2313 Final Exam Review PDF

2313 Final Exam Review SEPTEMBER 21 All Articles are repetitive and talk about cannabis and its health impacts and benefits: IN SUMMARY... ​ Components: Cannabis contains hundreds of compounds, but two major ones are THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD...

2313 Final Exam Review SEPTEMBER 21 All Articles are repetitive and talk about cannabis and its health impacts and benefits: IN SUMMARY... ​ Components: Cannabis contains hundreds of compounds, but two major ones are THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol), each with different effects. ​ Medical and Recreational Use: It's used for medicinal purposes to alleviate symptoms like pain, nausea, and muscle spasms. Additionally, it's used recreationally for its psychoactive effects. Health Benefits: ​ Pain Management: Cannabis has shown effectiveness in managing chronic pain, especially in conditions like multiple sclerosis and arthritis. ​ Nausea and Vomiting: It's used to alleviate nausea and vomiting, often in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. ​ Neurological Disorders: CBD, a non-psychoactive compound in cannabis, shows promise in managing epilepsy, reducing seizures in some cases. ​ Mental Health: Some studies suggest it might have positive effects on anxiety, PTSD, and depression, but results are mixed. Risks: ​ Psychological Effects: High THC levels can induce anxiety, paranoia, or exacerbate underlying mental health conditions. ​ Addiction Potential: Long-term, heavy use can lead to dependence. Withdrawal symptoms may occur upon cessation. ​ Cognitive Impairment: Heavy, prolonged use, especially in adolescence, might impact memory, learning, and attention. ​ Respiratory Health: Smoking cannabis, like smoking anything, can harm lung function. Legal and Social Aspects: ​ Legalization: Laws regarding cannabis use vary globally and within countries. Some places have legalized it for medical and/or recreational use, while others maintain strict prohibitions. ​ Stigma: Despite shifting attitudes, stigma around cannabis use still exists in many societies. Consumption Methods: ​ Smoking: Inhalation via joints, pipes, or bongs.  ​ Edibles: Cannabis infused into food or drinks. ​ Topicals: Creams, lotions, or patches applied to the skin. ​ Vaping: Inhaling vaporized cannabis oil. SEPTEMBER 28 Quigley, "Canada's Drug Policy from the National Police Perspective" (Tab 5) Oscapella, Witch Hunts and Chemical McCarthyism (2001) (Tab 17, old reader) or online: http://www.oscapella.ca/oscapella%20witchhunts%20-%20fraser.pdf. Duke and Gross, America's Longest War (Tab 8) OCTOBER 8 - READINGS Oscapella, Profiteers and Prohibition (Tab 18, old reader) or online: http://cfdp.ca/barbados98.htm. This text discusses various aspects of the war on drugs, highlighting its negative consequences and questioning the motivations behind its perpetuation. Here are the key points: ​ 1. Uncritical Acceptance of Drug War: The text begins by pointing out that there is an unquestioning acceptance of the need for an international "war against drugs," even in democratic societies. It questions the widespread belief that more law enforcement, state surveillance, and punitive measures will effectively address drug-related issues. ​ 2. Self-Interest and the Crime Control Industry: The author asserts that self-interest plays a significant role in perpetuating the war on drugs. Many individuals and entities benefit financially from the war on drugs, including governments, law enforcement, and the prison-industrial complex. It's suggested that some of these stakeholders may support drug policies not out of genuine concern but due to personal gain. ​ 3. Capitalist and Socialist Elements: The war on drugs is described as a combination of capitalist and socialist features. Criminal organizations profit immensely from the illegal drug trade, while governments create a massive employment scheme through the drug war, employing law enforcement, prison officials, and more. ​ 4. Imperialist Excursions and Militarization: The war on drugs is used as a justification for military involvement in other countries to combat drug production and trafficking. This militarization often results in an arms race between law enforcement and criminals.  ​ 5. Infringement on Individual Rights: The text asserts that the war on drugs provides a convenient pretext for governments to infringe upon individual rights. It allows for the introduction of surveillance and control measures that erode civil liberties, all under the banner of fighting drug-related issues. ​ 6. Authoritarianism and Fundamentalism: Some governments and fundamentalist groups use the war on drugs as a means to enhance control over society and control individual behavior. Drug policies are leveraged to promote authoritarian agendas. ​ 7. Racism and Xenophobia: The text highlights that drug laws have been historically rooted in racism and xenophobia. Minorities are often disproportionately targeted and marginalized, as seen in examples like the criminalization of "khat" use among African communities in Canada. ​ 8. Prison Industry and Forced Labor: The war on drugs can be used to justify incarcerating minorities with the aim of exploiting them as a form of forced labor, akin to modern-day slavery. ​ 9. Protection of Pharmaceutical and Alcohol/Tobacco Industries: The war on drugs protects the interests of pharmaceutical companies, alcohol, and tobacco industries by eliminating potential competition from other substances that may be cheaper and more effective. ​ 10. Propaganda and Manipulation: Governments use misinformation and propaganda to manipulate public opinion, ultimately facilitating the introduction of intrusive state powers. Drug policies are exploited for political gain. ​ 11. Neglect of Public Health Issues: The focus on the war on drugs diverts attention from critical public health issues, such as the spread of diseases like HIV and hepatitis among drug users. ​ 12. Weak and Stigmatized Opponents: The text argues that drug users, who are marginalized and stigmatized, are the real opponents in the war on drugs. They have little political voice and face significant challenges in challenging the powerful drug war industry. ​ 13. Long-Lasting Conflict: The text concludes by suggesting that the war on drugs may persist for a long time, with governments demanding the unconditional surrender of all drug offenders, despite the lack of a centralized enemy. It likens the drug war to ancient battles between faith and science, the haves and have-nots, and the judges and the judged. In summary, the text critiques the war on drugs, emphasizing its negative consequences on individual rights, societal well-being, and public health. It also questions the motivations of those who perpetuate the war, suggesting that self-interest and financial gain play a significant role in its continuation. Christie, Crime Control as Industry (Tab 6) ​ - The Criminal Justice System as an Industry: Christie argues that the criminal justice system in many countries has transformed into an industry with its own interests, motivations, and dynamics. This includes law enforcement, courts, prisons, and associated institutions. ​ - Economic Incentives: The book explores how the criminal justice industry is influenced by economic incentives. For example, there is a vested interest in maintaining and expanding the system, which can lead to policies that prioritize incarceration over alternative measures. ​ - Expanding Criminalization: Christie discusses how the system has expanded over time, leading to the criminalization of behaviors and individuals that were not previously considered criminal. This expansion is often driven by the need to sustain the industry. ​ - Impact on Communities: The book delves into how the growth of the criminal justice industry can have a significant impact on communities, particularly marginalized and low-income communities. It can perpetuate cycles of crime and incarceration. ​ - Human Rights and Justice: Christie raises concerns about human rights and justice within the criminal