NO SIMPLE ANSWERS FOR WAR ON DRUGS

An overwhelming majority of Americans believe the nation is losing the
war on drugs, according to a recent poll.

But the poll also indicates Americans aren't ready to run up the white
flag.

The poll by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press found
that three-fourths of Americans think the country is losing the war on
drugs. Those polled also think the demand for drugs is so high, it will
be impossible to stop their use.

However, according to the poll, Americans believe that arresting drug
dealers and stopping the importation of drugs should be the government's
top priorities in fighting the problem.

"This suggests the public is frustrated with the war on drugs and
doesn't think it's succeeding," Pew pollster Andrew Kohut said. "But it
is still sticking with the tactics of the drug war, giving the highest
priorities to interdiction and incarceration."

According to the poll, Americans were more compassionate toward users of
illegal drugs, with half believing drug use should be treated as a
disease, compared with a third who think it should be treated as a
crime.

The poll suggests significant public skepticism has grown up around
government policy toward drug treatment and enforcement, said Maureen
Steinbrenner, president of the Center for National Policy, a Washington
think tank.

Blacks and those with low incomes and less education have high concerns
about the potential effects of drug use on their own families, according
to the poll. Four of five blacks said they were at least somewhat
concerned about the effects of drugs on their family. Almost as many who
made less than $20,000 or had less than a high school education -- about
7 in 10 -- felt that way.

The poll of 1,513 adults was taken Feb. 14-19 and has an error margin of
plus or minus 3 percentage points.

The poll revealed that young people were far more likely than older
people to say drug use is a disease.

Americans were about evenly split on the question of eliminating
mandatory sentences just for drugs. Women were slightly more inclined
than men to say that getting rid of mandatory sentences would be a bad
thing.

Among the poll's other findings:

* Just over half said drug interdiction should be emphasized by
government as a drug-fighting strategy -- down from two-thirds in 1988.
Almost half said arresting drug dealers should be emphasized -- down
from six in 10 in 1988. About a third said educating about drugs should
be emphasized -- down from half in 1988. Almost a third said arresting
drug users should be emphasized -- down slightly from 1988.

* One in nine Americans list drugs and alcohol as the most important
community problem. Among rural residents, drug abuse is the leading
community problem, with 16 percent citing it. It was almost as high
among inner-city residents.

However, drugs and alcohol weren't included in the top tier of problems
cited by suburban residents.

By its very nature, the war on drugs is complex with no simple answers.

But as the poll indicates, Americans want the fight to continue against
an enemy that continues to menace our society.