Point/Counterpoint
Opposing Perspectives on Issues of Drug Policy
Published on 19. August 2003
Book
Paperback/Softback
224 pages
978-0-205-33607-4 (ISBN)
Description
This text reader presents differing perspectives with detailed commentary on the policy debate surrounding current drug policy.
The world of legal and illegal drugs is examined from sociological, historical, and biological perspectives through articles garnered from popular magazines, medical journals, and government documents.
The framework of this book allows students to access material from diverse disciplines and encourages them to engage in a discussion. Point/Counterpoint: Opposing Perspectives on Issues of Drug Policy, presents a wide range of views to help shape and broaden the current debate over the theories and realities which infuse the drug policy debate.
The book opens with selections on the question of drug legalization, and then extends the parameters of the discussion to the social implications of drug policy. Next, the prevention and medicalization of drug dependency and abuse are considered in light of recently-published research. Finally, the government's role in decriminalization and regulation of marijuana and prescription drugs is investigated and critiqued.
Point/Counterpoint: Opposing Perspectives on Issues of Drug Policy is a book that stands alone, but it is recommended that this text be used in conjunction with Drugs, Behavior, and Modern Society, also by Levinthal.
The world of legal and illegal drugs is examined from sociological, historical, and biological perspectives through articles garnered from popular magazines, medical journals, and government documents.
The framework of this book allows students to access material from diverse disciplines and encourages them to engage in a discussion. Point/Counterpoint: Opposing Perspectives on Issues of Drug Policy, presents a wide range of views to help shape and broaden the current debate over the theories and realities which infuse the drug policy debate.
The book opens with selections on the question of drug legalization, and then extends the parameters of the discussion to the social implications of drug policy. Next, the prevention and medicalization of drug dependency and abuse are considered in light of recently-published research. Finally, the government's role in decriminalization and regulation of marijuana and prescription drugs is investigated and critiqued.
Point/Counterpoint: Opposing Perspectives on Issues of Drug Policy is a book that stands alone, but it is recommended that this text be used in conjunction with Drugs, Behavior, and Modern Society, also by Levinthal.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Pearson Education (US)
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Weight
363 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-205-33607-4 (9780205336074)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Content
Each section has an introduction and "Looking at both sides" summary.
Preface.
Introduction.
The wisdom in debating drug policy.
I. SHOULD WE LEGALIZE DRUGS?
1. Congressional testimony on drug legalization, decriminalization, and harm reduction, Donnie Marshall.
2. Mind alteration: Drug-policy scholar Ethan Nadelmann on turning people against drug prohibition, Jacob Sullum.
3. The case for legalisation: Time for a puff of sanity, The Economist.
II. SHOULD DRUG INTERDICTION BE OUR PRIMARY GOAL IN THE WAR ON DRUGS?
4. Congressional testimony on U.S. air interdiction efforts in South America, Robert E. Brown.
5. Senate floor debate, in favor of authorizing appropriations for Plan Colombia Operations, Senator Mike DeWine.
6. Senate floor debate, in opposition to authorizing appropriations for Plan Colombia Operations, Senator Paul Wellstone.
7. Two wars or one: Drugs, guerrillas, and Colombia's new violencia, William LeoGrande and Kenneth Sharpe.
III. SHOULD WE ENCOURAGE NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAMS FOR INTRAVENOUS DRUG ABUSERS?
8. The role of needle exchange programs in HIV prevention, David Vlahov and Benjamin Junge
9. Does HIV needle exchange work? The Center for AIDS Prevention Studies.
10. Killing them softly, Joe Loconte.
IV. SHOULD HARM REDUCTION BE OUR OVERALL GOAL IN FIGHTING DRUG ABUSE?
11. Congression testimony in opposition to a harm-reduction policy, Bruce D. Glasscock.
12. Congressional testimony in opposition to a harm-reduction policy, Robert J. MacCourt and Peter Reuter.
13. New Strategies for the war on drugs, Avram Goldstein.
V. SHOULD DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE BE CONSIDERED A BRAIN DISEASE?
14. Addiction is a brain disease, Alan I. Leshner.
15. The fallacies of no-fault addiction, Sally L. Satel.
16. Deep cravings: New research on the brain and behavior clarifies the mystery of addiction, Craig Lambert.
VI. IS ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS THE BEST ROUTE FOR THE TREATMENT OF ALCOHOLISM?
17. Steps, Traditions (short form), and Preamble, Alcoholics Anonymous World Services.
18. Why AA works: A psychological analysis of the addictive experience and the efficacy of Alcoholics Anonymous, Ronald E. Hopson and Bethany Beaird-Spiller.
