Overview - The War on Drugs

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Walter Gilmore
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1 THE WAR ON DRUGS

2 Key Questions Should the punishment for using performance enhancing drugs be as severe as it is currently? Should marijuana be legalized for recreational use? Are the current steps taken through the War on Drugs the best way to accomplish its goals?

3 Overview - The War on Drugs The term itself was first used by President Nixon in 1971 and was popularized by the media. The war was to be a campaign of prohibition of illicit drugs as well as foreign military aid and intervention.

4 Overview, cont. The War on Drugs was taken on by the US Government with the assistance of other participating countries. Aims to define and reduce the illegal drug trade. Includes a set of drug policies in the US intended to discourage the production, distribution, and consumption of illegal drugs.

5 The War on Drugs Current interdiction efforts are jointly handled by both federal agencies [such as the Coast Guard, pictured here] and state agencies.

6 What is a Drug? The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act defines drugs as articles intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention in man or other animals and articles (other than food) intended to affect the structure or any function of the body or other animals.

7 Narcotics and Controlled Substances The US separately defines narcotic drugs and controlled substances, which may include non-drugs. Tobacco, caffeine, and alcoholic beverages are explicitly excluded. A narcotic drug is a drug derived from opium or opium-like compounds, with potent analgesic effects associated with significant alteration of mood and behavior, and with the potential for dependence and tolerance following repeated administration.

8 Current Trends - Illegal Drugs in Sports Doping is the use of performance enhancing drugs [anabolic steroids] in sports. Most commonly seen in baseball and football. The United States Anti-Doping Agency [USADA] is a non-profit, non-governmental agency for the US which independently monitors the use of performance enhancing drugs.

9 Issues From the Headlines A Recent Doping Case Most famous recently reported case was in cycling Lance Armstrong was charged by the USADA for using performance enhancing drugs. The charge was based on blood samples from 2009 and 2010, along with testimonies from his team staff and other cyclists. Armstrong denied the claims and stated he had never failed a drug test, but later announced he would not fight the USADA s charges. Would you consider this an admission of guilt? Why or why not? 24 August USADA banned Armstrong from cycling for life and considered all his cycling results since August 1998 null, including his 7 Tour de France wins.

10 Harpo Takes On Lance

11 Current Trends - Illegal Drugs in Sports [Baseball] George Mitchell released the Report to the Commissioner of Baseball of an Independent Investigation into the Illegal Use of Steroids and Other Performance Enhancing Substances by Players in Major League Baseball. Report named 86 players that had some connection to steroids. Some of those named include: Andy Pettitte, Roger Clemens, and Barry Bonds.

12 Current Trends - Illegal Drugs in Sports [Football] A survey of 120 NFL athletes reported that 67% of offensive linemen used steroids Out of 2,552 retired NFL players surveyed, nearly 1 in 10 confidentially claimed they had used anabolic steroids during their careers. 16.3% of offensive linemen and 14.8% of defensive linemen reported using steroids. Do you feel that this might contribute to the current trend of concussive injuries sustained in football? Why or why not?

13 Current Trends - Illegal Drugs in Sports [Football, cont.] The NFL banned substance policy is the longest running in American professional sports, which began in Since 1989, NFL players that test positive for banned substances are suspended without pay. Players are suspended 4 games for the first offense, 8 games for a second offense, and 1 year for a third offense. The NFL collects more than 14,000 random drug tests each year.

14 Drug Trends Over the Years 1960s- Marijuana, LSD 1970s- Ludes, Cocaine 1980s- Cocaine, Crack 1990s- Marijuana, Shrooms 2000s- Meth Today- Prescription Pills

15 Timetable - The War on Drugs Harrison Narcotics Act First U.S. law that restricted the distribution and use of certain drugs. Required sellers of opiates and cocaine to get a license National Prohibition Act/18 th Amendment Prohibited the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcohol for consumption The Federal Bureau of Narcotics was created Prohibition of alcohol was repealed President Franklin D. Roosevelt supported the adoption of the Uniform State Narcotic Drug Act Marijuana Transfer Tax Act was passed.

Timetable - The War on Drugs Released in 1936, the film Reefer Madness was released to the public. It featured the supposed effects of marijuana use.

16 Timetable - The War on Drugs Released in 1936, the film Reefer Madness was released to the public. It featured the supposed effects of marijuana use. The accuracy [or lack thereof] of the depiction of those effects notwithstanding, think about how material presented in pop culture can change public perception.

17 Timetable - The War on Drugs, cont President Eisenhower created a 5-member Cabinet committee to stamp out narcotic addiction Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act Categorized controlled substances based on their medicinal use and potential for addiction Drug Enforcement Administration created Replaced the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Vice President George H.W. Bush began pushing for CIA and U.S. military involvement in drug intervention efforts.

18 Timetable - The War on Drugs, cont President Reagan attempted to strengthen drug enforcement. Created mandatory minimum sentencing and forfeiture of cash and real estate for drug offenses Anti-Drug Abuse Act Appropriated an additional $1.7 billion to fund the War on Drugs. Established 29 new mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses National Narcotics Leadership Act Established the Office of National Drug Control Policy [ONDCP] Mandated a national anti-drug media campaign for youth. Later became the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign.

19 The Physical Effects of Drugs - Meth

20 A Brief History of Meth Taken from the film The Salton Sea, this pseudo documentary chronicling the development of methamphetamine does touch upon some interesting [and factual] cultural and historical points. And, of course, has the requisite meth lab explosion.

