The War On Drugs

In recent years the so-called “war on drugs” has taken over the streets and back alleys of suburban America. It has caused a problem that mirrors the prohibition days of the 1920’s and early 30’s. Politicians trying to play “tough guy,” are only contributing to more violence. Their laws have created an underground drug-trade, in which modern drug-dealers have taken the place of the bootleggers of old. The real question is whether or not this “war” is working. Most people would like to believe that it is, and there are a few statistics that show it has. But just watch any news program, and you will see this war has failed miserably. Drug-related crimes happen constantly in today’s society, and in recent years have involved increasing numbers of innocent bye standards. Daily, police officers face ruthless dealers, who would rather shoot at a cop than spend 25 years in prison. On top of all that, there has been no real proof of a decline in drug use among people in America. Is this “war” really the best answer to America’s widespread drug problem? Should the government be allowed to spend billions annually fighting this hopeless war? Looking at this information you begin to realize that, not only does this “war” affect every person in the U.S., but it is also a war with no winners. War is never pretty, and the war on drugs is no exception. For this “war” to work it must stop drugs in at least one of three areas. Either by stopping drugs at the border, stopping drug dealers at home, or preventing drug use within the country. Military and law enforcement has failed to accomplish any of these, and it is not because of limited funds. “Last year state and federal governments spent $30 billion plus on the battle against drugs”(Anony71). This outrageous spending hasn’t made a dent in the modern drug-trade. Politicians are trying to approach the problem with supply-side economics. You try to block the supply to force the cost of hard drugs up, pricing most users out of the market. It has not worked. “Cocaine and heroin prices have fallen greatly since the early 80’s, while strength and purity tend to be rising in these drugs”(Anony71). The statistics regarding drug interdiction at the border have proven stopping drugs at the border is an expensive failure. Joseph McNamara say’s “the government estimates that they seize only 10% of the drugs coming across the border”(53...

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...pie. Even Bill Clinton and Newt Gingrich have admitted to experimenting with marijuana. With drug abusers climbing higher on the ranks of society daily, it only makes for a more corruptible system. No matter how much is spent on ads and prevention campaigns the drug problem will never be solved with prohibition. Teens just see anti-drug commercials as a way for the government to tell them what to do. If the government believes it is winning the war on drugs, then where is the hard proof? The drug problem has only grown worse in the 90’s. This war must be stopped immediately. Every year more and more tax money is wasted, with little or no results. I believe a government-controlled legalization of drugs is the only solution. Drugs would no longer be seen as a way for teens to rebel against authority figures. The illegal drug-trade that controls today’s streets would be non-existent. A steady decline in incarcerations would be seen, and violent drug-related would go down also. Let us put an end to America’s second type of prohibition. Let us put an end to the “War on Drugs”.

Bibliography

Annotated Bibliography 1. BBC News Online Network. Ed. Ivan Silverberg, M.D. 2 Feb. 1998.