THE DRUG WAR SHOULD END

By The Numbers, It Has Been A Colossal Failure

According to 2000 Annual Report, National Drug Control Strategy issued by
the Office of National Drug Control Policy, disclosed proudly under the
signatures of President Bill Clinton and then-Director of National Drug
Control Policy, "Czar" Gen. Barry McCaffrey, the following is the
achievement of this nation's drug war for the past 10 years:

For the period 1991-1999: The percentage of households reporting the use of
any illegal drug during the previous month was up.

Eighth graders, 10th graders and 12th graders reporting the use of any drug
during the previous month was up. Marijuana use was up. First-time
marijuana use almost doubled from 1991 to 1998. The average age for
first-time use dropped from 17.8 years to 17.1 years. Meanwhile, the price
of marijuana has fallen significantly during the same period. Federal
marijuana seizures during the same period are up several thousand percent.

First-time cocaine users for the period 1991 to 1997 nearly doubled. The
average age of a first-time user dropped from 21.5 years to 20.3 years of
age. Current cocaine use shows a slight decrease. The average price for
cocaine has dropped significantly. Of particular note is that cocaine
purity has also diminished, which shows the singular impact of the drug
war. It also accounts for the increase in emergency room visits. Federal
cocaine seizures during the same period of time were up slightly.

Heroin use records a huge jump from 1991 to 1998. First-time users went up
60 percent, and the average age for a first-time heroin user dropped from
24.6 years of age in 1991 to 17.6 years of age in 1997. The average price
of heroin has dropped and the purity levels are growing. Meanwhile, federal
heroin seizures have dropped since 1991.

The same trends are reported with methamphetamines, Ecstasy and inhalants:
Use is skyrocketing, prices are dropping, the average age is dropping and
federal seizures are up.

By comparison, the numbers for youth and alcohol show that from 1996 to
1999, there has been no change in the use of alcohol in the prior month by
eighth, 10th, and 12th graders. Likewise, the number of 8th, 10th and 12th
graders who had five-plus drinks in the previous month remained unchanged.
Clearly, the drug war has not had an impact on youth and drinking.

To the credit of public education and not the criminal justice system,
attitudes toward cigarettes are changing. Eighth and 10th graders show a
slight decrease in cigarette use, while 12th graders' use remained
constant. Use of steroids by eighth, 10th and 12th graders skyrocketed
during this same period of time.

Don't take my word for it. The government has made it clear. For the money
being spent, the price society is paying and the huge industry that has
arisen around it, the drug war is a colossal failure. Of late, the only
defenders of the Drug War are those whose income is dependent on it.

I say, end the Drug War. Declare a full and complete amnesty. It is time to
rethink our entire prohibition policy. Prohibition has never worked. It
never will.