justice industry. He argues that the focus on punishment and control can sometimes overshadow principles of justice and fairness. ​ - Alternatives to Incarceration: The book may discuss the need for alternatives to incarceration and more rehabilitative approaches to dealing with crime and offenders. Christie advocates for restorative justice and other community-based solutions. ​ - Critique of Punitive Measures: Christie offers a critical perspective on punitive measures, arguing that they often fail to address the root causes of criminal behavior and can lead to social harm. ​ - Restorative Justice: The concept of restorative justice, which focuses on repairing harm and involving all parties affected by a crime, is a central theme in the book. Christie emphasizes the importance of a more restorative approach to criminal justice. October 12 - READINGS Tab 12 -- Drucker, A Plague of Prisons: The Epidemiology of Mass Incarceration in America (2011): pages 78-107 - The Growth of the Prison Population: Drucker might discuss the alarming increase in the number of incarcerated individuals in the United States and the reasons behind this surge. - Racial Disparities: He may address the racial disparities in the criminal justice system and how they contribute to the disproportionate incarceration of African Americans and Latinos. - Public Health Perspective: Drucker is known for approaching mass incarceration as a public health issue. He may discuss how the criminal justice system's policies and practices have public health implications. - Incarceration and Health: The author might explore the impact of incarceration on the physical and mental health of individuals in the system, as well as the broader health consequences for communities. - Alternatives to Incarceration: Drucker could touch upon alternative approaches to incarceration, such as drug treatment, mental health services, and community-based programs, which can be more effective in addressing underlying issues that lead to crime. - Epidemiological Perspective: Drucker's background in epidemiology may lead him to analyze the spread of incarceration as if it were a disease, examining its patterns and social determinants. - Criminal Justice Policies: He may delve into the policies and political decisions that have contributed to the growth of the prison system and how they impact communities. NOVEMBER 2 Tab 7 -- Mauer, Race to Incarcerate Tab 10 -- Drug Warriors and Their Prey NOVEMBER 9 Tab 13 -- Riley, Harm Reduction Tab 19 -- Mitchell, The Drug Solution NOVEMBER 16 Tab 16 -- Husak, Legalize This!  NOVEMBER 23 Health Officers Council of British Columbia, Public Health Perspectives for Regulating Psychoactive Substances (November 2011), pages 4- Explain in detail The PDF report "Public Health Perspectives for Regulating Psychoactive Substances" provides a comprehensive overview of the impact of substance use on public health and proposes a public health-oriented framework for regulation. The report defines psychoactive substances as substances that affect the brain and alter mood, perception, or consciousness. These substances include alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. The report highlights the associated harms of substance use, which are substantial and preventable. These harms include physical and mental health problems, social and economic costs, and environmental impacts. The report emphasizes the need for a public health approach to regulating psychoactive substances, which involves balancing individual freedoms with public health concerns. The report proposes a framework for regulation that includes assumptions, principles for policies, laws, and strategies, as well as a vision, overarching goal, and goals and objectives by sector. The report proposes policies and regulations related to availability control of substances, accessibility tools to regulate access to purchase substances, and demand reduction. Availability control policies aim to reduce the availability of psychoactive substances, such as through restrictions on production, distribution, and sale. Accessibility tools aim to regulate access to purchase substances, such as through age restrictions, pricing policies, and marketing restrictions. Demand reduction policies aim to reduce the demand for psychoactive substances, such as through prevention, treatment, and harm reduction programs. The report emphasizes the importance of evidence-informed decisions and public discussions to overcome barriers to change. The report also highlights the need for action by all audiences to improve the current situation and promote better health outcomes for populations. Overall, the report provides a comprehensive overview of the impact of substance use on public health and proposes a public health-oriented framework for regulation that aims to balance individual freedoms with public health concerns. The report emphasizes the importance of evidence-informed decisions and public discussions to overcome barriers to change and improve health outcomes for populations. What should I focus on for pages 4-9 Pages 4-9 of the report provide an overview of the impact of substance use on public health, the current regulatory framework for psychoactive substances in Canada, and the rationale for a public health-oriented framework for regulating psychoactive substances. To focus on these pages, you may want to pay attention to the following key points: - The definition of psychoactive substances and the different types of psychoactive substances. - The associated harms of substance use, including physical and mental health problems, social and economic costs, and environmental impacts. - The prevalence of substance use in Canada and the social determinants of health that contribute to substance use. - The limitations of the current regulatory framework for psychoactive substances in Canada. - The rationale for a public health-oriented framework for regulating psychoactive substances, which involves balancing individual freedoms with public health concerns. - The proposed framework for regulating psychoactive substances, which includes assumptions, principles for policies, laws, and strategies, as well as a vision, overarching goal, and goals and objectives by sector. - The proposed policies and regulations related to availability control of substances, accessibility tools to regulate access to purchase substances, and demand reduction. - The importance of evidence-informed decisions and public discussions to overcome barriers to change and improve health outcomes for populations. NOVEMBER 30 STUDY SHEET Possible Example-Based Questions - Midterm Hypocrisy Examples 1. United Kingdom a. Cabinet ministers admitted to ingesting illegal substances and faced no legal consequences while they cheered on the war on drugs that left others with life-threatening consequences. 2. Canada  a. The government has turned the pot economy over to people who lost the drug war and they’ll be profiting from the same activities that they used to prosecute. Drug use as an escape ○ social awkwardness Johnathan smoked marijuana and it made him feels liberated from the awkward, chunky boy he had been. Alicia was shy and depressed so she discovered being high made her like the other people because it took her out of her shell then she became an alcoholic. Peyser grew up in New York City and started drinking at 13 or 14. By her twenties, she was binge drinking regularly. “I loved the idea of being crazy and out of control. And I was never going to be like that, if I wasn't drunk…." ○ trauma or stress E.g., young women losing pregnancy through abortion or miscarriage have an increased risk for substance abuse or a mood disorder. Police and military culture deal will stress-related issues through substance abuse. 