Threats to Cognitive Liberty: Pharmacotherapy and the Future of the Drug War (2004)

Threats to Cognitive Liberty: Pharmacotherapy and the Future of the Drug War (2004)

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 CONCERNISM
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

ENJOY!!! :D