The War on Drugs Officially began in 1970

The War on Drugs Officially began in 1970 under President Nixon: “Public enemy #1 in the U. S. is drug abuse” (Nixon 1971). First budget: $100 million; today $15. 1 billion

Interdiction: reducing the flow of illegal drugs into the country. Eradication: reduce production of illegal substances in other countries.

Drug Abuse – an intense desire to use drugs to the exclusion of other activities (8 -10%) Drug Addiction – physical dependence on a drug (2 -3%) Recreational user– occassional usage Source: U. S. National Institute of Health

According to the Associated Press (AP) over the past 40 years. . . $20 billion spent to fight drug gangs in their home countries $49 billion for law enforcement along the borders $33 billion in marketing “Just Say No” campaigns to U. S. youths while usage in teens remains the same as 1970, while O. D. 's have “risen steadily” (CDC 2010).

According to the Associated Press (AP) over the past 40 years. . . $121 billion to arrest more than 37 million nonviolent drug offenders, 10 million of them for marijuana possession $450 billion to lock those people up in federal prisons alone - ½ the federal prison population

The Justice Department estimates the consequences of drug abuse include: “an overburdened justice system, a strained health care system, lost productivity, and environmental destruction” costing the U. S. $215 billion a year.

Why no change if rehab is cheaper and better? Easier for politicians to get elected by being “tough” on drugs and crime Treatment seems like “coddling” criminals Ignorance on the facts behind the war.

The current drug “war” is actually causing the crime, not the drugs themselves. According to Father Joseph Kane, a Roman Catholic priest who for the past twenty years has lived and served in a drug infested neighbor, “It’s not the drug that causes the crime, but the need to obtain the drug” (Stossel, 2002).

War on Drugs 1 The War on Drugs Must End Robert Kelber Brooklyn High School April 27, 2011

War on Drugs 12 Reference Page Stossel, J. (2002). “A War on Drugs, A War on Ourselves. ” Retrieved from ABC News. com Zonby, T. (2005). “Drugs are Dangerous. ” retrieved from USA Today. com