiation of Drug Abuse
2.2 Personal Characteristics and the Vulnerability to Drug Abuse
2.3 The Pathways from Initiation to Chronic and Acute Diseases
3. The Consequences of the Use of Illicit Drugs and Their Associated Private and Social Costs
3.1 The Physical and Psychological Effects of the Drugs
3.2 Social Consequences of Drug Abuse
3.3 Health and Associated Medical Costs
3.4 Education and its Association with Drug Abuse
3.5 Economic Consequences of Drug Abuse
4. The Use of Illicit Drugs and Quality of Life
4.1 The Pursuit of Happiness
4.2 Objective Quality of Life and Subjective Well-being
4.3 Psycho-social Maladjustment and Drug Abuse
4.4 Life Events, Quality of Life and Drug Abuse
4.5 Attributional Style of Life and Drug Abuse
4.6 Attributional Style, Self-esteem and Treatment Outcome
4.7 Self-esteem and Self-deception
4.8 Attributional Style, Coping Style and Quality of Life
5. The Prevention and Treatment of the Abuse of Illicit Drugs
5.1 Programmes of Intervention in Drug Abuse and Their Effectiveness
5.2 Drug Courts: Criminal Justice and Rehabilitation
5.3 Harm Minimization as a Viable Alternative
5.4 Towards an Effective Scientifically Oriented Drug Policy
6. Economic Policies to Reduce the Abuse of Illicit Drugs
6.1 Elasticities and Their Effects on Drug Policies
6.2 Addiction and Rational Decision
7. The Legal Framework of the Abuse of Illicit Drugs
7.1 Present Drug Policies
7.2 Prohibition and Zero-Tolerance and Their Consequences
7.3 Alternative Drug Policies
7.4 The Legalisation of Drugs
7.5 Towards a Regulated Market of Drugs
8. Conclusion
