Deck 18: Rethinking Drug Policy: What Works, Whats Possible, and Whats Feasible

Question 1

Which of the following statements is true about drug decriminalization?

A) Drug decriminalization would dramatically decrease the number of arrests and allow law enforcement to focus on more serious crimes.
B) Drug decriminalization is the same as drug legalization.
C) Under drug decriminalization, the sale, acquisition, use, and possession of recreational drugs are legal for adults.
D) Drug decriminalization addresses important concerns related to illegal drug use, for instance, drug quality control and violence in drug trafficking.

Answer 1

Drug decriminalization would dramatically decrease the number of arrests and allow law enforcement to focus on more serious crimes.

Question 2

________ are the single most common cause of arrests in the United States.

A) Property crimes
B) Drug offenses
C) Homicides
D) Sexual assaults

Answer 2

Drug offenses

Question 3

Each year, more than 80 percent of arrests in the United States for drug offenses involve ________.

A) trafficking
B) manufacturing and distribution
C) simple possession
D) cultivation

Answer 3

simple possession

Question 4

Rose, a teacher, explains to her students that the sale, acquisition, use, and possession of cannabis is banned in their state. In this scenario, Rose is talking about ________.

A) drug administration
B) drug decriminalization
C) drug legalization
D) drug prohibition

Question 5

________ is the most prevalent current form of drug policy in the United States.

A) Drug prohibition
B) Drug rehabilitation
C) Drug decriminalization
D) Drug legalization

Question 6

Richard's friend, Tony, explains to him that the sale, acquisition, use, and possession of marijuana is lawful for adults. In this scenario, Tony is talking about ________.

A) drug rehabilitation
B) drug legalization
C) drug decriminalization
D) drug prohibition

Question 7

Current federal policies regulating alcohol and tobacco are examples of ________.

A) drug prohibition
B) drug rehabilitation
C) drug legalization
D) drug decriminalization

Question 8

Under ________, the acquisition, use, and possession of drugs can be punished by a citation much like for traffic violations, for example, with fines or warnings.

A) prohibition
B) rehabilitation
C) legalization
D) decriminalization

Question 9

An effective drug policy prioritizes public health and safety over individual freedom.

Question 10

A drug-related crisis is usually the impetus for developing new drug policies.

Question 11

Drug legalization is the only option available to societies that reconsider what drug policies should be in place.

Question 12

Selling of all illicit drugs remains a criminal offense under decriminalization laws in the United States.

Question 13

Drug decriminalization and drug legalization are the same thing.

Question 14

Drug trafficking, especially in new drug markets, is sometimes associated with violence and murder because drug supply organizations compete for greater shares of these illicit markets.

Question 15

The country that has received the most attention for decriminalizing drugs is Philippines.

Question 16

Explain the concept of heroin-assisted treatment. In which country was this program introduced and why? Which countries currently have heroin-assisted treatment programs?

Question 17

Explain the concept of safe drug consumption sites. How do these safe drug consumption sites combat drug overdoses and the spread of blood-borne illnesses?