Pubdate: Wed, 29 Nov 2000
Source: WorldNetDaily (US Web)
Copyright: 2000, WorldNetDaily.com, Inc.
Contact:  PO Box 409, Cave Junction, OR 97523-0409
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Author: John W. Whitehead

ANOTHER CASUALTY IN AMERICA'S DRUG WAR

The curse of drugs has struck again. Robert Downey Jr., on break from 
shooting television's "Ally McBeal," was arrested over the 
Thanksgiving weekend and charged with possession of two dangerous 
drugs, cocaine and methamphetamines (commonly known as "speed"). 
Downey, an Academy Award nominee for best actor for his performance 
in the movie "Chaplin" (1992), was also charged with committing a 
felony while on bail and now faces more time in prison.

Downey, who has had a long history of drug abuse, including heroin 
and cocaine, had been under the care of a California rehabilitation 
center. Released only three months ago from prison where he was 
serving time for drug-related offenses, he was required to undergo 
random drug tests as part of his parole. But, as is the pattern with 
those like Downey who are hooked on drugs, they seem to return over 
and over to their addiction. Downey is scheduled to be arraigned on 
the new drug charges sometime after Christmas.

But this talented young actor is merely one more casualty of the 
so-called "war on drugs" we hear so much about -- especially from 
politicians around election time. Unfortunately, it's a war we are 
losing and one that is damaging the core foundations of our society. 
Indeed, in 1999 alone, there were an estimated 1,532,200 arrests for 
drug violations in the United States. Law enforcement officials, 
however, admit drug supplies remain abundant in nearly every city -- 
including small towns.

It's frightening to learn that dangerous drugs such as crack cocaine 
continue to dominate this country's illicit drug problem. There has 
also been an increasing trend in heroin use since 1992. There are 
even reports that suggest an increasing incidence of new heroin users 
- -- called "snorters" -- in the younger age groups, often among women.

So how are we, as a nation, handling the victims of our drug war? The 
American legal system is locking them up in prison. The U.S. 
Department of Prison Statistics indicates that, shockingly enough, 
over 60 percent of all federal prisoners are drug offenders (while 
only 3 percent are violent offenders).

This impacts heavily on young offenders who, if placed in prison, are 
often mistreated. Some learn new forms of criminal behavior. In fact, 
Downey's stay in prison was such a harrowing experience that many of 
his friends expressed surprise that he would even chance going back 
to prison. In 1997, for instance, the actor was cut during a 
fistfight with three other inmates. Afterwards, Downey was moved to 
solitary confinement.

The drug war also greatly impacts minorities who make up about 50 
percent of the prison population. Indeed, one out of three 
African-American males in their 20s are either in prison, in 
probation or on parole. In Washington, D.C., that ratio is even 
higher: one out of two African-American males between the ages of 15 
and 35 are in prison, on probation or on parole -- many of them have 
found their way into the clutches of the criminal justice system 
through drug use or possession. If the current trend continues, more 
African-American children will most likely go to prison than to 
college when they grow up.

What, then, is the solution to the drug epidemic? The plain and 
simple answer is that there are no easy answers. But it should be 
obvious by now that incarcerating young people is not the solution. 
In some respects, we've become prison happy in this country. Largely 
fueled by drug arrests, America now imprisons a higher percentage of 
its citizens than any other nation in the world.

However, one major hope for a solution can be found in the area of 
prevention programs, which are designed to enhance "protective 
factors" and rehabilitate, not incarcerate. Protective factors 
include strong and positive bonds within social groups, primarily in 
the family, if possible. Such programs should certainly include 
education for children and adolescents.

Private organizations, such as community centers and churches, need 
to place not only their time, but their money, into programs to keep 
young people off the streets and away from drugs. These groups should 
provide parents and caregivers with training on appropriate 
strategies to reinforce what young people are learning about drugs 
and their harmful effects. They should involve police and help law 
enforcement agencies refocus their attention away from tactics that 
are obviously not working and toward prevention and rehabilitation.

We can learn a lesson from California's attempts to win the war on 
drugs. For example, California recently passed a law that will go 
into effect in July 2001 requiring probation and drug treatment, not 
incarceration, for possession, use, transportation of narcotics and 
similar parole violations (except for sale and manufacture). The law 
also authorizes dismissal of charges after completion of treatment. 
This law moves away from current programs that merely incarcerate and 
do not rehabilitate.

One thing is certain: If we don't rethink the narcotics problem, then 
our country is on a self-destructive path that leads to nowhere, 
except to a place where drugs will proliferate and the prison 
population will continue to escalate.
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