16 year old high on Jenkem (fermented sewage) to forget about his problems in life. Financing Terrorism Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) was trafficking heroin to raise money for its operations during the Kosovo conflict. The Taliban is becoming richer and stronger by the day because of the war on drugs which brings in 60% of Taliban's income. Some Drugs and Their History Gasoline - Davis Inlet ○ Sniffing gasoline to get a high feeling in newfoundland because they didn’t have access to anything else. Fermented Sewage - Jenkem ○ It is an inhalant and hallucinogen created from fermented human waste. Nicotine Patches ○ Alberta prisoners are taking apart nicotine patches to create homemade cigarettes.  ○ Both prisoners and staff suffer health issues from the makeshift cigarettes. Propaganda telling lies Crack Babies Babies that are exposed to crack in utero will suffer brain damage, low birth weight, malformation, etc. but there is no relation between those symptoms and the cause being crack. Meth Babies (new crack babies) A single dose of speed during pregnancy can cause long term effects in babies Pot Violence News article saying that Ontario should brace themselves for a violent summer of legal pot smoking. There is no evidence showing it causes violence. “Weasel words" Words or phrases used to sound truthful but are often vague or misleading, making it hard to know what someone really means. Examples; Associated with, associated with lack of motivation, tied to, linked with, drug-related, drug-related crime, abuse, etc. Politically advantageous propaganda 2015 Federal Election ○ Harper saying cannabis is worse then tobacco even though that isn't true and this was used as political propaganda. NDP drug sites ○ Calgary Herald said that the NDP drug sites were causing more harm then good. He went against another party in this propaganda. Censorship Peter Randell died of overdose his first time trying a drug and because of no or dishonest education he did not know what to do in a situation of overdose. D.A.R.E. ○ Giving false knowledge of addiction rates and saying all drugs are addictive. Television net words submitting scripts for major tv series to white house officials to ensure that they contain government-approved story lines about drugs and alcohol. Enjoy better sex, legalize and tax cannabis adds in public transit Dehumanizing Users LA police Chief saying the casual user should be shot because there is no reason for using drugs. Nancy Reagan saying if you're a casual user you're and accomplice to murder. U.S. police officer saying drug users are scum and air should be illegal if they breath it. Demonizing Sellers William Bennett, a former US drug official, suggested brutal punishment for drug dealers, like beheading, as morally acceptable. This portrays drug sellers as deserving severe punishment. Former US President Richard Nixon said drug traffickers should get no sympathy and face harsh penalties, even worse than murder. It portrays drug sellers as the worst criminals. William Bennett, a former US drug "czar," said it's ethically acceptable to kill suspected drug dealers without a trial, suggesting it's morally okay to take their lives without due process. Demonizing Reformers Antonio-Maria Costa called people at a Drug Policy Alliance meeting "lunatics" who were "on drugs." This was meant to make those who wanted to change drug policies look irrational. The White House made videos about drug use but didn't tell people they were made by the government. This made it seem like drug policy reformers were being sneaky, which is a way to criticize them. Corruption Police officer named Tom Coleman and on his word alone with no evidence he arrested 46 men and women who mostly were black in 18 months and the max sentence was 90 years. Police officers who accept bribes from drug traffickers to turn a blind eye to their activities. Border guards who allow drugs to pass through checkpoints in exchange for money. Baked cannabis infused cookies for staff meeting. Prison guards who smuggle drugs into correctional facilities to sell to inmates. Excusology - Response to corruption allegation Corruption at Canadian Airports  58 different Criminal gangs infiltrating airports with 298 employees on the inside and 1028 on the outside. Employees smuggling drugs through customs because their bangs didn’t get scanned. "Dropsy" Situation where the police think someone may have drugs but they cant just go search someone with no grounds. ○ Police will say that they observed someone who showed suspicion and as he was walking away they dropped something out of their pocket (which isn't true) and they said it was drug which gave them justification to search them. International Banking Corruption Three Stages 1. Placement ○ Placing the proceeds of crime in the financial system. 2. Layering ○ Creating complex layers of financial transactions to disguise the source of ownership funds. 3. Integration ○ Placing the laundered proceeds back in the economy under a veil of legitimacy. Example… The London Bank had laundered $881 million in Latin American drug cartels. Main types of laws that regulate illegal drugs in Canada constitutional law ordinary legislation international treaties case law. International treaties in drug regulation International treaties involve agreements between countries to control and regulate illegal drugs. How can countries work around international drug control treaties 1. Some conventions allow a state to "denounce" or remove itself from a treaty.  2. Many treaty obligations are "subject to constitutional principles" and "the basic concepts of the legal system." If a country's constitution allows certain activities, its laws take priority. 3. Instead of conviction or punishment, countries can opt for alternative measures like treatment, education, aftercare, rehabilitation, or healthcare. 4. International human rights instruments can take precedence over drug control conventions in case of a conflict. 5. Countries seeking to introduce a specific program can argue that the program is permissible under the treaty's provisions Constitutional Law and Drug Regulations In Canada, drug rules are influenced by the "Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms." It promises rights like life, freedom, and fair treatment. But these rights have limits if there's a good reason. When making drug rules, the government has to follow these promises. Ordinary Legislation and Drug Regulation The government makes specific drug rules in laws like the "Controlled Drugs and Substances Act." These laws say who can have drugs and how. They also give police power to enforce these rules. But there are exceptions for medical use and other special cases. Judicial Decisions and Case Law When people disagree about drug rules, they go to court. The court's decisions, called "case law," set examples for how the rules should work. For example, if a rule seems unfair, a court decision can change how it's applied. These court decisions help make sure drug rules are fair and respect people's rights. PART 2 - Midterm Use Prescription Drug Dangers Examples 1. OxyContin was among 15 drugs most often linked with deaths a study. 2. Insulin was linked with serious non-fatal complications. General Categories of Drugs 1. Depressants a. Slow down functioning of the CNS. b. Examples; Alcohol, cannabis, ketamine, opioids, etc.  2. Hallucinogens a. Affect senses and change the way you see, hear, taste, smell, or feel things. b. Examples; Cannabis, ketamine, LSD, psilocybin (shrooms), PCP. 3. Stimulants a. Speed up the function of the CNS. b. Examples; Amphetamines, caffeine, cocaine, nicotine. Hypocrisy Examples 1. United Kingdom a. Cabinet ministers admitted to ingesting illegal substances and face no legal consequences while they cheered on the war on drugs that left others with life threatening consequences. 