The Political Economy of Narcotics
Subtitle: Production, Consumption and Global Markets
Publisher: Zed Books
Published: August 22, 2006
Language: eng
Format: Hardcover
Number of pages: 256
ISBN-13: 9781842774465
Subjects: Drug addiction & substance abuse; Social Policy; International Relations - General; Political Science; Politics / Current Events; Politics/International Relations; Political Freedom & Security - Law Enforcement; General; Political Science / International Relations; Drug traffic; Drug Abuse; Drug control; Government policy; History
Description: This scholarly examination of the worldwide web of narcotics today provides students, social workers, health providers, law enforcement officers and policy makers with an up-to-date, overall exploration of the world of drugs. Vast resources are pumped into the 'war on drugs'. But in practice, prohibition has failed. Narcotics use continues to rise, while technology and globalisation have made a whole new range of drugs available to a vast consumer market. Where wealth and demand exist, supply continues to follow. Prohibition has failed to stem consumption and production, criminalised social groups, impeded research into alternative medicine and disease, promoted violence and gang warfare, and impacted negatively on the environment. The alternative is a humane policy framework that recognizes the incentives to produce, traffic and consume narcotics.