AMERICA'S ILLICIT DRUG HABIT

It is most certainly disturbing to read with abhorrence about
violence and death along the U.S.-Mexico border. After all, that is
"their" problem and we must wall it out.

The fact, however, is that this narcoterrorism, and the voracious
drug habits in the United States, are synonymous. The demand brings
the supply to those who grow or manufacture, package, ship,
warehouse, transport, sell and buy it, which brings the violence and
human destruction right to our easy chairs. Yet addicts, casual
users, proponents of the legalization of drugs and many bystanders
seem indifferent to the bloodbaths that follow the deliveries to
consumers and users.

Sell It Yourself Of course most of us know that death and assorted
mayhem exist on our own streets. The resurgence of violent street
gangs in major metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles, Chicago,
Washington and New York are visible reminders that we have a serious problem.

Mexican drug cartels have leveraged their profits to seize control of
delivery routes from Colombian producers, whereas the Colombian
cartels still control most of the production of cocaine. But again,
the more profitable part of the trade in transporting drugs of mass
destruction and distribution to the United States is now controlled
by ruthless Mexican druglords.

More than $26 billion is spent in the United States each year for
myriad drug stimulants, according to one's preference. A staggering
fact is that more than $160 billion is attributed to U.S. economic
losses each year. These costs are due to health care, violent crime
and lost productivity, among others.

We complain about massive expenditures in defending democracy
throughout the world, but so many rationalize the spending of
billions of hard-earned dollars for recreational drugs. The irony is
in the massive amounts of money that many in the United States want
to spend to fence out the elements that supply the demand. This while
sophisticated and well-armed traffickers have land, sea, air and even
subterranean conveyance modes at their disposal.

What about the frequent defense of those who favor decriminalization
and legalization of drug possession and use? Those who favor this
agenda keep U.S. drug policy under attack. We hear about saving money
from enforcement and incarceration responsibilities, as well as
taxing drug sales to fund other programs. This because many
simplistically believe that the savings will solve the problem of
drugs and save us from ourselves.

Proponents of legalization feel that the money saved is better in our
hands than in the hands of the druglords. Further, they estimate the
savings would be a $37 billion figure. And they cite alcohol and
tobacco as the major problem.

The fact is we are making progress in the fight against illegal
drugs, and this is not the time to abandon the efforts. This nation
may need a lot of things, but what we do not need are more substance
abusers and increases in addiction levels.

Moreover, increased social costs alone from legalization would devour
the savings proponents' claim.

Contrary to popular belief, decriminalized drug programs have been
failures in the United States and elsewhere, often times with adverse
affects on low-income communities. In 1999 alone, more than 200,000
Americans entered substance abuse treatment, primarily for marijuana
use and dependence.

Voters in Arizona, Ohio and Nevada were given opportunities to
legalize drugs, but all three states defeated the initiatives by a 61
percent average.

The Netherlands, Portugal and Switzerland continue to struggle with
permissive drug laws. The New York Times reported similar problems in
Britain, describing communities that have been completely changed due
to lax drug laws.

History shows that drug trafficking in Mexico began in response to
the demand for opium in the United States. As much as 90 percent of
the cocaine sold in the United States in 2004 was smuggled through
Mexico, which also is the No. 2 supplier of heroin for the United
States. Mexico is the largest foreign source for marijuana, and the
biggest producer of methamphetamine.

This endangers safety and security on our streets, not just along the
border but throughout the United States -- because of an insatiable
appetite for drugs and the profits therein reaped. All of which will
bring us much more than we bargained for unless we get a handle on things.