2. Canada a. The government has turned the pot economy over to people who lost the drug war and they’ll be profiting from the same activities that they used to prosecute. Why People Use Drugs Peer pressure ○ A girl who grew up in a wealthy town and everyone was trying to compete with one another and she found heroin as an escape. Pleasure Risk-taking/experimentation Challenging authority improving or sustaining performance, religious rites. Dislocation ○ The lack of belonging, identity, meaning, and purpose. Adaption ○ Physical pain medical marijuana, pain relivers, etc. ○ mental illness ○ trauma or stress E.g., young women losing pregnancy through abortion or miscarriage have an increased risk for substance abuse or a mood disorder. ○ social awkwardness  Johnathan smoked marijuana and it made him feels liberated from the awkward, chunky boy he had been. Alicia was shy and depressed so she discovered being high made her like the other people because it took her out of her shell then she became an alcoholic. Peyser grew up in New York City and started drinking at 13 or 14. By her twenties, she was binge drinking regularly. “I loved the idea of being crazy and out of control. And I was never going to be like that, if I wasn't drunk…." What causes addiction The drug meets a human need that the individual was lacking. Any area of human activity can become addiction depending on the persons relationship to it. Addiction is genetic because of predetermination - seeing their parents drinking so they sooth themselves with alcohol. COVID-19 Overdoses soaring during the pandemic. Using drugs as a way to cope during the pandemic because they were stuck indoors, anxious, and bored. Homelessness Drugs were not the cause of most homeless situations but the product of it. The Role of Social Pathology - behaviors that violate the social norms Social pathology causes destructive forms of drug use. There is no evidence showing that drugs cause social pathology. Our Response to Drugs Irrational and Inconsistent Observation 1 There is no consistent or rational basis of means to deal with psychoactive substances. Observation 2 There is no consistent or rational basis of means to deal with the harms of activities…  ○ Excessive or too little exercise, eating, video games, internet use, television and risky sports. Observation 3 Drugs don’t necessarily make the users ac crazy but make non-users act crazy. Overdoses Fatal and non-fatal caused by… ○ Illegal drugs ○ Legal drugs obtained illegally ○ Legal drugs obtained legally Most cases are young people using Tylenol, antidepressants, and Advil. U.S. Overdose Deaths (Canada is Similar but measured differently) 1980 - 8,000 2021 - 100,000 (76,000 were opioids) Our System of Drug Control in Canada Non-medical (recreational) Regulated in quality (coffee, chocolate, etc.) Regulated through age restrictions and place of consumption (tobacco, alcohol) Regulated in actions committed while under influence (driving, violent acts) Criminalized in possession, sale, import, export, production. Medical (therapeutic) Herbal products Regulated for quality (over the counter) Regulated by government and needs to be prescribed. Regulated in actions committed while under influence (driving) May also be criminalized in possession, sale, import, export, production. Economics of Prohibition (prohibited by criminal law) Why people produce and sell illegal drugs money (immense amount of profit) Prohibition impacting retail price Something become illegal and the demand increases resulting in price increase. What happens when something people want is made illegal? 1. Supply drops more than demand and price increases. 2. No efficient market creates less competition.  3. With no competition dealers can increase profit margins. 4. Bit profits draw in people who would not normally break the law spreading corruption. 5. Supply grows, advertising intensifies, prices drop, demand increases, attracting law enforcement. 6. Law targets supply, pushes out amateurs, empowers organized crime, connects with corrupt law enforcement, and attracts institution-builders, including those with badges. Benefits for Organized Crime Generates revenue of more than 120 billion globally each year. Insanely lucrative. Drug Trade in Canada In Canada, the illicit drug market is the leading criminal revenue source. About 80% of crime groups in Canada engage in this market, with street-level trafficking prevalent. Adapting to Legalization Potential marijuana legalization won't deter cartels; they can adapt, create new drugs, and continue business. Benefits for Terrorist, Insurgent Groups Major Findings Many terrorist groups, like the Taliban, fund their activities through drug trafficking. The drug trade is the largest income source for both terrorists and organized crime. The Taliban's power and recruitment are bolstered by the drug trade. Concerns Drug cartels cooperating with terrorists could pose a threat to global security. Techniques used in drug smuggling can be adapted for terrorist purposes. Some Drugs and Their History Gasoline - Davis Inlet ○ Sniffing gasoline to get a high feeling in newfoundland because they didn’t have access to anything else. Fermented Sewage - Jenkem ○ It is an inhalant and hallucinogen created from fermented human waste. Nicotine Patches ○ Alberta prisoners are taking apart nicotine patches to create homemade cigarettes.  ○ Both prisoners and staff suffer health issues from the makeshift cigarettes. II: Benefits and Harms Associated with Current Drug Laws and Policies 1. Benefits claimed to flow from current laws and policies a. Reduction in access to and use of illegal drugs b. Prevention of crime c. Protection of youth and the unborn d. Protecting morality e. Directing people to other, less harmful, drugs f. A mechanism for the state to intervene to help those with drug problems 3. Why some people and organizations support the present system: a. Some benefit from the current system of drug control: i. Direct - police, lawyers, prison builders, organized crime, terrorist groups, domestic and international bureaucracies ii. Indirect - politicians, pharmaceutical and alcohol and tobacco companies, weapons makers (e.g., Colombia), media iii. Moral entrepreneurs/authoritarians, racists b. Apathy/ignorance (including acceptance of propaganda messages) c. An honest belief that the current system can be made to work. There WILL be a question on the final exam dealing with the book by Richard Lawrence Miller, Drug Warriors and Their Prey. I discussed Miller's work during the November 23 lecture (see the last several slides of Part 8). Please read his material [in the course reader] about the war on drugs as a deliberate process of destruction to prepare for the question. - Out of sight out of mind for good citizens and their neighbour victims - Escalator clause - marijuana users buying multiple times such as people having sex and buying condoms,etc multiple times - Drug warriors portrays everyone as a potential addict - Conectrating drug useres in prison allows them to become a source of slave labor for public and private employers as well as camp inmates - Widespread public hatred of a targeted group is unnecessary for its destruction, public indifference toward extremist activity is sufficient. - Japanese dismissed from private american employment, evicted from residence, refused from grocery stores, etc. Such as the nazis agaisnt jews - Some victims held public protests, then placed in mental hispotals under civil commitment for the wars duration as well some arrested - Notes Following The Midterm Profiteers Prison Industry If war on drugs ended The US is the largest prisoner count in the world because of tough laws, elected district attorneys premising to be tough on drugs. U.S. Prison Labour -- Slavery Slavery is abolished in the United states except as a condition of penal servitude. Average prison wage is 0.52 cents an hour and spends half their earnings on taxes and services. Prison Guards make money from being tough on crime Making overtime because of the people incarcerated for minor drug laws. Prison Population Guarantees Private organizations taking over prisons to run the prison for them as long as they can have. 90% occupancy. Policing for profit Donald Scott ○ Malibu millionaire killed by police raiding his property for speculation about drugs. ○ They knew how much his property was worth and targeted him because they keep the profits they seize. Private "Contractors" Abroad Mercenaries ○ Hired guns to fight wars Columbia, Afghanistan, Elsewhere ○ Being used to fight drug wars and profiting. U.S. Defence Contractors (Mercenaries) ○ The