RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Further ethical and social issues in using a cocaine vaccine: response to Hall and Carter
JF Journal of Medical Ethics
JO J Med Ethics
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Institute of Medical Ethics
SP 341
OP 343
DO 10.1136/jme.2003.005017
VO 30
IS 4
A1 Ashcroft, R E
A1 Franey, C
YR 2004
UL http://jme.bmj.com/content/30/4/341.abstract
AB Evaluation of the potential of a cocaine vaccine requires a detailed understanding of the intended and unintended social consequences of its use. Prospective technology assessment is always difficult, but in the case of treatment and prevention of cocaine addiction we need to understand not only the neuroscience and pharmacology of cocaine addiction, but also social attitudes to drug use and addiction, the social context of drug use, and the factors which make drug use a rational strategy for an addict and make treatment seeking or relapse more or less likely. By considering different scenarios related to differing levels of effectiveness of the vaccine, the authors argue that vaccination will be at best a useful adjunct to existing methods of treatment, rather than a substitute for them.