THE PUBLIC AND THE WAR ON ILLICIT DRUGS

Robert J. Blendon, ScD; John T. Young, MPhil

This article presents what Americans think about the policies subsumed
under the label of the "War on Drugs." It is based on an analysis of 47
national surveys conducted between 1978 and 1997. The major results are
that most Americans rely on the mass media for information about the scope
of the drug abuse problem; Americans do not think that the Wars on Drugs
have succeeded, but they do not want to quit on these efforts; weak support
exists for increasing funding for drug treatment; support for preventive
education has increased during the 1990s; criminal justice responses remain
very popular; for many, illicit drug use is a moral rather than a public
health issue; the public supports allowing physicians to prescribe
marijuana for severe illness, but opposes the general legalization of
marijuana and other illicit drugs; and needle exchange programs are
supported by a bare majority, but only when they are told that the American
Medical Association supports these programs.

JAMA. 1998;279:827-832

DESPITE LITTLE SUCCESS, PUBLIC STILL SUPPORTS WAR ON DRUGS

Surveys Find Opposition To Drug Legalization, Support For Medical Use Of
Marijuana

CHICAGO—Even though the majority of Americans do not feel the "War on
Drugs" has succeeded, they are not willing to give up on drug-fighting
efforts, according to an article in the March 18 issue of The Journal of
the American Medical Association (JAMA).

Robert J. Blendon, Sc.D., and John T. Young, M.Phil., of the Harvard School
of Public Health, in Boston, Mass., reviewed 47 national surveys conducted
between 1978 and 1997. They looked at four areas important to health
professionals interested in America's drug policy:

- - Where do Americans get their information about the extent of the nation's
illegal drug problem, and what are their experiences with it?

- - What worries Americans most about the country's illicit drug problems?

- - Why do Americans think individuals use illegal drugs?

- - What are the public's views on various policy proposals to respond to the
nation's drug problems, and what are their implications for the future?

On the final question, the researchers found a paradox: " Most Americans
(58 percent) do not see the nation's illegal drug problem getting better
after years of increases in national spending, and they see the War on
Drugs as having failed thus far (78 percent). Yet, despite this assessment,
they continue to support greater resources being expended in generally the
same policy direction as has been followed in the past."

They go on to write: "Not only do Americans say that more money should be
spent dealing with addiction, they report that they are willing to pay more
in taxes (66 percent) to support increased antidrug-related spending."

When choosing among 19 options for reducing the use and effects of illegal
drugs, the largest share of strong support is found for more severe
penalties for drug sale and possession. The second choice is antidrug
education in schools. The third choice is increased funding for police.

A majority of Americans believe drugs are one of the most important causes
of crime. Only 14 percent of the public supports legalization of illicit
drugs. The researchers write: "The majority of the public (52 percent)
believes that drug-related crime would actually increase if drugs were
legalized."

But a majority of Americans support legalized use of marijuana for medical
purposes: "In early 1997, separate surveys reported that 62 percent and 60
percent of the American public supported a policy where physicians should
be able to prescribe marijuana to their seriously and terminally ill
patients."

Among other findings of the study:

- - Most people rely on mass media for information about the scope of drug
abuse in America.

- - Although 82 percent of the public thinks illegal drug use is a big
problem for society, only 27 percent see it as a major problem in their
local communities. Eighty-one percent say drug abuse has never caused
problems in their own families.

- - Seventy-two percent see drug use as changing the national character; 64
percent of adults describe it as morally wrong.

- - Seventy-three percent of adults are very concerned about the possibility
of themselves or a family member being the victim of a crime committed by a
drug user.

- - The majority of Americans believe individuals might begin using illegal
drugs because of peer pressure, poor parenting, or because drug dealers are
trying to expand their markets.

Illicit drugs lead to approximately 11,000 deaths each year, according to
information in the article. Over half a million drug-related episodes are
reported in hospital emergency departments. Direct government expenditures
linked to illicit drugs total $27 billion annually. (JAMA. 1998;279:827-832)

Note: This work was supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

© 1995-1998 American Medical Association.