Pentagon tapped five major defense contractors to provide support on global counter-narcotics. ○ Contract worth up to $15 billion over the next five years. The Financial Industry Money laundering is the processing of assets from criminal activity to obscure their illegal origins. Banks cooperate with dirty money from criminals and allow them to launder their money through them. The Drug Testing Industry DATIA (Drug and Alcohol Testing Industry Association) 1,500 member national trade association representing drug and alcohol testing. Banned government employees from using drugs to reduce the flow of money to criminal organizations. DATIA's mission Expand the workplace drug and alcohol testing market. By expanding this they get more business and make more money. One Case Made 260,000 dollars from one patient's multiple urine tests while living at the sober facility. FINTRAC (Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada) Huge sums are generated while catching money laundering. ○ Not extremely successful. Pharmaceutical Industry Promoting Addiction to its Own Products Pharmaceutical companies bribing doctors to prescribe their drugs Example Purdue Pharma ○ Prescribing OxyContin saying it wasn’t addictive. ○ None of the owners of Purdue Pharma were protected from the lawsuits in exchange for a $6 billion settlement. The Treatment Industry "Rapid Opioid Detox" ○ Putting people in a coma to "free themselves" from their opioid addiction. ○ Imprison people, abuse them psychologically and physically and get their family members to come in as well to stop them from potentially using drugs. (mainly directed towards kids and siblings) Moral Entrepreneurs/authoritarians Don’t want to see anyone doing drugs but will have a glass of wine at night. The Dilemma of Prohibition Supporters Those who profit from drug prohibition will rarely admit openly that their motivation is self-interest, normally money. They say it's to protect the public. Violence, Racism and “The Chain of Destruction” Chicago St. Valentine's Day Massacre Rival gang pretending to be police officers and then took the other gang to a garage and shotton with machine guns. This was about the alcohol prohibition. Violence in Drug Trade Regulates the trade and eliminates the competition. Ottawa Shootings (2014) Drug trade and the fighting for distribution has a direct link with the shootings. 2016 8 active gangs in Ottawa, 435 people involved. More guns are being used now than 20 years ago instead of other types of violence. November 2023 3 people charged, daytime shooting on Bank Street. Charged with assault, firearm, drug offenses. Violence: Destabilizing the Justice System People targeting the justice system. Example Mexico Parts of Mexico that are ungovernable because the drug cartels are murdering and threatening the justice workers. Violence against journalists, four of the last reporters and photographers willing to cover crime stories were murdered in less than a week. Violence as a result of enforcement successes BC Centre for Excellence for HIV/AIDS ○ Methods of disrupting drug distribution may lead to increased levels of drug-related violence. ○ One person gets caught and another takes their place who are smarter and more violent. Violence Against Police - NOT an example of drug related violence. 2005 Mayerthorpe murders 4 RCMP officers ○ James Rosco - Farmer in Mayerthorpe Alberta ○ Bought a truck and didn’t want to pay because the bumper was damaged. He was known as violent. ○ 4 young RCMP officers went to seize the truck and Rosco fled when they entered the property and they then discovered a motorcycle chop shop and a grow-op. ○ Later that night Rosco came back and hated the police. He then went into the building with a rifle and killed all four of them. ○ Another RCM officer then went to check the next day and got shot at and then Shot Rosco then Rosco killed himself. It wasn’t about the drugs, it was his hatred of the police. An ACTUAL Example Ciudad Juárez, Mexico  ○ Everyone of the 2,500 police officers were told to go home because the cartel killed 5 officers and then threatened to kill one officer a day until the police chief was fired. Violence By Police in Conduct of raid "No Knock Warrant" Drug raid in Boston Bash through the door and handcuffed the suspect and killed the 76 year old retired Baptist by a heart attack because someone gave them the wrong address. Police Violence in Raids Police fired 32 shots at an elderly woman then they planted drugs in her basement to back them up. Breonna Taylor Emergency room technician, shot dead by police while conducting a drug raid on her house. They thought there was drugs in there and they got a no knock warrant to smash down the door. They didn’t know her boyfriend was there so he fought back because they didn’t announce themselves. The police shot back 5 times and killed Breonna Taylor. Columbia, MO Police SWAT Raid Looking for Marijuana, 5 concussion grenades were set off, shot two dogs to death in the back while retreating. Is There Really a Need for 'Dynamic" or "No-Knock" Entry Danger to Occupants ○ Grow Ops (no danger of drugs being flushed) Shot a man standing in the hallway because they thought his guitar was a shotgun. ○ Laval raid - March 2007 (occupants short by police) Suspected drug dealer was at home sleeping with his family and the police came in and the son called 911 thinking it was a criminal gang. The "drug dealer" shot through the door because he was protecting his wife and kids then police shot him because of that. Danger To Police ○ Anticipated Violence (Historical examples) Mayerthorpe example ○ Laval Raid - police officer killed. The Militarization of Policing Actual use of the military in law enforcement (Canadian Submarines, ships, and air force) Torture Torture is any act of severe suffering or pain is intentionally inflicted… punishing him for susception or crimes. Torture by Police  At what point does "extra-judicial" police action become "torture"? Ezequiel Hernandez - May 14, 1979 - May 20, 1997 Prohibited use of the military in police law enforcement at the time except for drug laws. Ezequiel carried a rifle around with him. Police say he fired at police then they fired back and killed him but he died of a shot in the back. Explicit State-approved Violence Donald Trump ○ Enforcing the death penalty on drug dealers when he praised the criminal justice system in China. Death Squads - civilians are allowed to take it into their own hands The Philippines President said if you see a drug user, pusher, or dealer, kill them. Exporting Violence and Human Rights Abuses Through Prohibition Is breeding violence, tolerance for human rights abuses abroad Examples Mexico ○ Producer and transit country. ○ Drug gangs start to move into the United States to get involved in the retail trade. Columbia ○ Cocaine mainly bought from Columbia ○ People in Columbia will violently fight their competition to gain control of the drug trade. Brazil ○ Transit and producer country. ○ Prison gang became an international criminal leviathan PCC -First Capital Command, arose in prisons that aim to protect the individuals in the prisons from drug related violence. Then became involved in drugs itself, eventually selling abroad, bringing violence to European countries. Responsible for bringing a tsunami of cocaine bringing car bombings, assassinations, and gunfights. Afghanistan ○ World's largest producer of opium through the poppy plant which can become heroin. ○ Afghan Poppy Eradication. Western soldiers destroying poppy crops which was a main source of income for the residence It caused poverty, hostility to the west, starvation, and death.  