Anti Drug Abuse Act Of 1988

The Anti Drug Abuse Act of 1988 was a land-mark piece of legislation that took a concrete step towards building a drug-free America. One of the major provisions made by the Anti Drug Abuse Act of 1988 was the establishment of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). The ONDCP was then put to work setting priorities, implementing national strategies and certifying federal work control budgets.

The Anti Drug Abuse Act of 1988 specified that the strategy to eradicate drug abuse from America must be based on research and be long term in nature. Another initiative the Anti Drug Abuse Act of 1988 took was dealing with both parties involved in drug trade; the seller as well as the buyer. The ‘User Accountability' section holds users of drugs responsible for their illegal activities. The Federal Government also got to send the public a very clear message for the non-tolerance of drugs through this section. The section also describes programs that aim to reduce drug abuse as well as civil penalties for violators. To make sure that the American public is aware of the dangers of drug abuse and the legal consequences, the Anti Drug Abuse Act of 1988 calls for increasing information and education about drugs at schools. This ensures that every generation of Americans grows up with the knowledge of what drug abuse could do them, both from a health point as well as legal point.

One point to remember is that the Anti Drug Abuse Act of 1988 awards both criminal penalties as well as civil penalties to offenders and neither one can replace the other. Another very important aspect of the ‘User Accountability' section the responsibility it placed on businesses that wanted to work with the Government. The Anti Drug Abuse Act of 1988 requires all such business to make efforts to have a drug-free workplace, mainly by educating their employees of the dangers of drug use and drug abuse. Informing employees of the legal repercussions they face as a result of drug abuse is also a major responsibility for such businesses. Since the Federal Government is a major business partner for many businesses, this law ensures that they respond very actively to the no-tolerance for drugs policy of the Federal Government.

Another section of the Anti Drug Abuse Act of 1988 deals with ‘Personal Use Amounts'. This section basically deals with minor offences to the Anti Drug Abuse Act of 1988. Instead of giving the offender a criminal record, those who are found in possessions of minor quantities of illegal drugs are given minor punishments. This part specifically targets the ‘user' of the drugs. This action helps to both curb the use of drugs as well as save the Federal Government funds that would have to be invested in a full-blown criminal trial if criminal charges were imposed. The punishment the Federal Government can impose on those who possess a small amount of an illicit drug, identifiable as a ‘personal use amount', is a civil fine that can be as high as $10,000.

Americans have heralded the Anti Drug Abuse Act of 1988 and while work for improving it is ongoing, the basic structure of the Anti Drug Abuse Act of 1988 makes for a sound legal framework for law enforcement bodies to work within.

• Felicia Byrnes
• 16/01/2009, 10:59 PM
• 0 Comments