title: Illicit i.v. drugs. A public health approach.
abstract: This article explores, from a public health perspective, the harm done by Canadian drug laws, to both individuals and society. It challenges the perceived dichotomy of legalization and criminalization of intravenous drugs. The article then expands the discussion by exploring eight legal options for illicit drugs and examines how these options interact with the marginalization of users, the illicit drug black market, and levels of drug consumption. While the main focus of this article is intravenous drugs, it draws some lessons from cannabis research.
authors.affiliation: Addiction Services, Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, Vancouver, BC. mark_haden@vrhb.bc.ca
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haden
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D003415:Crime; D004335:Drug and Narcotic Control / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D011634:Public Health; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs