Effects of Drug Control Policies on Individual and Community Health for People of Color

The United States has a complex system of laws and policies that attempt to regulate the distribution, manufacture, and use of a variety of non-legal drug substances as part of its overall criminal justice system. Laws regarding drug use have disproportionately impacted individuals and communities of color at every step of the journey through the criminal justice system, including arrest, conviction, sentencing, and incarceration. These disparities have clear outcomes for both individual and community health. To examine the effects of drug control policies on the health of individuals and communities of color, the Roundtable on the Promotion of Health Equity held a workshop on October 8, 2018, in Washington, DC. This publication summarizes the presentations and discussions of the workshop.Table of ContentsFront Matter1 Introduction2 Assessing American Drug Policies3 The Role of Law Enforcement, Arrest, and Prosecution4 How Drug Control Policies Are Applied and Enforced5 Promising Practices and Models for Changing Drug Control Policies6 Final ReflectionsAppendix A: ReferencesAppendix B: Workshop AgendaAppendix C: Speaker Biographical SketchesAppendix D: Statement of Task