U.S. TARGETING THE BIG DRUG TRAFFICKERS, NOT SMALL-TIME USERS

The movie "Traffic" is the most realistic portrayal of drug law enforcement
and the ravages of drugs on families 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.

But I'm afraid moviegoers 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's factually inaccurate to
say 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 film's high-school-age users 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's simply no reason to believe that drug users are the
"enemy" in any government policies.

Caroline's parents could afford good treatment for her and, as the film
shows, treatment works for some people. For many, 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'm a strong advocate of treatment
and believe it must be widely available. Yet I also believe prevention and
effective law enforcement must be critical components in 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 talent, courage and dedication that DEA
and Customs agents bring to their task -- talent I see every day. The film
shows how difficult it is for law enforcement to work in an environment of
corruption and frustration, yet the DEA characters keep pursuing their targets.

And there have been victories despite the uphill battle. 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's no reason we cannot now.

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 must persevere,
with courage and determination.

Donnie R. Marshall is administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
He wrote this column for the Washington Post.