ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a comparison between the American and British versions of the movement, and considers the important historical, cultural, and legal factors that shape the distinct forms the programs assume in both places. The institutionalization of antidrug laws at the beginning of the twentieth century was a direct consequence of international developments; efforts led mainly by the United States, but of which the United Kingdom was also a part. Both countries participated in an international conference on drugs in Shanghai in 1909, and then in three more at The Hague between 1911 and 1914. Both American and British court-based drug intervention schemes, therefore, offer a team-oriented approach, comprised of professionals from both medical and legal professions. As occurred in the American drug courts (Nolan 2001:61-89), adjustment to the multidisciplinary approach has sometimes been difficult for British team members. There are also important legal distinctions. Perhaps the most obvious are the different legal structures.
