Drug Abuse Prevention: New Strategies

Both the city of Eugene, Oregon and Lane county are experiencing budget cuts in the face of an increasing need for public safety and human services.  Eugene and Lane County Budget Committee member, Mary Ann Holser, presents the budget crisis and the dilemma concerning a lack of jail beds in a May, 2009 article in the Register Guard.  Holser points to an increase in crime due to lawbreakers believing that they will not be jailed.  She also writes that judges are ceasing to impose meaningful sentences because they know that they will not be carried out.  Holser has a long history of working with drug- and alcohol-dependent offenders and argues that, “Short and effective consequences for early-on lawbreakers can prevent escalation to more unlawful behavior.”

Now that the new director of the National Drug Control Policy, Gil Kerlikowske, has ended the “war” metaphor for our nation’s struggle with drug abuse, his focus includes treatment and prevention.
The Parents. The Anti-Drug website is an example of an informational site that parents can utilize to prevent drug use among youths.  The website is highlighted by a new awareness campaign concerning teens misusing prescription drugs. The site claims, “While illicit drug use by teens is declining, now there’s a threat from the family medicine cabinet: The abuse of prescription and over-the-counter drugs.”

Kerlikowske provides  insight into the nature in which drug-related issues are deeply connected with healthcare reform and international relations.  He is a member of the Cabinet, and will be working directly with the President to reform healthcare with a specific focus on reducing prescription drug abuse.

Above the Influence.com presents the risks of drug use through an entertaining and fun website.  It is full of quizzes, puzzles and interactive media links, which are intended to engage the viewer and to appeal to logic with the use of anecdotes from peers.  Chillfarm.com presents the argument that sites directed at the prevention of drug abuse among teens may actually promote drug use.  One example of such a statistic is, “Teens who use drugs are 5 times more likely to have sex than those teens who do not use drugs.”

The United States must now emerge from a forty-year war and formulate new strategies in order to alleviate the collateral damage of the war on drugs.
-By Max Edmonds

The Register Guard-http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/news/sevendays/14354427-35/story.csp
National Journal-http://www.nationaljournal.com/njonline/ii_20090526_6945.php

The Anti-Drug-http://www.theantidrug.com/

Above the Influence-http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/fun/default.aspx?path=nav

Chillpharm-http://www.chillpharm.com/antidrug.html

Brief History of the War on Drugs

The U.S. War on Drugs has a long history, spanning several decades. On June 17th, 1971, President Richard Nixon became the first president to declare a War on Drugs. During his administration, Nixon created the Special Action Office for Drug Abuse Prevention.  Also, in 1972, the Office of Drug Abuse Law Enforcement was created; and in 1973, the Drug Enforcement Administration was established. Furthermore, in 1970, the Controlled Substances Act was passed.

In 1984, first lady Nancy Reagan started her “Just Say No” campaign, designed to curb drug abuse. On October 27th, 1986, President Ronald Reagan signed The Anti-Drug Abuse Act. This Act allocated $1.7 billion to fund the War on Drugs. It also created “mandatory minimum penalties for drug offenses.”

During 1988, President George H.W. Bush created the Office of National Drug Control Policy, which established William Bennett as the first ‘drug czar.’ (Visit PBS.com for more information concerning the history of the War on Drugs.)

In 2003, President George W. Bush enacted the Illicit Drug Anti-Proliferation Act.

Over the past 40 years, the U.S. government has spent over $2.5 trillion on the War on Drugs, according to a recent TIME Magazine article. Today, the U.S. federal government spends $19 billion annually, and “more than 60 percent of the federal prison population consists of drug offenders,” according to a recent Cato Institute report.

Thus far, President Obama has not clearly expressed whether his administration will actively continue the War on Drugs. By the looks of whitehouse.gov, the war on drugs does not seem to be on the agenda. In a March 26th public Internet press conference, Mr. Obama only briefly addressed a proposed question: “If marijuana were legalized, might the taxes and other fees be a boon to the economy?” Mr. Obama answered, “I don’t know what this says about the online audience,” which drew laughs from the audience gathered in the East Room of the White House. He then said, “The answer is no, I don’t think that is a good strategy to grow the economy.” Perhaps Mr. Obama’s response to this question indicates his level of interest concerning collateral damage of the War on Drugs. Only time will tell if President Obama will address this issue head on.

– by Edwin Ouellette