WAR ON DRUGS A SUCCESS

Jesse Jackson's recent column "on a failed war on drugs" demands a
rebuttal based on science and the facts. Rev. Jackson, to his credit,
has preached against using drugs, but his conclusion that the drug
control effort has been wasted is dead wrong.

In fact, in 1978, 25 million Americans used an illegal drug once a
month, when our population was 280 million. In 2009, there were 21
million illegal drug users, a decrease of 20 percent. Since when is a
20 percent decrease a failure?

Ninety-two percent of Americans do not use illegal drugs. Drugs are
not as available as they were 40 years ago, and fewer people are
dying of heroin overdose deaths.

I know because from 1976 to 1981, I was administrator of the U.S.
Drug Enforcement Administration. In 1976, we had more than 500,000
heroin addicts and over 2,000 heroin overdose deaths. This has
decreased significantly; currently there are 200,000 heroin users,
less than half the number of 35 years ago and half the heroin overdose deaths.

Our prisons are overcrowded; not because casual users of marijuana
are in prison. Less than 1 percent of all inmates in state prisons
are there because of the use or possession of marijuana. They are in
prison because of other charges, some involving drugs but for sale or
trafficking. They are also there because we do not have enough drug
courts, which have recidivism rates of 16 percent compared to 45
percent for offenders not in those programs. They are in prison
because we have a probation system that is ineffective and because we
tolerate a high crime rate and have more gun dealers than gas stations.

Drugs are addictive, cause impairment with work, learning,
co-ordination, short-term memory, and long-term health. Legalize
cocaine and crack, which cause rapid heart rate, arrhythmia and three
overdose deaths a day? Legalize marijuana, which contain 468
different chemicals and 60 percent more cancer-causing agents than a
cigarette and is particularly harmful for brain development in
adolescents? Drugged driver fatalities are three times higher in
states with medical marijuana.

The effort to control drugs is not solely a law enforcement
responsibility. It requires greater efforts by parents, more
resources in prevention and treatment and effective diversion
programs, which Rev. Jackson recognizes. Chicago's St. Patricks High
School has implemented a mandatory random testing program for all
students, not just athletes. The result is higher graduation rates,
better attendance, higher college admissions and fewer disciplinary
problems than other comparable schools.

Not all efforts involve taxpayer money. The private sector has driven
down drug use in the workplace dramatically, not by avoiding the
issue but with clear drug abuse policies, education, drug testing and
employee assistance programs. Productivity rates have risen significantly.

The federal government has invested time and money and lives in
fighting drug abuse, but the social costs for treatment, lost
productivity, accidents and crime are 10 times higher. In fact, this
year's federal drug enforcement budget is the same as the cost of one
Aegis Cruiser for the Navy. Drug abuse is a public health problem,
but removing criminal sanctions will open the floodgates of use and
abuse. Use of illegal drugs is lower by 20 percent from 30 years ago.
We need to do more in prevention and treatment, including having Rev.
Jackson preach about the dangers of drug abuse without giving up on
our commitment to prevent it.