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 article also discusses the negative impact of the War on Drugs on public health. For example, the prohibition of drugs has led to the creation of a black market, where drugs are often sold without any quality control. This has led to an increase in overdose deaths and other health problems related to drug use.
The article concludes by arguing that the War on Drugs is a failed policy. It has not been effective in reducing drug use or trafficking, and it has caused significant harm to individuals and communities.
If I could change drug policy, I would focus on harm reduction and treatment. Harm reduction is a set of policies and practices that aim to reduce the negative consequences of drug use, such as overdose deaths and the spread of infectious diseases. Treatment is the process of helping people with substance use disorders overcome their addiction.
Here are some specific steps that I would take to make drug control more effective:
I believe that these steps would make drug control more effective and humane.