Good Example Of Research Paper On War On Drugs

War on drugs

Introduction
The war on drugs is an American initiative to reduce the influx of illegal drugs into the US. This war was fought by arming other police forces, providing aid to other countries and direct military action. The crackdown on drug users and dealers filled up American prisons on an unprecedented scale. Despite all these measures, drugs continue to plague the American society. The actions sanctioned by congress failed to even reduce usage. The war on drugs campaign was initiated by President Richard Nixon in 1971. It has cost the US over $40 billion to fight a war that rose a phenomenal 25000% from the initial budget of $20 million in 1971 (Sullivan E. et al., 2005).

Will incarceration solve the problem?

Fifty-one percent of Federal prison inmates have been incarcerated for drug related problems in the US. There are still $20 million users at large. Is the drug problem going to end if we incarcerate the $20 million users? Our prisons are filled up and overflowing. An estimated twenty percent of Americans are in prisons and correctional facilities. Yet, several of them are repeat offenders. They keep at their habit despite increased prison terms for each repeat offence (Earleywine, 2005). Clearly, this form of war isn’t helping the cause at all. Today, our children are still at risk to the threat of substance abuse (Robinson et al, 2007).

What are the consequences of indefinite jail terms for drug users?

Drug related offenders are almost always users too. Hence, there is no real solution when these addicts are still using. Incarcerating these offenders in prison will not help fight the war on drugs effectively. Properly monitored rehabilitation programs are the only way to bring a conclusion to this problem. Some time back we fought off tobacco efficiently due to awareness programs and prohibition enforcement. Eventually, the drug infestation of this nation will also be beaten. However, brute force and jail terms aren’t going to solve or even reduce rates.
Today we have 20 million drug related inmates in our overflowing prisons and less than one fifth of that population has access to drug rehabilitation programs. These inmates should be moved out of prisons and into rehabilitation and counseling centers. Indefinite incarceration will only prove to be counterproductive (Merica and Perez, 2013).

What should be done to fight the war on drugs effectively?

There are only three parts to effectively combating drug abuse in the US. The first part is awareness. This should start as early as sixth or seventh grade. Nowadays, children have access to almost any information. It is best to start early awareness programs in school than to clean up the act later on. The second part is providing alternative employment options for former peddlers and dealers. Unless we provide them with an alternative path to improve their economic situation, they will still return to the same old trade. Finally, society should accept them and allow them with adequate time to readjust their lifestyles.

Conclusion

Drug wars in America have cost over 40,000 lives every year. It claims lives from all walks of life including Wall Street brokers, rock stars, sportspeople, business men, law enforcement officers, drug users and drug dealers. It costs the US tax payer over $51 billion and is still largely ineffective. Police personnel and DEA agents resemble combat soldiers when attired in full battle gear. Prisons are filled with drug related cases. Yet there is no sign of deterrence in any quarter. In addition, this war has cost 200,000 Mexican lives. It’s time for the warriors involved in this war to lay down the heavy firearms and pick up the posters. The existing policies are remarkably ineffective and the only way to win this war is from the inside. People who are affected hold the key to winning the US war on drugs (PBS Staff, 2014).

References

Sullivan, Larry E. et al., ed. (2005). Encyclopedia of Law Enforcement: Federal. Sage Publication.
Robinson, Matthew B. & Scherlen, Renee G. (2007). Lies, damned lies, and drug war statistics: a critical analysis of claims made by the office of National Drug Control Policy. SUNY Press.
Earleywine, Mitchell (2005). Understanding marijuana: a new look at the scientific evidence. Oxford University Press.
Merica, Dan and Perez, Evan (2013). Eric Holder seeks to cut mandatory minimum drug sentences. Retrieved from: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/12/politics/holder-mandatory-minimums/
PBS Staff (2014). Drug Wars. Retrieved from: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/drugs/etc/synopsis.html