19. All wet: The gospel of abstinence and twelve-step, studies show, is leading American alcoholics astray, Stanton Peele.
VII. SHOULD STIMULANT DRUGS BE USED TO TREAT ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER (ADD) IN CHILDREN?
20. Why Ritalin rules, Mary Eberstadt.
21. What's all the fuss about Ritalin? Pasquale Accardo and Thomas A. Blondis.
22. Commentary: Development of clinical services for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, Eric Taylor.
VIII. SHOULD MARIJUANA BE LEGALLY AVAILABLE AS A MEDICINE?
23. Say it straight: The medical myths of marijuana, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Department of Justice.
24. Marijuana on the ballot, James R. McDonough.
25. Whither medical marijuana? Lester Grinspoon.
IX. SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT ACT MORE AGGRESSIVELY IN REGULATING DRUGS AND DRUG PRICES?
26. Drugs, drug prices, and your health, John E. Calfee.
27. Prescription for trouble: Why drug prices keep exploding, Christopher F. Koller.
28. Time to assure safe dietary supplements: Innovative protection needed, Henry I. Miller and David Longtin.
Preface.
Introduction.
The wisdom in debating drug policy.
I. SHOULD WE LEGALIZE DRUGS?
1. Congressional testimony on drug legalization, decriminalization, and harm reduction, Donnie Marshall.
2. Mind alteration: Drug-policy scholar Ethan Nadelmann on turning people against drug prohibition, Jacob Sullum.
3. The case for legalisation: Time for a puff of sanity, The Economist.
II. SHOULD DRUG INTERDICTION BE OUR PRIMARY GOAL IN THE WAR ON DRUGS?
4. Congressional testimony on U.S. air interdiction efforts in South America, Robert E. Brown.
5. Senate floor debate, in favor of authorizing appropriations for Plan Colombia Operations, Senator Mike DeWine.
6. Senate floor debate, in opposition to authorizing appropriations for Plan Colombia Operations, Senator Paul Wellstone.
7. Two wars or one: Drugs, guerrillas, and Colombia's new violencia, William LeoGrande and Kenneth Sharpe.
III. SHOULD WE ENCOURAGE NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAMS FOR INTRAVENOUS DRUG ABUSERS?
8. The role of needle exchange programs in HIV prevention, David Vlahov and Benjamin Junge
9. Does HIV needle exchange work? The Center for AIDS Prevention Studies.
10. Killing them softly, Joe Loconte.
IV. SHOULD HARM REDUCTION BE OUR OVERALL GOAL IN FIGHTING DRUG ABUSE?
11. Congression testimony in opposition to a harm-reduction policy, Bruce D. Glasscock.
12. Congressional testimony in opposition to a harm-reduction policy, Robert J. MacCourt and Peter Reuter.
13. New Strategies for the war on drugs, Avram Goldstein.
V. SHOULD DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE BE CONSIDERED A BRAIN DISEASE?
14. Addiction is a brain disease, Alan I. Leshner.
15. The fallacies of no-fault addiction, Sally L. Satel.
16. Deep cravings: New research on the brain and behavior clarifies the mystery of addiction, Craig Lambert.
VI. IS ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS THE BEST ROUTE FOR THE TREATMENT OF ALCOHOLISM?
17. Steps, Traditions (short form), and Preamble, Alcoholics Anonymous World Services.
18. Why AA works: A psychological analysis of the addictive experience and the efficacy of Alcoholics Anonymous, Ronald E. Hopson and Bethany Beaird-Spiller.
19. All wet: The gospel of abstinence and twelve-step, studies show, is leading American alcoholics astray, Stanton Peele.
VII. SHOULD STIMULANT DRUGS BE USED TO TREAT ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER (ADD) IN CHILDREN?
20. Why Ritalin rules, Mary Eberstadt.
21. What's all the fuss about Ritalin? Pasquale Accardo and Thomas A. Blondis.
22. Commentary: Development of clinical services for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, Eric Taylor.
VIII. SHOULD MARIJUANA BE LEGALLY AVAILABLE AS A MEDICINE?
23. Say it straight: The medical myths of marijuana, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Department of Justice.
24. Marijuana on the ballot, James R. McDonough.
25. Whither medical marijuana? Lester Grinspoon.
IX. SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT ACT MORE AGGRESSIVELY IN REGULATING DRUGS AND DRUG PRICES?
26. Drugs, drug prices, and your health, John E. Calfee.
27. Prescription for trouble: Why drug prices keep exploding, Christopher F. Koller.
28. Time to assure safe dietary supplements: Innovative protection needed, Henry I. Miller and David Longtin.