ANOTHER CASUALTY IN AMERICA'S DRUG WAR

The curse of drugs has struck again. Robert Downey Jr., on break from
shooting television's "Ally McBeal," was arrested over the
Thanksgiving weekend and charged with possession of two dangerous
drugs, cocaine and methamphetamines (commonly known as "speed").
Downey, an Academy Award nominee for best actor for his performance
in the movie "Chaplin" (1992), was also charged with committing a
felony while on bail and now faces more time in prison.

Downey, who has had a long history of drug abuse, including heroin
and cocaine, had been under the care of a California rehabilitation
center. Released only three months ago from prison where he was
serving time for drug-related offenses, he was required to undergo
random drug tests as part of his parole. But, as is the pattern with
those like Downey who are hooked on drugs, they seem to return over
and over to their addiction. Downey is scheduled to be arraigned on
the new drug charges sometime after Christmas.

But this talented young actor is merely one more casualty of the
so-called "war on drugs" we hear so much about -- especially from
politicians around election time. Unfortunately, it's a war we are
losing and one that is damaging the core foundations of our society.
Indeed, in 1999 alone, there were an estimated 1,532,200 arrests for
drug violations in the United States. Law enforcement officials,
however, admit drug supplies remain abundant in nearly every city --
including small towns.

It's frightening to learn that dangerous drugs such as crack cocaine
continue to dominate this country's illicit drug problem. There has
also been an increasing trend in heroin use since 1992. There are
even reports that suggest an increasing incidence of new heroin users
- -- called "snorters" -- in the younger age groups, often among women.

So how are we, as a nation, handling the victims of our drug war? The
American legal system is locking them up in prison. The U.S.
Department of Prison Statistics indicates that, shockingly enough,
over 60 percent of all federal prisoners are drug offenders (while
only 3 percent are violent offenders).

This impacts heavily on young offenders who, if placed in prison, are
often mistreated. Some learn new forms of criminal behavior. In fact,
Downey's stay in prison was such a harrowing experience that many of
his friends expressed surprise that he would even chance going back
to prison. In 1997, for instance, the actor was cut during a
fistfight with three other inmates. Afterwards, Downey was moved to
solitary confinement.

The drug war also greatly impacts minorities who make up about 50
percent of the prison population. Indeed, one out of three
African-American males in their 20s are either in prison, in
probation or on parole. In Washington, D.C., that ratio is even
higher: one out of two African-American males between the ages of 15
and 35 are in prison, on probation or on parole -- many of them have
found their way into the clutches of the criminal justice system
through drug use or possession. If the current trend continues, more
African-American children will most likely go to prison than to
college when they grow up.

What, then, is the solution to the drug epidemic? The plain and
simple answer is that there are no easy answers. But it should be
obvious by now that incarcerating young people is not the solution.
In some respects, we've become prison happy in this country. Largely
fueled by drug arrests, America now imprisons a higher percentage of
its citizens than any other nation in the world.

However, one major hope for a solution can be found in the area of
prevention programs, which are designed to enhance "protective
factors" and rehabilitate, not incarcerate. Protective factors
include strong and positive bonds within social groups, primarily in
the family, if possible. Such programs should certainly include
education for children and adolescents.

Private organizations, such as community centers and churches, need
to place not only their time, but their money, into programs to keep
young people off the streets and away from drugs. These groups should
provide parents and caregivers with training on appropriate
strategies to reinforce what young people are learning about drugs
and their harmful effects. They should involve police and help law
enforcement agencies refocus their attention away from tactics that
are obviously not working and toward prevention and rehabilitation.

We can learn a lesson from California's attempts to win the war on
drugs. For example, California recently passed a law that will go
into effect in July 2001 requiring probation and drug treatment, not
incarceration, for possession, use, transportation of narcotics and
similar parole violations (except for sale and manufacture). The law
also authorizes dismissal of charges after completion of treatment.
This law moves away from current programs that merely incarcerate and
do not rehabilitate.

One thing is certain: If we don't rethink the narcotics problem, then
our country is on a self-destructive path that leads to nowhere,
except to a place where drugs will proliferate and the prison
population will continue to escalate.