Free The Success Of The US Drug Policy: Is It Really A Success? Essay Example

Is America’s drug policy really a success, or has it been delivering results that are doing more bad than good? The issue has seen more than its fair share of debate and here’s an addition to that bulk. But in order to be able to draw conclusions on the subject, let’s first understand what the United States drug policy actually is. America’s drug policy was introduced and enacted with the objective of prevention of drug abuse, education that prevented its initiation, and also the treatment and research of patients who have become addicted to narcotics. For this very purpose, the drug policy educates the youth to discard the use of illegal drugs by informing them of the dangers of drug use and punishing them for any offense that promotes drug use; aims at protecting the citizens of the country against drug related crimes; and strives to protect the users from health and social consequences resulting from their choice.
In my opinion and in countless others as well, the war on drugs has done little in the way of achieving its objectives. Now about forty years, a trillion dollars and countless lives later, drugs are available more easily out on the streets and access to it has increased and so have the drug crimes that touch innumerable lives. All of these factors point towards a failed policy with no results. A new study funded by the International Centre for Science in Drug Policy proves that the rarity, as well as the price of drugs, has declined significantly, and the trend continues on its current pattern. The teens can more easily find the drugs that they require, and the suppliers could be found at every party, college campus and street. This means that any youngster who is willing to give the experience a try can very easily lay hands on drugs which may end up destroying their lives. This not only exposes them to the risks of overdoses and ridicule of the society but also makes them vulnerable to the threat and dangers of coming in contact with notorious drug criminals and convicts. Above all else, teenagers who become addicted to drugs are very likely to fall into the life of the same crime in order to make up for their habit.
For all of the above reasons and also because the current strategy that the government has in place is doing little to protect everyone from the dark side of drugs, there is dire need to set things straight. What’s wrong with the country’s drug policy is probably the habit of the law to turn people with a problem into convicts and defiling their future education, as well as employment prospects? What these drug users really need is help and motivation that might assist them in falling out of their habit. Also, once the penalties that are supposedly going to protect people from drugs are brought down, people may stop making unhealthy choices like sharing of needles, succumbing to the pressure from peers and turning to drugs and from ending their lives by overdosing on drugs, and might actually make attempts to helping themselves come out of their situation. Furthermore, people may be more willing to help others who want to quit drugs without fear of legal actions and social denigration.

Works Cited

Knafo, Saki. Yet Another Study Proves The War On Drugs Is Failing. 01 October 2013. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/01/study-drug-war_n_4025500.html>.
Parliment of Canada. National drug policy: Unites States of America. 24 July 2001. <http://www.parl.gc.ca/content/sen/committee/371/ille/library/dolin2-e.htm>.