The Drug Policy in the United States

The U.S. Drug Policy is based on a substance that can either be harmful to others or effect a certain racial group. The rate of overall drug use in America has dropped by roughly one-third over the past three decades. Since 2006, meth use in America has been cut by half and cocaine use has dropped by nearly 40 percent. In Fiscal Year 2012, the U.S. Federal Government spent $10.1 billion on drug prevention and treatment vs. $9.4 billion on domestic law enforcement and incarceration, $3.6 billion on interdiction, and $2.1 billion on international drug control programs. Each year, specialized drug courts supported by the Obama Administration divert approximately 120,000 non-violent drug offenders into treatment instead of jail. Today, there are over 2,600 of these courts in operation in the United States and growing. Cocaine production in Colombia – the source of 95 percent of the cocaine in the United States – has dropped by almost two-thirds since 2001.

New York’s current dug policy has been a whirl wind of innovative aspects of how to better the state’s drug use problems. Moreover, the drug usage is still active though noticeable rates have decreased. There are very good drug laws such as the Good Samaritan Law. But the reformation of the drug policy could still use some insightful changes. My top three policy recommendations to improve New York’s current drug policy are to decrease sentencing through the Rockefeller Drug Laws, change marijuana laws, and increase treatment to all offenders. The Rockefeller Drug Laws have been very confrontational group of laws that specialized in racial profiling and long term sentencing.

Marijuana laws have been a very difficult subject. Since the law was passed in 1977, the effects beca...

... middle of paper ...

...the policies are strictly positioned where the improper use of a drug, like public use or usage around minors, would be considered a justifiable arrest.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this paper gave a broad overview of a research on drug policies in the United States. It showed center on a DEA agent’s involvement with the U.S. Drug Policy. It also showed show different relationships on several scenarios of a DEA agent understandable knowledge of each topic given. The U.S. Drug Policy, the roll of the DEA in relation to the drug policy, drug courts effectiveness, the war on drugs, relationship of drugs and the American dream, programs in our area related to help drug offenders, principles of the National Drug Control Strategy, and drug legalization are all points that reflect the cause and effects of the drug policy in the United States with the involvement of the DEA.