The war against drugs essay

“The war against drugs” was declared by President Richard Nixon at a press conference in June 17, 1971. The strategy of war includes stopping initiation, reducing drug abuse and addiction, and disrupting drug markets, that is achieved by unity of actions of community coalitions and international partnerships. For this purpose The Office of National Drug Control released its first National Drug Control Strategy in 2002 with the commitment to turn the tide against a problem of drugs. And in 2009 was adopted “The National Drug Control Strategy” according to the Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act of 2006. (Office of National Drug Control Policy)

The strategy of drug control through cooperation and international partnerships, has lead to good results in: disruptions in the availability of drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine, reducing the threat of drugs pose to the American people, fighting with drug traffickers and terrorists. (National Drug Control Policy)

The plan calls for reducing drug use among American youth by 15 % by 2015, and a similar reduction of chronic drug use, deaths from drugs and driving under the influence of drugs. To strengthen international partnerships, the plan provides joint law enforcement operations and the introduction of alternative livelihoods for farmers who grow coca and opium throughout the world. The new American strategy to combat the drug will not only help the state governments and local authorities in the United States to develop their own strategies in this area, but will also assist other countries facing this problem.

But t of the three main areas of drugs control – prevention, treatment, combating the black market – the government eventually chose the last method and the main forces are concentrated on it. A fight with a huge industry of the drug trade with an annual turnover of hundreds of billions of dollars, became a real war. “Regardless of how you call it – the war on drugs, or war with the product, or as something else – people see it as a war with them personally. But we are not in a war with our own people” – said Jill Kerlikovske ”“ the Head Office for drug enforcement. Fighting drug use should be primarily medical rather than criminal law measures, considers Kerlikovske.( National Drug Control Policy)

Nowadays there is an active discussion on the legalization of marijuana, that is held a country-wide. And more and more Americans are choosing legalization. According to the January poll of CBS / New York Times, in the U.S. about 41% of the population. Support this idea. ( National Drug Control Policy)

It is necessary to point out the article in The Washington Monthly by J. Shenk, who clearly states the drug problem: policymakers want to prevent people from becoming drug addicts but also want to end drug trade violence. (Shenk 1995)

The author speaks about a legal market for now-illegal drugs with tight regulations. But question of drug legalization remains open, as there are pro and contra. If to legalize drugs, the state can impose taxes and excise this trade, flexibly adjusting the market, as well as trade in tobacco and alcohol. Legalization of drugs does not mean their overall availability, but it will guarantee the quality, which is impossible now, and despite the fact that a large proportion of deaths is associated with use of bad quality or counterfeit drugs.

The main fear that worries public opinion and it’s opponents – the possible increase in drug consumption in terms of their legalization.

Legalization of drugs – this is not the best way out, but rather the least bad. But many critics say it is more preferable than a senseless, bloody, costly and inconclusive war against drugs.