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Brown v. United States
The court reversed a conviction, finding the defendant was wrongly denied court assistance to develop an insanity defense based on drug addiction. He was entitled to support for this defense.
Castle v. United States
The D.C. Circuit affirmed a conviction, ruling that addiction alone does not constitute legal insanity. The court upheld the jury's role in determining criminal responsibility.
People v. Ortiz
The court reversed a heroin conviction, ruling police entry and search lacked legal justification and violated constitutional protections.
In re De La O
The Supreme Court upheld California's civil commitment law for narcotic addicts, prioritizing treatment and rehabilitation over criminal punishment for drug users.
Robinson v. California
The Supreme Court ruled California's law criminalizing drug addiction unconstitutional. The Court held the law punished a person's status, not their actions.
Linder v. United States
The Supreme Court overturned a doctor's drug conviction, ruling that good-faith medical care for addiction is outside federal control.
United States v. Behrman
The Court ruled that prescribing morphine to an addict violated the Harrison Narcotics Act. This act made such conduct punishable without requiring proof of criminal intent.
Webb v. United States
The Supreme Court ruled physicians could not prescribe narcotics solely to maintain addiction, only as part of a cure. This led to prosecutions of doctors for maintenance prescriptions.
United States v. Doremus
The Supreme Court upheld Congress's power to regulate opioid distribution through the Harrison Narcotics Act, despite arguments about states' rights.
Anderson v. Benton County
The court allowed a jail inmate's lawsuit to proceed, claiming officials deliberately denied his prescribed methadone. He alleged this violated his Eighth Amendment rights.
State v. Gee
The court upheld convictions for rape, sodomy, kidnapping, and robbery. Gee's statements about cocaine use were admissible as evidence to show motive and intent.
Treating Substance Use Disorders in the Criminal Justice System
Many people involved with the US criminal justice system struggle with drug use and addiction. Providing effective drug treatment at various stages could help reduce crime and repeat offenses.
Naloxone precipitated withdrawal increases dopamine release in the dorsal striatum of opioid dependent men
This study found that opioid withdrawal increases dopamine in the dorsal striatum and decreases it in the ventral striatum, which is linked to withdrawal aversion.
Drive, instinct, reflex-Applications to treatment of anxiety, depressive and addictive disorders
Psychoanalysis has long confused "drive" and "instinct." This article defines drive as a motivated search for satisfaction, distinct from instinct, and identifies five core human motivations rooted in brain systems shared with animals.
P.G. v. Jefferson County
The court ruled jails must provide prescribed methadone to pretrial detainees, finding likely ADA and and due process violations. The case resulted in over $161K in attorney’s fees.