Pubdate: Sat, 05 Aug 2006 Source: Harvard Political Review (MA) Copyright: 2006 Harvard Political Review Contact: http://www.hpronline.org/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1078 Author: Christopher Kai Wu Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?199 (Mandatory Minimum Sentencing) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) SPOTLIGHT ON NARCOTICS Is The War On Drugs Working President Bush's recent State of the Union address was charged with optimism. Portraying America as a "hopeful nation", he touted a 19 percent decline in youth drug use since 2001. While this information may come as a relief to Americans, it is an oversimplification of the facts. This general decline has been accompanied by increases in abuse of inhalants and prescription drugs. Youth drug abuse is only slowly recovering from a spike in the mid-1990s, and this decline is decelerating. Criticism of the War on Drugs comes on multiple fronts. Some accuse the current advertising campaign of focusing on marijuana, while overlooking more dangerous narcotics. Others argue that poverty should be the real enemy in the War on Drugs. Former Cleveland Mayor Jane Campbell told the HPR, "Drug use arises when you combine despair and economic hardship. If people have no hope for an economically secure future, they're willing to put everything at risk because they have nothing to put at risk." From Campbell's perspective, the government should put more "resources into addressing the economic problem" and "invest in comprehensive treatment opportunity" for users. The government has adopted a hard-line prohibitory drug policy, employing mandatory sentencing minimums and aggressive law enforcement. Yet, according to Cato Institute Executive Vice President David Boaz, "all the arrests and incarcerations haven't stopped the use and abuse of drugs, or the drug trade and crime associated with black-market transactions." Campbell concurred, arguing that "they're picking up the small people. They're not getting to the significant business enterprise dealers. At least that hasn't been the principal focus." Some press even harder for reform than Campbell, advocating drug legalization. Boaz, who in 1999 lobbied Congress to repeal drug prohibition, told the HPR, "Repeal of prohibition would take the astronomical profits out of the drug business and destroy the drug kingpins who terrorize parts of our cities." He continued, "[Legalization] would make drug use healthier, reduce corruption here and abroad, and make honest work more attractive to inner city youth--pretty good results for any reform." Drug abuse exacts a huge toll on American productivity and vitality. As Campbell lamented, "[drug abuse] devastates our communities, robs people of hope, and brings all kinds of tragedy to town." As the government carefully tries to find an effective solution, there is much at stake in its efforts. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman