War On Drugs Analysis

The article states that the War on Drugs can claim few victories because drugs are still easy to obtain throughout the United States. Merrill Singer, a professor at the University of Connecticut, brings about many points about the War on Drugs such as the victories of the War on Drugs, the secondary gains, the history, and what has happened on all levels in society. Drugs have been a huge part of American history, as far back can be traced, drugs are present. Drugs are available to everyone and every day the amount of illicit drug consumers increases. The policies and strategies that have been put in place to fight the war, have been proven ineffective (Singer, 1999). While the War on Drugs has not seen the results that were intended, is

It has served the purpose of fostering political economic gains with foreign countries, while at the same time it helped to paint political enemies as immoral characters due to their involvement in drug trafficking. Also on the global level, drug addicts have become a cheaper source of labor that can be easily replaced. Those who abuse drugs are often not politically involved and tend not be involved in organized labor, making them an easier source of labor. On the local level, the War on Drugs causes a reinforcement in racist stereotypes that America has been trying to escape. Locally the War on Drugs has portrayed a drug user as the epitome of a bad guy. Drug are typically portrayed as monsters and are blamed as the reason to why the streets are unsafe and why are cities have turned to chaos. Also locally the War on drugs has accomplished the large imprisonment of individuals caught with drugs. On the national level, the portrayal of a drug user in the media is shown as an African American male. The portrayal of drug users on the national level give a justifying reason for nightly police assaults on the minority neighborhoods. On the national level, the prison industry has benefited from the War on Drugs due to the fact that prisoners can be easily exploited for a resource of cheap labor. The amount of people imprisoned have increased because of the War

The federal drug budget, nearly $18 billion, barely funds prevention and treatment centers. Treatment centers being under-funded is ironic due to the fact that these treatment centers are the most successful at lowering the use of drugs. Drug treatment centers aid in cost saving when it comes to various infections, such as AIDS, which are common in drug addicts. The cost saving comes from those that are in treatment centers, are less likely to contract one of these diseases. Also, studies have found that treatment centers are almost seven times more cost effective and overall effective than police presence and arrests. Singer emphasizes the need for community-based programs that can help touch on all aspects of a drug users’ life. Focusing on a preventive approach, is the recommended plan of aiding in the stop of drug use. Social changes are as equally important in the ending of drug use in America. Overall Singer states that the United States policy makers are at a loss of what to do to effectively treat the crisis that has become drug use (Singer, 1999). The War on Drugs has been going on for decades, though it seems it has accomplished little during this time. Singer points out throughout the article that drug treatment centers have many benefits, but yet it is difficult to receive this care. In the United States,