Social Science - Sociology Critical Reflection
The 'War on Drugs': Do you think these attempts to control drug consumption have succeeded or failed? If you could change drug policy, what would you do differently and why? What steps would you take to make drug control more effective?
1. Read Drug Control The Great American Flop.pdf
2. Read Brief History of the Drug War
3. Watch Aljazeera's debate on the War on Drugs: Who Benefits from the War on Drugs—links
to an external site.
4. Next, watch this brief two-minute video and read the related article: Controversial use of informants: Case Study of Past FSU Student or Rachel's Law - 10 years later
5. Find supporting statistics here: https://drugpolicy.org/issues/drug-war-statistics
Links to an external s
Using these resources, consider the effectiveness of the War on Drugs.
Do you think these attempts to control drug consumption have succeeded or failed?
If you could change drug policy, what would you do differently and why?
What steps would you take to make drug control more effective?
The document says that the War on Drugs has not been effective. It has led to mass incarceration, racial disparities in the criminal justice system, and a lack of treatment for people with substance use disorders.
Here are some specific statistics from the article:
- The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world, with over 2 million people behind bars.
- Black Americans are incarcerated at five times the rate of white Americans.
- The War on Drugs has cost the United States over $1 trillion since it began in the 1970s.
- Despite the War on Drugs, drug use and trafficking have continued to increase.
- Decriminalize or legalize drugs. This would reduce the number of people incarcerated for drug-related offenses and free up resources to focus on treatment and prevention.
- Expand access to treatment. Treatment should be available to everyone who needs it, regardless of their ability to pay.
- Fund harm reduction programs. Harm reduction programs can help to reduce the negative consequences of drug use, such as overdose deaths and the spread of infectious diseases.
- Educate the public about drugs and addiction. This would help to reduce stigma and encourage people to seek help if they need it.