Pubdate: Tue, 22 May 2001
Source: Fayetteville Observer-Times (NC)
Copyright: 2001 Fayetteville Observer-Times
Contact:  http://www.fayettevillenc.com/foto/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/150
Author: Catherine Pritchard

DRUG WAR, ABUSE COSTLY

Q: How much does the United States government and the American taxpayer 
spend each year on the war on drugs, both at home and on foreign soil? -- 
V.J., Fayetteville A: A lot.

The Office of National Drug Control Policy plans to spend $19.2 billion in 
its 2002 fiscal year. That's up $1.1 billion from its 2001 fiscal year.

By the way, for the sake of comparison, the Reagan administration spent 
$1.65 billion on the drug war in 1982, and the Nixon administration spent 
$65 million on it in 1969.

The drug-control office says that Americans spent $62.9 billion last year 
on illegal drugs and on legal drugs that were then used illegally.

Meanwhile, according to a group called Common Sense for Drug Policy, the 
nation spends about $8.6 billion a year on keeping drug-law violators 
behind bars.

The group said that criminal and medical costs related to drug abuse total 
more than $67 billion a year.

Common Sense for Drug Policy cites numerous government sources for its 
information. It is a nonprofit organization which says it is "dedicated to 
expanding discussion on drug policy by resonating the voices of those 
raising questions about existing law and educating the public about 
alternatives to current policies."