The Taliban came along and offered them a lot of money to help them plant roadside bombs which killed a lot of roadside soldiers. Canada - Impact on violence here of "going it alone?" What happens if Canada legalizes a drug that is not legal in the United States? ○ Violence relating to supply of drug lessens - still enormously profitable to produce and sell to the United States. ○ Violence relating to the supply of the drug to the U.S. remains. Taking half responsibility about exporting violence Hillary Clinton said that the demand for drugs in the states contributes to the drug violence in the producer countries. Six-month sweep in Dania Beach results in 85 arrested drug charges 62% of Dania Beach is white and 26% is black. All arrests were African American. Nixon's "War on Drugs": Racist Goals He had two enemies: the antiwar left and black people. Making the hippies associated with marijuana and making the blacks associated with heroin then criminalizing them both to disrupt those communities. ○ Nixon knew they were lying about the war on drugs but didn’t care. The percentage of drug trafficking in the united states that were African American between 1985 and 1987 was 99% Black Lives Matter - 2020 Breonna Taylor, George Floyd Human Rights Watch Blacks were 62.6% of all drug offenders in prisons. Drug charges for blacks were 20-57 times more than white men. Tulia, Texas 46 people-including more than 10 percent of the black population and a handful of whites were locked up for drug offenses for the alleged drug offenses of the undercover agent Tom Coleman. Tom Coleman was once fired and hired as a private agent. He would write the evidence on his leg with a pen and it still held up in court. United Kingdom Black people use less drugs than white people. They are 6 times more likely to be stopped and searched for drugs. Racism in Canada: Historically Opium Act Targeted the Chinese working on the railway because it was a more common drug for them. Chinese drug users are frequently arrested for drug offenses and forced to pay large fines that they could ill afford and get them deported even if they became a Canadian citizen. 2% of the Chinese population were deported because of drug laws. Prison Admissions Pre-Trial Imprisonment for Highly discretionary charges like drug offenses. The pre-trial admission rate for drug trafficking/importing was 27 times higher to blacks than whites. Racial Profiling - Local or National? Targeting a minority group finding evidence of a crime and it looks lie that crime is more prevalent in that group because the whites weren't even checked. Montreal - 2001 Black teens are 2 times more likely to be arrested. Black teen caught smoking marijuana was risking prosecution but there wasn’t one single case of a white teen facing prosecution. Systemic Bias - Montreal Street checks in Montreal police officers are guilty of racial profiling. ○ Only stopping the people in the minority groups. Racism: Mandatory minimums for drug offenses Racial profiling and exercise of prosecutorial discretion will heighten the effects of mandatory minimums on African Canadians. ○ Less likely to be released on bail ○ Face harsher sentencing ○ More likely to be charged Disease, Human Rights, and Harm Reduction Drug Use and Disease Using equipment that has been infected with HIV or Hepatitis C. Getting bacterial infections from injecting. With equipment that has not been cleaned properly. Disease or injury from acute effects of drugs themselves - Xylazine ("tranq"). Prevalence The rate at a given point in time ○ E.g., how many people are infected with HIV/AIDS today Incidence  The rate of new infections over a period of time ○ E.g., how many people became injected with HIV over the past year. Canada - Incident 2018 2,242 new HIV infections 14% were from injection drug use alone. Canada - Indigenous Peoples - 2011 58% of all new HIV infections among indigenous Canadians was from injection drug use. International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights The states parties recognize everyone to the right of everyone to enjoy the highest physical and mental health. This. Right shall include the prevention, treatment and control of epidemic, endemic, occupational and other diseases. How drug laws contribute to disease The safe drug sites aren't good enough so people resort to the cheap and easy ways which can cause diseases easier. Incarcerating Users Users are sent to high risk environments where there are not many means for the spread of infections. Prisons as incubators for Disease Wanting to keep using drugs because you aren't happy and don't want to be there so you want to use drugs to distract yourself from that. No access to clean equipment so you're sharing which causes infection. Prisons - Harm Reduction Switzerland ○ Each imamate has a syringe in their cell that was kept in a certain place. ○ They normally didn’t use them as weapons because they knew it was for them to use to keep themselves safe while injecting. Syringe exchange in Canada ○ 9 institutions are adapting this. Overdose prevention sites (OPC) in Prisons Prisons having a space for supervised drug use. The greatest harm reduction measure for prisons… Stop putting these high risk people into the prison environment in the first place (disease wise). Impact of COVID-19 on Drug Related Harms BC ○ 0 covid deaths in January 2020, 77 Overdose deaths ○ 19 covid deaths in July, 175 overdose deaths. Increased Drug-related harm More focus on covid emergency rather than overdose deaths. Increase in despair leading to drug use. Disrupt in markets, altered drugs, fewer drugs available. Worse quality of drugs to "stretch" their drug supply. ○ Can't get normal stuff in so they cut it. Harm A strategy that accepts that some people will use drugs and they may not stop, not want to stop, may never stop and harm reduction is trying to reduce the harm when using drugs. (not letting them die, get diseases, etc. What are we trying to prevent through harm reduction? The Three D's Death Disease (users and general public) Dysfunction (users and society) Harm Reduction Measures 1. Syringe exchange/distribution 2. Clean works (safe crack kits) 3. Maintenance programs (prescriptions) or substitution programs (prescribing other drugs) 4. Honest education 1. Tell people how to use drugs safely. 5. Supervised injection sites and overdose prevention sites (OPS). 1. OPS - using drugs under supervision 6. Treatment 1. Treating the underlying issues that cause individuals to use drugs is better. 7. Police cooperation 8. Decreasing the marginalization of drug users 1. Decreasing the stigma with drug use. 1. Treating drug users as medical patients. 9. Drug courts 1. Going to treatment when sentenced and if they do good in treatment then sentencing is lessened. 10. Dealing with poisoned drug supply 1. Drug safe, test strips, substitution, legal supply of drugs. 11. Shifting from high-frequency to lower frequency injection.  12. Training users in overdose prevention 1. Naloxone 13. Peer support programs 14. Good Samaritan laws for reporting drug overdoses 15. Designated driver programs 16. Research 1. Into drug effects, alternatives. 17. Moving from prohibition to decriminalization or regulation. 18. Mental health supports, housing, employment, other social welfare measures. 19. Attempting to avoid trauma, dislocation 20. Wastewater monitoring to detect use patterns 21. International cooperation, attempts to limit access to precursors, esp. for fentanyl 22. Pain management programs to reduce reliance on toxic street drugs. 1. Dealing with causes of harmful drug use. Government approaches on harm reduction Conservative approach Much more punitive attitudes towards illegal drugs, users, reflected in changes in legislation, policy and terminology. Liberal approach Undoing of the conservative government measures The Portuguese Harm Reduction Model Enacted a law that decriminalized up to 10 days supply of any drug for personal use. Asked to appear before a local Commission for the Dissuasion of Drug Addiction with a lawyer, doctor, and social worker. ○ They ask how often you use it and see if you need help. Portugal used to have the highest amount of drug induced death in Europe and now they have the least. Decriminalization in BC 3 year exemption to remove criminal penalties for people who possess small amounts of the drug. Exemption is not legalization. What we have now Easier to open safe consumption sites Drug substitution and maintenance Medical cannabis Cannabis legislation Is harm reduction the same as legalization  Sometimes harm reduction requires legislation change. Under the controlled drugs and substances act the minister of health has the power to exempt people from the act. US Influence on Drug Policy, Reform Options, Review of Course Themes US Influence on Drug Policy They claim their drug problem in the states is because of the drugs coming in from other countries. "Canada is the center of the drug problem in the United States" NOT true ** Challenges to reform The relative lack of power for calling for change. The public is still badly informed about drug issues. A public that has other priorities Politicians/others afraid to speak out The need to appeal to self-interest Dismissing reform proposals without having solid reasons. Study sheet - Katies Hypocrisy 1. United Kingdom a. Cabinet ministers used illegal substances and faced no legal consequences while it left others with life threatening consequences. 