Pubdate: Sat, 21 Apr 2001
Source: Washington Post (DC)
Copyright: 2001 The Washington Post Company
Contact:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/491
Author: Donnie R. Marshall
Note: The writer is administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/traffic.htm (Traffic)

HOW REAL IS 'TRAFFIC'?

The movie "Traffic" is the most realistic portrayal of drug law enforcement 
and the ravages of drugs on American families that I've ever seen. It 
accurately shows the complexity of the drug trade -- from its origins in 
foreign countries to its terminal point on our streets -- and how predatory 
drug traffickers victimize young, weak and vulnerable people in our society.

But I'm afraid those who have seen the movie may have come to two 
conclusions that appear to provide simple answers to some not-so-simple 
problems having to do with our nation's recurring drug problem.

The first conclusion can be drawn from the Michael Douglas character, the 
new government drug czar, who declares: "If this is a war on drugs, then 
many of our family members are the enemy." Himself the father of an 
addicted daughter, he steps down from his post, presumably because he 
cannot support policies that target users.

While this scene is dramatically effective, it is factually inaccurate to 
say that the U.S. government targets users. In fact, it is well-organized 
international criminal organizations that are actively targeting American 
families and American users, without whom they would be out of business. 
One common misperception is that the American demand for drugs drives the 
supply; in fact, the opposite is true. Without a steady, well-marketed 
source of supply, users like Caroline in "Traffic" would not specifically 
demand crack or heroin.

The high-school-age users in the film were bored, affluent kids whose 
parents had no clue about who their friends were, or how they spent their 
time after school. The availability of these drugs on the streets of 
Caroline's home town was a significant factor in her decline.

The vast majority of offenders in prison are there not for possession, or 
because they are users, but for serious trafficking offenses. A 1997 
Justice Department survey found that only 5 percent of the drug offenders 
in federal prison, and 27 percent in state prison, were there on possession 
charges -- and many of those charges represent the results of plea 
bargains. There simply is no reason to believe that drug users are the 
"enemy" in any government policies.

Caroline's parents were able to find and afford good treatment for their 
daughter and, as the film shows, treatment works for some people. For many 
individuals, success comes only after repeated stays at drug clinics and 
after too many productive years of life are dedicated to the pursuit of a 
cure. I am a strong advocate of treatment, and believe it must be widely 
available to everyone who needs it. Yet, I also believe that drug 
prevention, along with effective law enforcement, must be a critical 
component in all of our drug strategies.

Which leads me to the second erroneous conclusion some may take from the 
film: that our country's efforts to solve the drug problem are futile. 
While "Traffic" correctly suggests that law enforcement has enormous odds 
to overcome, it also respects the talents, courage and dedication that DEA 
and Customs agents bring to their task -- talents I see every day. The film 
shows how difficult it is for law enforcement to work in an environment of 
corruption and frustration, and yet the DEA characters continue to pursue 
their targets -- the real enemy -- despite the odds.

Fighting the drug problem is not futile. Despite the uphill battle we face, 
there have been victories. The enforcement of strict laws, coupled with 
social disapproval, led to the reduction of drug use during the last 
epidemic at the turn of the century. By the early 1960s only 2 percent of 
the American people had ever tried drugs, compared with 28 percent today. 
If Americans could live without drugs 40 years ago, there is no reason we 
cannot now.

Despite a perception that the fight against drugs is lost, today's level of 
drug use is less than half what it was two decades ago. This progress was 
made during a time when people thought casual drug use was socially 
acceptable. But slowly we learned that the consequences and risks of using 
drugs were severe. Through a balanced approach of law enforcement, 
prevention and treatment, our nation has made a positive impact on the 
levels of drug trafficking and use. For the sake of our sons and daughters, 
the potential Carolines of the world, we need to persevere, with courage 
and determination.

The writer is administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D