Drug Abuse and Alcoholism Issues and Recommendations

Abstract

The following document is both a critique of current American policy toward drug abuse and alcoholism and more important, a statement of recommended national policy for the future. It was prepared by Dr. Richard H. Blum on behalf of the Study Groups on Drug Abuse and Alcoholism of the Advisory Council of Elected Officials of the Democratic National Committee. The paper was twice reviewed by members of the Study Group, whose names and affiliations are attached. The Advisory Council of Elected Officials was intended to be a policy recommending body for the Democratic Party and is the successor to the Policy Council of the Democratic National Committee. In February, 1976, the paper was presented to the Democratic Platform Committee as an official recommendation of the Study Group. In July, 1976, a condensed version of the paper was inserted in the Congressional Record by Congressman Scheuer of New York (122 Cong. Rec. Daily Ed., p.p. H 7973–7980, July 29, 1976) during the floor debate preceding creation of the House Select Committee on Narcotics Abuse and Control, with the recommendation that the paper contained issues and directions worthy of the Select Committee's attention. The paper was subsequently revised for incorporation into the Fall, 1976 theme issue of the Journal of Drug Issues entitled, “Drug Issues: Reprospective and Prospective, Part I.” The editors believe that the article is particularly relevant to the current theme. Its recommendations remain well worth consideration by policy makers seeking more rational and effective measures to confront drug use and alcoholism.