2. Canada a. Government profiting from the same activities they used to prosecute (pot economy) Drug Use as an Escape 1. Social Awkwardness a. Johnathan smoked pot and it made him feel liberated from the awkward, chunky boy he was. b. Alicia was shy and depressed and being high took her out of her shell then became an alcoholic. c. Psyser started drinking at 13 or 14 then developed binge drinking by her 20s because it made her “crazy and out of control”. 2. Trauma or Stress a. Women having a miscarriage or abortion are more likely to develop substance abuse or mood disorders.  b. 16-year-old high on jenkem to forget his life problems. Financing Terrorism - KLA was trafficking heroin to raise money during the Kosovo conflict. - 60% of Taliban’s income is from the war on drugs. Gasoline – Davis Inlet - Sniffing gasoline to get high in Newfoundland because there wasn’t access to other drugs. Fermented Sewage – Jenkem - An inhalant and hallucinogen created from fermented human waste. Nicotine Patches - Alberta prisoners making cigarettes out of nicotine patches. Propaganda Telling Lies Crack Babies - Propaganda says when exposed to crack in utero babies can have brain damage, low birth weight, malformation but there is no connection between these symptoms and crack. Meth Babies (the new crack babies) - A single dose of speed during pregnancy can cause long term effects in babies. - Which is false. Pot Violence - News articles saying that Ontario should brace themselves for a violent summer of legal pot smoking. No evidence showing relation between pot and violence. Politically Advantageous Propaganda - 2015 federal election o Harper saying cannabis is worse than tobacco even though that isn’t true. - NDP Drug Sites o in Calgary, Herald said the NDP drug sites were causing more harm than good. This was the party he was against. Censorship Peter Randall - Died of overdose his first-time trying drugs because of no or dishonest education on what to do in a situation of an overdose. D.A.R.E. - giving false knowledge of addiction rates saying all drugs are addictive. Dehumanizing Users - Nancy Regan saying if you’re a casual user you’re an accomplice to murder. - LA police chief saying the cause of the user should be shot because there is no reason for using drugs. Demonizing Sellers - William Bennett suggested brutal punishment for drug dealers like beheading as morally acceptable. - Nixon said traffickers should get no sympathy and face harsher sentences than murderers. Demonizing Reformers - Calling drug reformers lunatics and on drugs. This made people who wanted to change drug policies look irrational. - The White house made videos about drug use but didn’t tell people it was made by the government. Corruption - Tom Coleman arrested 46 people in his word alone. Most were black and the sentences ranged from 18 months – 90 years. - Border guards allow drugs to pass through in exchange for money. - Prison guards smuggling drugs into a facility to sell to inmates. Dropsy - Police see a suspicious looking person then will say they observed them drop something out of their pocket (which isn’t true) then use that as justification to search them. International Banking Corruption Three Stages 1. Placement a. Placing the proceeds of crime in the financial system 2. Layering a. Laundering the money 3. Integration  a. Placing laundered proceeds back into the economy. Laws Regulating Illegal Drugs in Canada - Constitutional law o “Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms” o Promises rights like freedom, and fair treatments but have limits if there’s a good reason. - Ordinary legislation o Specific drugs laws like “Controlled Drugs and Substances Act” saying who can have drugs and how. - International treaties o Agreements between countries to control illegal drugs. - Case law & Judicial Decisions o People disagree about drug laws then go to court and a judicial decision is made. How Countries Work Around International Drug Treaties 1. Allows state to denounce or remove itself from a treaty 2. Instead of conviction or punishment countries can opt for alternative measures like treatment, education, aftercare, rehabilitation, or healthcare. 3. International human rights can override drug control conventions in case of conflict. Policing for Profit - Donald Scott o Malibu millionaire killed by police after raiding his property for speculation about drugs. They knew how much the property was worth, so they targeted him to seize his money/property. The Drug Testing Industry DATIA - Association representing drug and alcohol testing. - Mission is to expand the workplace drug and alcohol testing market to make them more money. One Case - Made 260,000 from one patient for multiple urine tests while being in a treatment center. Purdue Pharma  - Prescribing OxyContin saying it wasn’t addictive - The owners were protected from the lawsuits for a $6 billion settlement. The Treatment Industry - Rapid Opioid Detox o Putting people in a coma to free themselves of their addiction which is dangerous. o Imprison them, abuse them physiologically and physically and getting kids and siblings to come in to prevent them from using drugs. Violence: Destabilizing the justice system Mexico - Parts of Mexico are ungovernable because of the drug cartels threatening and murdering justice workers. - Four last photographers and reporters that were willing to cover crime stories were murdered in less than a week. Violence Against Police – Not drug related violence - 2005 Mayerthorpe murders 4 RCMP officers o James Rosco bought a truck and didn’t want to pay for it because of a defective bumper. o 4 RCMP officers went to seize the truck and found a marijuana grow op. o Later that night Rosco came back and went into the building with a rifle and killed all four of them then himself. Drug Related Violence Example - Ciudad Juárez, Mexico o Every officer was told to go home because the cartel killed 5 officers and threatened to kill one a day until the police chief was fired. Violence of a no-knock warrant Drug Raid in Boston - Bashed through the door handcuffed suspect and killed 76-year-old of a heart attack because someone gave them the wrong address. Police violence in riads - Police fired 32 shots at an elderly woman and realized there was no drugs then they planted drugs in her basement to back it up. Breonna Taylor  - Shot dead by police when conducting a drug raid. They didn’t know her boyfriend was there, so he fought back because the police didn’t announce themselves. Police shot Breonna in the back five times and killed her. Columbia, MO Police SWAT Raid - Looking for pot, 5 grenades set off and shot two dogs in the back to death while retreating. Is there really a need for no knock entry? Danger of Occupants - Grow Ops (no danger of drugs being flushed) o Shot man because they thought his guitar was a gun. Danger to Police - Anticipated violence o Mayerthorpe example. - Laval raid – 2007 o Suspected drug dealer at home with his family, police came in and son called 911 thinking it was criminals and the “drug dealer” shot through the door because he was protecting his wife and then got shot by police. Militarization of Policing - Prohibited