SPOTLIGHT ON NARCOTICS

Is The War On Drugs Working

President Bush's recent State of the Union address was charged with
optimism. Portraying America as a "hopeful nation", he touted a 19
percent decline in youth drug use since 2001. While this information
may come as a relief to Americans, it is an oversimplification of the
facts. This general decline has been accompanied by increases in
abuse of inhalants and prescription drugs. Youth drug abuse is only
slowly recovering from a spike in the mid-1990s, and this decline is
decelerating.

Criticism of the War on Drugs comes on multiple fronts. Some accuse
the current advertising campaign of focusing on marijuana, while
overlooking more dangerous narcotics. Others argue that poverty
should be the real enemy in the War on Drugs. Former Cleveland Mayor
Jane Campbell told the HPR, "Drug use arises when you combine despair
and economic hardship. If people have no hope for an economically
secure future, they're willing to put everything at risk because they
have nothing to put at risk." From Campbell's perspective, the
government should put more "resources into addressing the economic
problem" and "invest in comprehensive treatment opportunity" for users.

The government has adopted a hard-line prohibitory drug policy,
employing mandatory sentencing minimums and aggressive law
enforcement. Yet, according to Cato Institute Executive Vice
President David Boaz, "all the arrests and incarcerations haven't
stopped the use and abuse of drugs, or the drug trade and crime
associated with black-market transactions." Campbell concurred,
arguing that "they're picking up the small people. They're not
getting to the significant business enterprise dealers. At least that
hasn't been the principal focus."

Some press even harder for reform than Campbell, advocating drug
legalization. Boaz, who in 1999 lobbied Congress to repeal drug
prohibition, told the HPR, "Repeal of prohibition would take the
astronomical profits out of the drug business and destroy the drug
kingpins who terrorize parts of our cities." He continued,
"[Legalization] would make drug use healthier, reduce corruption here
and abroad, and make honest work more attractive to inner city
youth--pretty good results for any reform."

Drug abuse exacts a huge toll on American productivity and vitality.
As Campbell lamented, "[drug abuse] devastates our communities, robs
people of hope, and brings all kinds of tragedy to town." As the
government carefully tries to find an effective solution, there is
much at stake in its efforts.