NCJ Number
138257
Date Published
1992
Length
9 pages
Annotation
Over the past two decades, the debate over how to control illicit drug use has focused on the dichotomy between reducing supply and reducing demand. The author maintains that, while the demand reduction lobby sought answers through pragmatism and scientific enquiry, it ultimately lost the debate to those who advocated supply reduction.
Abstract
The efforts of the United Nations to harmonize the international community by establishing a complex network of conventions and treaties obliged its members to agree to a range of protocols, accords, standards, and agreements. Many of these were codified into sovereign law. One result of the New World Order has been the creation of universal support for a war on drugs. An April 1990 conference, the World Ministerial Summit To Reduce the Demand for Drugs and To Combat the Cocaine Threat, epitomizes the two approaches to the drug problem. This conference succeeded in elevating the drug issue to the level of unanimously supported international convention and made compliance with the drug war a fundamental component in international relations. As the war on drugs has expanded, coincident with the end of communism, it has taken on a military perspective. Impending world population, environmental and resources crises will also negatively affect the war on drugs. 8 references