use of military in police law enforcement at the time except for drug laws Example - Ezequiel Hernandez - Hernandez carried a rifle around with him and police say he fired a shot at them, so police shot at him and killed him with a shot in the back. State-approved Violence - Donald Trump o Enforcing the death penalty on drug dealers when he praised the justice system in China. Exporting Violence and Human Rights Abuses Through Prohibition Mexico - Producer and transit country - Drug gangs moving into the states to get involved in the retail trade. Columbia - Cocaine mainly bought form Columbia  - People in Columbia violently fight their competition to gain control of the drug trade. Brazil - Transit and producer country - Prison gang became an international criminal leviathan. Afghanistan - World’s largest producer of opium through poppy plants. o Western soldiers destroyed plants which caused poverty, hostility towards the westerns, starvation, and death. The Taliban came along and offered them a lot of money to help them plant roadside bombs which killed a lot of western soilures. Nixon’s War on Drugs Racist Goals - Enemies were anti war people and African Americans - Associated hippies with marijuana and blacks with heroine o He knew he was lying and didn’t care. Tulia, Texas - 10% of the black population in Tulia (46 people) were locked up for drug charges by the word of agent Tom Coleman. - Evidence was written on his leg with a pen, and it still held up in court. Racism in Canada Opium Act - Targeted Chinese working on the railway because at the time it was common for them to use it. - Could be deported after their sentence. Prison Admissions - The pre-trial admission rate for drug trafficking/importing was 27 times higher for blacks than whites. Racial Profiling Systemic bias - Montreal - Street checks in Montreal had officers guilty of racial profiling. Only checking the minority groups. Montreal - Black teens are 2 times more likely to be arrested. - Black teens caught smoking were risking prosecution but there wasn’t one single case of a white teen facing prosecution. Mandatory Minimums for drug offenses - Racial profiling heightening the mandatory minimums of African Canadians o Less likely to be released on bail o Face harsher sentences o More likely to be charged. Prevalence - Rate at any given point Incident - Rate of new infections over a period. Canada – incident - 14% of new HIV infections from drug use. International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights - The states parties recognize that everyone has the right to enjoy the highest physical and mental health. - This should include the prevention, treatment and control, endemic, occupational and other diseases. Prisons as incubators for disease - No access to clean equipment - They use drugs more because people are unhappy to be in prison. Prison Harm Reduction Switzerland - Each inmate has a syringe in their cell kept in a certain place. - Normally don’t use them as weapons because they know they need the syringe. Canada - 9 institutions are adapting this. Overdose Prevention Sites in Prisons - Prisons have space for supervised drug use. The best harm reduction measure would be… - Stop putting high-risk drug users in prison Impact of COVID-19 on drug-related harms - More focus on covid  - Increase in despair leading to drug use. - Disrupt in markets, altered drugs, fewer drugs available. - Worse quality of drugs to “stretch” their drug supply. o Can’t get normal stuff so they cut it with other drugs. What are we trying to prevent through harm reduction? The Three D’s 1. Death 2. Disease 3. Dysfunction Harm Reduction Measures 1. Syringe exchange/distribution 2. Honest education 3. Supervised injection sites 4. Treatment 5. Police cooperation 6. Peer support programs 7. Designated driver programs 8. Mental health supports 9. Drug courts – go to treatment and if it works the sentence is lessened. 10. Decreasing the marginalization of users 11. Dealing with the Causes of harmful drug use. Government approaches of harm reduction Conservative - Much more punitive attitudes towards illegal drugs, users, reflected in changes in legislation, policy, and terminology. Liberal Approach - Undoing of the conservative government measures. Portuguese Harm Reduction Model - Decriminalized up to 10 days’ supply of drugs for personal use. - Asked to appear before a lawyer, doctor and social worker. (They see how often you use it and if you need help). - This allowed Portugal to go from the highest to lowest number of drug related deaths. Decriminalization in BC - 3-year exemption to remove criminal penalties for people who possess a small amount of the drug. Readings Drug Warriors and Their Prey Written By: Richard Lawrence Miller The Destruction Process Visualized as a chain - Once a targeted group is identified members can be ostracized from the community. o Job dismissals, revocation of legal rights, boycott of social and business relations. Property confiscation Concentration of the group members into geographical localities Annihilation - prevention of birth and infliction of death o Birth prevented through regulations affecting marriage and childbearing (sterilization) o Death inflicted by indirect (withholding medical care) or direct (death squads or central killing operations) means. Concentration – penultimate stage of destruction Penal Servitude - Jewish people were viewed as criminals and incarcerated for everyday activities. - Used to be a $25 fine for possession and now it's $10,000. - Concentration drug users in prison become slaves for public and private employees. - “Boot Camps” portrayed as “tough love” to inmates that “help”. Free Society - A tenant who fails a urine test can be evicted. (Ostracizing drug users) Gathering of Innocents - Not accepting Japanese Americans into society, and not being able to become naturalized citizens.  - Military said that if Japanese Americans didn’t accept voluntary internment, then they would be sent to a conservation camp until they accepted. - Seizure of personal belongings and property. - They are seen as cheap agricultural labor. - Richard Nixon o Was going to declare a national emergency to fight drugs but then the so-called Pentagon papers which were secret documents about the Vietnam War distracted him. o The Drug Enforcement Administration/Agency (DEA) § Authority to request wiretaps, pretrial detention, unorthodox strike forces, and no-knock warrants. - CIA created the Counter Narcotics Centre - Regan o Replace state and local governments with the military and put people in concentration camps without trial. - Bill Clinton o Continued federal efforts on drug abuse but cooled the rhetoric used by Nixon, Regan, and Bush - The president can incarcerate every illicit drug user and people who oppose it if they want to sign this law. Annihilation - Death squads, hunted victims, individuals beaten by thugs, medical treatment withheld, unemployment, disparities promoting suicide, childbearing discouraged. Bureaucratic Thrust – the war on drug users - The more drug laws, the more efficient the police look. - The policy was made without the benefit of the institutes, experts, or their advice. - This war had no limits, and the outcome would be destruction. - Warriors exaggerate their accomplishments o Making seizures of drugs look impressive by stating the number of doses they seized can then be cut. o “Street value” drug seizures, the value reflecting the value of the drugs on the street. - Body counts o Number of drug-related arrests. - Drug squads  o Can facilitate crimes they can solve unlike murder squads cannot plan a murder but drug squads can plan a drug bust. - As drug users increase the measures applied against them increase. o The war on Jews turned lethal because the number of Jews expanded. Human Relations - The drug war processing annihilation by poisoning human relations - Drug war attacking family o Getting couples to divorce based on race and drug use. o Losing custody of children from drug possession or use. - D.A.R.E o Brainwashing students as Nazis did. Treatment -