NCJ Number
154361
Journal
Journal of Social, Political and Economic Studies Volume: 17 Issue: 1 Dated: (Spring 1992) Pages: 29-43
Date Published
1992
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This analysis of drug policies in the United States in recent years concludes that drug abuse and drug law offenses are imposing enormous costs on society, that current drug control efforts are inadequate, and that the only sure cure for the drug problem is to eliminate the supply.
Abstract
The annual costs of illegal drugs in both money and human casualties are comparable to the total 10-year cost of the Vietnam war. Therefore, it is time to become more informed and critical of our attitudes and programs to combat drug problems. The current national drug control policy fails to recognize the inadequacy of relying on law enforcement together with demand reduction through treatment, education, and drug-free workplaces. The main problem is that drug producers operate with near immunity from sanctuaries because officials in those countries are unable or uninterested in stopping drug production. The only area where drug control has been truly successful has been in the antidrug program implemented in the United States military services beginning in 1982. Presidential leadership on the problem has been lacking, as revealed by the contrast between leadership in Desert Shield and Desert Storm and leadership in the war on drugs. In addition, Federal agencies have been unable to recognize and deal with international organized crime and the drug trafficking associated with it. Until the United States decides to make a major effort against the drug problem, the costs will continue to mount until stability and security in the United States is not much different from the deplorable conditions in Mexico and Colombia. Footnotes