Abstract
Drug addiction is a complex, multi-faceted problem in the United States today. Equally complex are the state statutes which govern the abuse of these drugs, and which, it is generally held, were based upon the concept of the “criminal-addict.” Theoretically, strict drug legislation was considered a deterrent and punishment for the offender. Through an analysis of the state statutes, the article questions this “criminal addict” stereotype and concludes that the concept did not appear to play a significant role in the enactment of stringent drug laws. A further analysis suggests that the year of state adoption of the Uniform Narcotic Drug Act is a minor factor in determining the severity of the laws, but that the actual basis of the narcotic and dangerous drug legislation remains elusive.
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