The failing Drug War in America

Introduction

The war on drugs has been at the center of American domestic and foreign policies for
over two decades; the federal government has taken various measures to contain this problem.
Although several policy experts argues that America is fighting a losing war against drugs,
American policies reforms have generated better outcomes in combating drug abuse within the
nation.

Overview of federal government initiatives in containing drug abuse

The war on drugs has been at the center of American domestic and foreign policies for
over two decades .When President Richard Nixon declared war on drugs in 1971, drug
trafficking in the US reduced due to federal policies producing modest gains (Duke and Gross
13). In 1982, President Reagan also declared war on drugs promising planned concerted
campaigns against all drugs. Reagan administration increased anti-drug spending and also
increased the number of federal drug task forces (Duke and Gross 15).

Surname 2

The most significant efforts during this period was launching of public relation campaign.
Public relation campaign was meant to change the public perception of drug use and some of the
threats caused by illegal drugs. The Bush and Clinton administration continued with the anti-
drug policies with Bush establishing a national office of drug policy, increasing spending and
intensified drug laws enforcement processes. For President Clinton he increased the anti-drug
budget to twenty-five percent ,expanded drug testing rules and intensified efforts towards drug
interdiction prosecution (Duke and Gross 18).

Polices to combat drug abuse

Several attempts have successfully contained the illegal drug use. The war on drugs was
declared by President Nixon formulated polices to propel this war by introducing a
Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention Control Act of 1970 ( Jurg, and Jensen 22).This policy
aimed at ensuring that there was an absolute prohibition of drug use within American
boundaries. Nixon also established a federal demand reduction and drug treatment initiatives to
replace the previous two to ten-year imprisonment that serves as the penalty for drug abusers .
This initiative became a success in combating the use of illegal drugs by then ( Jurg, and Jensen
27).

According to ( Jurg, and Jensen 27) other preceding laws introduced by President Regan
included a planned concerted campaign against all drugs. Reagan administration increased anti-
drug spending and also increased the number of federal drug task forces. The Bush and Clinton
administration continued with the anti-drug police and further imposed stiff laws on marijuana.
In 1982 the CIA and military engagement was used to help fight the war on drugs reducing the
supply of illegal drugs within the country ( Jurg, and Jensen 28).

Surname 3

Policy strategies of supply and demand reduction

Even though expert reiterates that America is fighting a losing war against drugs the US
has pursued different policies in fighting illegal use of drugs that seem to be generating positive
outcomes . American drug policies are divided into two general camps; the supply reduction and
the demand reduction (Elaine 9).Using the supply reduction strategy this policy is meant to
reduce the availability of drug by minimizing the access to drug sources and increasing the risk
of drug possession and its distribution .The supply reduction strategy has been an essential
component of controlling drug trafficking into America (Elaine 11).

The US policies on drug wars have analyzed the supply reduction strategy looking at both
domestic and international dimensions , within the US supply reduction strategies includes
enforcing anti-drug laws, reduction of marijuana ,control of precursor chemical , inspection of
commercial goods entering the country, screening of drugs in prisons , establishing drug-free
school zones (Elaine 33). International supply reduction strategies applied by the US include
signing global accords, improving coordinated investigation , initiating anti-money laundering
initiatives strengthen the public institution and improving foreign assistance (Elaine 34).

Notable success of domestic and foreign policies on drugs

American policies reforms have generated better outcomes in combating drug abuse
within the nation. Despite protects by financial experts on over spending , Bush war on drugs
produced remarkable results; the biggest success was the decreased use of cocaine. Even though
President Bush called for a complete stoppage of drug use, his administration set out reasonable
goals of working towards 10 percent decrease in casual drug use which they surpassed the target

Surname 4

within two years (Dell 1738).President Bush main focus was on demand especially in America
as compared to putting major focus on supply from other nations . According to (Dell
1739),despite the negative speculation about the failed drug war there are remarkable changes in
achieving the intended goal ,frequent policy reforms are some of the strategies to curb the drug
menace.

Other notable examples are the seizure of marijuana which is considered as one of the
successes of the government in the war on drugs .The federal marijuana laws are applied to
people who posses, cultivate and distribute large quantities of cannabis .The federal laws still
considers marijuana as illegal drug (Renee 67). For example in Montana stiffer penalties of life
sentence discourages people from engaging in illegal distribution of illegal drugs especially
marijuana . Under the federal laws, several people have been sentenced to death for a first time
marijuana offense even if there was no violence involved. Truck drivers who conspire with the
drug kingpins have received death sentences discouraging trafficking especially in New Mexico
(Reuter 57).

According to ( Jurg, and Jensen 32) some of the international supply strategy applied by
the US government to improving coordinated operation has resulted in positive outcomes .For
over10 years the Operation Panama Express is one example whereby , illegal drugs have been
successfully contained. As a result of this operation ,over 5000 tons of cocaine estimated to $ 10
billion has been seized by the authorities.

