Illicit IV Drugs: A Public Health Approach

• Published in: Canadian journal of public health Vol. 93; no. 6; pp. 431 - 434
• Main Author: Haden, Mark
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ottawa, ON Canadian Public Health Association 01.11.2002; Springer Nature B.V; Springer International Publishing
• Subjects: Addiction; Addictive behaviors; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; AIDS; Biological and medical sciences; Black markets; Canada - epidemiology; Cannabis; Crime; Decriminalization; Drug addiction; Drug and Narcotic Control - legislation & jurisprudence; Drug laws; Drug legalization; Drug policy; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Laws & regulations; Medical sciences; Narcotics; Prescription drugs; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Public Health; Social impact; Substance Abuse, Intravenous - complications; Substance Abuse, Intravenous - epidemiology; Canada; Human; Evaluation; Drug addiction; Intravenous administration; Legislation; Review; Public health
• ISSN: 0008-4263; 1920-7476
• DOI: 10.1007/BF03405031

This article explores, from a public health perspective, the harm done by Canadian drug laws, to both individuals and society. It challenges the perceived dichotomy of legalization and criminalization of intravenous drugs. The article then expands the discussion by exploring eight legal options for illicit drugs and examines how these options interact with the marginalization of users, the illicit drug black market, and levels of drug consumption. While the main focus of this article is intravenous drugs, it draws some lessons from cannabis research. Cet article analyse, d'un point de vue de santé publique, les dommages causés aux particuliers et à la société par les lois canadiennes sur les drogues. Il met en question la dichotomie perçue entre la légalisation et la criminalisation des drogues injectées. De plus, l'article analyse huit scénarios juridiques à l'égard des drogues illicites et examine l'effet possible de chaque scénario sur la marginalisation des utilisateurs, le marché noir de la drogue et les niveaux de consommation. Bien que l'article traite surtout des drogues injectées, certaines de ses conclusions proviennent de la recherche sur le cannabis.