Abstract
Drug addiction is a global public health issue. In South Korea, the number of drug users has continued to rise with high re-incarceration rates. The harms of drugs cause drug users to be easily dependent on substances. When they stop using drugs, they will suffer withdrawal symptoms, which makes it even harder to quit using them. When drug crimes occur, the law enforcement agencies fail to recognize these symptoms or to arrest offenders due to a lack of evidence. Based on the problematic consciousness of drug addiction, this study investigated how many drug users visit hospital emergency rooms who were in easy contact with law enforcement agencies and examined the characteristics and problems of patients in order to help understanding the reality. The researchers collected records of drug users who visited emergency rooms in Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon, and divided them into illegal drug users and psychotropic drug users for the analysis purposes. Based on the findings, the study suggested a need to provide not punishment but treatment to drug addicts and proposed policy and practical implications including the mandatory reporting law by the medical workers.
Published Version
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