NCJ Number
123320
Date Published
1990
Length
31 pages
Annotation
The recent increase in officer drug use is attributable to greater public attention about the problem, deeper inquiry through proactive forensic and investigative tactics, exposure of corruptive practices, and the increased drug use among the general population.
Abstract
In light of collective research findings, it is intuitively estimated that at least 30 percent of the nation's police officers have had some form of involvement with illicit drugs since becoming employed in law enforcement. Police departments must accept the fact that officers become involved with drugs and implement effective drug control programming with both preventive and disciplinary components. Policies prohibiting drug use and prescribing sanctions for violations should be viewed primarily as a preventive tool with invocation of the disciplinary process as a secondary role when prevention does not occur. A drug control program must be the product of critical introspection and consideration of what is best for the total organization as well as the community. 3 figures, 9 notes, 24 references.