More harm than good
Subtitle: drug policy in Canada
By: Susan Boyd, Connie I. Carter & Donald MacPherson
Contributors: Carter, Connie I., author; MacPherson, Donald, 1952- author
Published: 2016
Language: eng
Number of pages: 160
ISBN-13: 9781552668504; 9781552668627; 9781552668634; 9781552668597
Copyright date: 2016
Subjects: Drug control
Description: In an era when the "war on drugs" has resulted in increasingly militarized responses from police, harsh prison sentences and overcrowded prisons, a re-examination of drug policy is sorely needed. Are prohibitive policies actually effective? In what ways do prohibitive policies affect health care, education, housing and poverty? More Harm Than Good examines the past and current state of Canadian drug policy, especially as it evolved under the Conservative government, and raises key questions about the effects of Canada's increased involvement in and commitment to the war on drugs. The analysis in this book is shaped by critical sociology and feminist perspectives and incorporates insights not only from treatment and service workers on the front lines but also from those who live with the consequences of drug policy on a daily basis: people who use criminalized drugs. The authors propose realistic alternatives to today's failed policy approach and challenge citizens and governments at all levels in Canada to chart a new course in addressing drug-related issues.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (pages 138-160).

Issued also in electronic format.
Table of contents: title: Drugs and drug policy; title: Sociological approaches to drugs and drug policy: Critical sociological and feminist perspectives ; Theories about drug use and addiction; title: A brief history of drug laws and policy in Canada: the national anti-drug strategy; title: Drug use in Canada: Canadian context ; Non-medical use of prescription drugs ; Youth ; Harms of substance use ; Harms related to prescription opioid use ; Gender ; Benefits of substance use; title: Federal drug policy : a failed drug strategy: The National Anti-Drug strategy ; Drug use prevention in the NADS ; Treatment in the NAD; title: The "War on drugs": criminalizing drug use: Crimes rates and drug crime; title: The international drug control system: Change is in the wind ; The Global Commission on Drugs Policy and the Vienna Declaration ; Canada on an international stage ; Canada's increasing involvement in the war on drugs; title: Services and supports for people who use drugs: Organization of services in Canada ; What are we doing well? ; Social and cultural factors that shape ; Access and systems of treatment services ; The integration of mental health and substance-use services ; Information about drug treatment services ; Drug treatment courts ; First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities ; Racism in health care : what will it take for Canada to change; title: Harm reduction services in Canada: What is harm reduction? ; Vancouver and the four pillars approach ; Canada's record on harm reduction ; Harm reduction in action ; Obstacles to harm reduction ; Misinformation and disinformed : resistance to harm reduction programs ; Harm reduction out of the NADS; title: Drug policy in the future.