Out of Harm's Way?: Illicit Drug Use, Medicalization and the Law
The British Journal of Criminology October 1, 2003 M. Shiner 14 citations
British drugs policy remains contested but debate follows established lines, with recent reviews calling for reform based on medicalized philosophy. The concepts of dangerousness and harmfulness have emphasized control and law enforcement, yet little attention has been paid to whether they provide an appropriate policy basis. This article develops a social classification of illicit drug use and compares it with existing medico-legal classifications, finding considerable congruence. Social dimensions of drug use reinforce calls to shift away from enforcement-led approaches, including downgrading the legal classification of cannabis, ecstasy, and LSD. They also suggest extending reclassification to magic mushrooms and, more controversially, cocaine.