Special Issue 1990

Cover

 
  • Substance Abuse Issues in Legal Services Practice: An Overview

    The problem of substance abuse is having a major impact on four substantive areas of law: health, domestic relations, public benefits, and housing. This article provides an overview of the new legal issues related to drug use that are emerging in these areas.

    By Paula Roberts

  • Crime, Drugs, and Subsidized Housing

    Elimination of the influence of drugs and drug abuse from public and subsidized housing requires a multifaceted approach; this article reviews several strategies, including improving security, providing treatment and constructive alternatives to drug use, and eviction campaigns.

    By David B. Bryson and Roberta L. Youmans

  • Drugs and Public Housing: A Connecticut Case Study

    Public housing tenants and the Greenwich Housing Authority have developed an effective, communitywide strategy to deal with drug selling on public housing property.

    By Diana A. Johnston

  • Prenatal Drug Exposure and Pediatric AIDS: New Issues for Children's Attorneys

    In order to provide effective representation for children who may have been born exposed to drugs or infected with HIV, attorneys and advocates must become familiar with the basic epidemiologic and demographic data on these conditions and learn what is known about the specific service needs of these children.

    By Abigail English

  • Effects of Crack and Cocaine on Infants: A Brief Review of the Literature

    Research on the harmful effects of crack and cocaine upon children is still in its infancy; this article reviews what is known about the chemical process of exposure, symptoms and risks of crack exposure, and perinatal treatment of drug-exposed children.

    By Janet R. Fink

  • Representing Parents: Effective Advocacy Can Make a Difference

    Unfortunately, the legal representation that parents receive in child protective proceedings often leaves much to be desired—from the point of view of the parents as well as society. This article argues that parental rights can be protected without jeopardizing the safety and well-being of maltreated children, and that society benefits when court intervention is limited to situations of real danger to children.

    By Douglas J. Besharov

  • Prevention and Treatment: The Positive Approach to Alcoholism and Drug Dependency

    To represent drug-dependent and alcoholic clients adequately, advocates must be aware of treatment resources available in the community and use them; this article describes various types of treatment and sources of funding to create and expand programs that meet unique client needs.

    By David Gates and Deborah Beck

  • Improving Substance Abuse Treatment for Women

    This article describes the components of successful treatment programs for pregnant alcohol or drug-dependent women and lists several existing programs.

    By Brenda V. Smith

  • Drugs and the JOBS Program

    AFDC recipients with substance abuse problems may need legal help in interacting with the JOBS Program (1) to be excused from program participation based on a substance abuse problem; (2) to defend against a sanction based on the substance abuse problem; (3) to seek affirmative substance abuse remediation from the JOBS Program; or (4) to defend against compelled participation in treatment as a JOBS activity.

    By Mark Greenberg

  • Drug Abuse and the Low-Income Community

    This article describes the incidence of cocaine and crack abuse in low-income and minority populations, examines the consequences of such abuse, and describes treatment alternatives, particularly for women and children.

    By Erica E. Tollett

  • Legal Services, Poor Clients, and the "War on Drugs"

    This article offers a former client's perspective on what legal services advocates can and should be doing to help low-income communities fight the drug war.

    By Ann Bailey

  • A Citizen Without Justice Is Like a Body Without Blood

    Elmira Collins is a public housing tenant in Ann Arbor, Michigan; this article is adapted from her remarks before the LSC Board of Directors in June 1990.

    By Elmira Collins

  • Legal Services Corporation Memorandum on Drugs and Board Resolution

    On June 25, 1990, the LSC Board of Directors adopted a resolution urging all legal services grantees to adopt immediately policies that discourage representation of persons involved in drug-related activities in drug-related eviction proceedings, and urging Congress to prohibit LSC grantees from engaging in such representation.