The operation managed to arrest over 2,000 international drug traffickers, and transporter,
especially from Columbia .Other statistics, prove that by establishing an organized crime drug
enforcement takes Forces (OCDETF) has generated better results. OCDETF Program is an

Surname 5

example of the US drug reduction strategy that has greatly reduced the disruption of distribution
of illegal drugs within the country. This task force has usefully dismantled major drug trafficking
organizations since its inception in 1982( Jurg, and Jensen 36).

Many people conceive that eradicating illegal drugs is a war that cannot be won.
However, several drug abuse reforms policies have generated progress in combating drug abuse
within the nation. American government have reconsidered some of its strategies by considering
what matters. In one of the recent speeches on war on drugs president Obama stated that these
“what matter most in this process of fighting illegal drugs is our health and security of the
citizens and the nation as a whole” ( Porter 3). America have acknowledged that war on drugs
that aims at eliminating the drug market is not possible .

One of the state advisor admits that “Stopping drugs from entering the US and stopping
American from smoking, or inhaling drugs can take decades to achieve” ( Porter 4). Previously,
the US polices consistently focused on supply chain rather than the demand reduction within the
country .The US federal government has kept on pushing for strict drug polices especially in its
border with Latin America as one of the demand reduction strategies. Demand for drugs is
widely known for fueling illicit drugs in several countries, not just in the US. However, the
demand for drugs in the US is great than what other countries like Colombia produce (Payan and
Staudt 310).

Policy experts propose that tactics to reduce demand need high levels of funding
approach to reducing supply. The best option is to make drug trafficking less lucrative for
organized crimes for the to drop out of the business. According to some analyst, legalizing all
illicit drugs would have several benefits to America .Public spending on enforcement will be

Surname 6

reduced. Many studies suggest that if marijuana is legalized California and drug spill from
another state like Mexico would lose a fifth of their annual income ( Porter 2).

A growing number of interest groups have demanded for legalization of some drugs like
marijuana. That is why Congress is considering some market solution of reducing cash flow to
criminal groups especially in the US .In the war against drugs, demand reduction has been the
best choice in regards to organized groups ( Porter 3).

Anything that can depress demand will automatically reduce drug trafficking. In an effort
to reduce the demand for illegal drugs president Obama acknowledges the limitation that comes
along with the existing drug war policies . He has shifted drug war priorities to focus more on
drug abuse prevention and rehabilitation processes compared to previous polices that focused on
enforcement (Reuter 61).

To aggressively work to reduce drug consumption in the US successful rehabilitation
programs have been established .one of the successful initiative is the establishment of the office
of recovery . This office has advanced policies and program to support millions of American to
successfully recover from drug and alcohol addiction (Duke and Gross 20). In addition, the
government has formed partnership with citizens with long-term recovery from addiction
through establishing drug free community support programs supporting community –based
coalition in more than 1,750 communities in the US to prevent drug abuse among young people.
Through such initiative the overall drug use in America has significantly dropped by one theirs
compared to the past three decades .cocaine use has dropped notably 40 percent (Duke and Gross
21).

Surname 7

Conclusion.

The ongoing debate about the legalization of drugs as a policy solution has been opposed
by policy analysts because drug problem is a public health and safety problem. According to
psychological experts, addiction is the disease that can be successfully be treated and prevented
in future. America policy reforms are an on-going process facing several challenges from
different interest groups. Even though the US is still struggling with drug addiction problems, the
federal government has successfully taken measure to contain this problem using different policy
driven strategies. Despite many critics argue that America is losing the war against drugs, several
policy reforms have generated better results in combating drug abuse.

Surname 8

Work cited

Eduardo Porter . Numbers Tell of Failure in Drug War. .The New York Times. 2012. Retrieved
from http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/04/business/in-rethinking-the-war-on-drugs-start-with-
the-numbers.html

Gerber, Jurg, and Eric L. Jensen, eds. Drug War American Style: The Internationalization of
Failed Policy and Its Alternatives. Routledge, 2014.Print .

Shannon, Elaine. Desperados: Latin drug lords, US lawmen, and the war America can’t win.
University of California. 2015.Print
Scherlen, Renee.The never-ending drug war: Obstacles to drug war policy termination.” PS:
Political Science & Politics 45.01 (2012): 67-73.
Duke, Steven and Albert Gross. America’s longest war: Rethinking our tragic crusade against
drugs. Open Road Media. 2014.Print .
Dell, Melissa. Trafficking networks and the Mexican drug war. The American Economic Review
105.6 (2015): 1738-1779.
Payan, Tony, and Kathleen Staudt. A War That Can’t Be Won?.” A War that Can’t Be Won:
Binational Perspectives on the War on Drugs .2013: 311.
Reuter, Peter. “Why Has US Drug Policy Changed So Little over 30 Years?.” Crime and Justice
42.1 (2013): 75-140.