PHARMACOTHERAPY AND THE FUTURE OF THE DRUG WAR A report by the Center for Cognitive Liberty & Ethics Free downloadable PDF version from the Journal of Law and Health [796 KB] You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. (Paperback, 50 pp. 150 endnotes) June 2004, Ver. 3 (1st public version) Law Review version: 19 (2) Journal of Law and Health (2004)                                                                                                    Summary | Contents Summary: Over the next decade an increasing number of new ?pharmacotherapy? medications will become available with the potential to tremendously impact the use and abuse of illegal drugs and the overall direction of national and international drug policy. These pharmacotherapy medications are designed to block or significantly reduce the ?highs? elicited by illegal drugs. Used as part of a drug treatment program, pharmacotherapy medications may provide a valuable aid for people seeking a chemical aid in limiting or eliminating problem drug use. However, the tremendously politicized nature of the ?drug war,? raises substantial concerns that in addition to those who choose to use such medications, some people will be compelled to use them. In the absence of extraordinary circumstances, governmental action compelling a person to use a pharmacotherapy drug would violate a number of constitutional guarantees and other legal rights protecting people from forced medical treatment. Among the rights potentially implicated by compulsory use of pharmacotherapy drugs are the right to informed consent, the right to bodily integrity and privacy, the protection against cruel and unusual punishment, and the right to freedom of thought.   Contents: INTRODUCTION SECTION I     1.1 FROM DEMAND REDUCTION TO DESIRE REDUCTION     1.2 PHARMACOTHERAPY DRUGS          a) Receptor Blockers          b) Molecule Binders          c) Metabolism Modifiers       1.21 TARGET: OPIATES       1.22 TARGET: COCAINE       1.23 TARGET: MARIJUANA       1.24 TARGETING LEGAL DRUGS          a) Target: Nicotine          b) Target: Alcohol     1.3 PHARMACOTHERAPY DRUGS: GOOD, BAD OR BOTH? SECTION II     2.1 FROM DRUG WAR TO DRUG EPIDEMIC     2.2 NEUROCOPS: FROM VOLUNTARY TO COMPULSORY TREATMENT       2.21 PRISONERS, PAROLEES, AND PROBATIONERS          a) "Chemical Castration": A case study in criminal justice       2.22 PUBLIC ASSISTANCE RECIPIENTS          a) Public School Children          b) Welfare and other Public Aid          c) Norplant ? : A case study in public assistance SECTION III     3.1 CONSTITUTIONAL AND OTHER LEGAL CONCERNSM     3.2 THE RIGHT TO INFORMED CONSENT       3.21 PRISONERS       3.22 PROBATIONERS       3.23 PUBLIC ASSISTANCE RECIPIENTS          a) Reimbursing Voluntary Pharmacotherapy          b) Financial Incentive to Undergo Pharmacotherapy          c) Conditioning Public Benefits on Pharmacotherapy     3.3 CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT     3.4 FREEDOM OF THOUGHT SECTION IV     4.1 RECOMMENDATIONS     4.2 CONCLUSION ENDNOTES Resources The 'Just Say No' Shot By Stephanie Ramos, ABCNEWS.com, Aug. 19, 2004 British Experts Believe Answer to Drug Problem May Be to Inoculate Kids "Under a program presented to British Parliament late last month, children in "high risk situations"? those whose family or socio-economic circumstances might make them more susceptible to drug addictions ? would be vaccinated against highly addictive substances like cocaine, heroin and nicotine."   New Ways to Loosen Addiction's Grip By Anahad O'Connor, New York Times, Aug 3, 2004 "Although experts acknowledge that drug abuse begins as a voluntary behavior, many argue that at some point a perilous line is crossed.... Over the years, chemical substitutes that mimic addictive drugs, activating the reward circuitry and reducing cravings, have had the most success in treating addiction." Note: This article identifies the positive potential of pharmacotherapy drugs to help addicts, but is silent about the risks to health and civil liberties should these drugs become mandated through the criminal justice system or as a condition of receiving public assistance. For more information, read our report on pharmacotherapy. Children to get jabs against drug addiction Ministers consider vaccination scheme. Heroin, cocaine and nicotine targeted By Sophie Goodchild and Steve Bloomfield, The Independent (UK), July 25, 2004 "Under the plans, doctors would immunise children at risk of becoming smokers or drug users with an injection. The scheme could operate in a similar way to the current nationwide measles, mumps and rubella vaccination programme."