21 The War on Drugs - Present Day May 21, The U.S. Government published an updated version of its Drug Policy. The director of ONDCP stated this policy is something different than the War on Drugs. Stated the Obama administration would not use the term War on Drugs because it is said to be counterproductive.

22 The New Drug Policy Per the Obama Administration s own wording, the US Government does not see drug legalization as the solution to drug control. Drug addiction is a disease that can be successfully prevented and treated making drugs more available will make it harder to keep our communities healthy and safe. Success is not measured by the number of arrests made or prisons built.

23 The War on Drugs - Enforcement The U.S. has the highest incarceration rate in the world. From , the Office of Drug Abuse and Law Enforcement performed 6,000 drug arrests in 18 months. In the 1980s, arrests in general had risen 28%, but drug arrests rose 126%!

24 The War on Drugs - Enforcement, cont It was reported that the War on Drugs led to the imprisonment of one million Americans each year. About 225,000 of these arrests were for the possession of cannabis (marijuana) million Americans were arrested for drug offenses - 500,000 were imprisoned.

25 The War on Drugs - Enforcement, cont. The U.S. Department of Justice reported that between 1990 and 2000, the total growth of drug arrests accounted for 27% among black inmates, 7% among Hispanic inmates, and 15% among white inmates. In addition to imprisonment, the U.S. deports many noncitizens convicted of drug offenses. Nearly half of all drug arrests involve marijuana.

26 The War on Drugs - Enforcement, cont. Although the chart opposite fairly clearly speaks for itself, it is apropos to ask What sort of effect has the War on Drugs had on the US? Does the data opposite indicate that the US is winning the War on Drugs or merely fighting it? Explain your answer!

27 The War on Drugs - Funding In 2003, the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) school lecture program cost $230 million. As of 2009, the U.S. government had spent over $2.5 trillion dollars on the War on Drugs The U.S. government spent over $15 billion on the War on Drugs. This rate equals spending about $500 each second. Do you feel that this is a wise use of taxpayers dollars? Why or why not? If not, how would you deal with the drug problem in America?

28 The War on Drugs Public Campaigns The Just Say No campaign of the Reagan years was ostensibly one of the more effective anti-drug campaigns. According to a study conducted by the University of Michigan, drug use dropped among high school students during the campaign. Marijuana use dropped from 50% in 1978 to 36% in Psychedelic drug use dropped from 11% to 6%. Cocaine use dropped from 12% to 10% Heroin use dropped from 1% to 0.5% among high schoolers.

29 The War on Drugs Public Campaigns More recent anti-drug campaigns like Above the Influence and nonprofit group the Partnership for Drugfree.org have also helped the federal government to achieve its goals in the so-called War on Drugs.

The War on Drugs Public Campaigns In this and the following slides, you will be shown various anti-drug commercials that have been developed throughout

30 The War on Drugs Public Campaigns In this and the following slides, you will be shown various anti-drug commercials that have been developed throughout the years Your task is simple: determine whether or not the commercial would keep you from using drugs, as well as why or why not. First up the classic.

31 The War on Drugs Public Campaigns Up next, we have a selection from the Just Say No years. Again, you be the judge would this commercial keep you from trying the drug spoken to in the commercial? What components of the commercial are compelling, or in other words, what about this ad works as an anti-drug tool?

32 The War on Drugs Public Campaigns And another antidrug commercial from the Just Say No years, this time featuring Paul Reubens [better known as Pee Wee Herman]. Again, would this commercial keep you from trying the drug addressed?

33 The War on Drugs Public Campaigns When drug use among America s youth transitioned back from things like Ludes, Whippits, and psychedelic drugs like LSD to the most common gateway drug, marijuana, the anti-drug campaigns responded. So, would this one keep you from trying marijuana?

34 The War on Drugs Public Campaigns This anti-drug commercial also tries to prevent marijuana use, though using a slightly different tactic than the previous commercial. Do you think it s a more effective one? In short, would watching this commercial keep you from trying marijuana?

35 The War on Drugs Public Campaigns Not all anti-drug commercials target the use of illegal drugs. Some, like this one, focus their attention on trying to keep people from abusing more common drugs such as tobacco. So, would this commercial convince you not to smoke?

36 The War on Drugs Public Campaigns Tobacco isn t the only legal drug whose use can have terrible consequences, as this anti-alcohol ad from Australia shows. Clearly targeting alcohol use in teens, do you think this is an effective commercial? [It certainly is an accurate one, as all too often the scenario shown is played out, with predators preying on those whose judgment is impaired by alcohol.]

37 The War on Drugs Public Campaigns [Viral] It is my belief that seeing the potential damage wrought by drug abuse is far more compelling viewing than simply being preached to by a celebrity or other authority figure. Sometimes, even comical footage of the damage done can be convincing.

38 The War on Drugs - Mexico 90% of cocaine is believed to enter the US by its southern border with Mexico. Nearly half of all smuggled marijuana comes through Arizona s border with Mexico President Bush signed the Mérida Initiative Provided $1.4 billion to Mexico and the countries in Central America over three years to help fight drug smuggling and violence.

39 The War on Drugs - Mexico Approximately 50,000 people in Mexico are killed as a result of drug violence each year.

40 The War on Drugs - Efficacy In 1986, the DOD funded a two-year study conducted by the RAND Corporation that in its 175 pages essentially said that interdiction efforts involving US military assets would have almost no effect on cocaine importation. Although 10-15% of heroin and 30% of cocaine is intercepted, the profit margins for drug traffickers are close to 300%. In short, for interdiction to make a dent, a minimum of 75% of illegal drug shipments would have to be intercepted.

41 The War on Drugs - Efficacy Continuing to focus solely on the war on drugs in re cocaine, the US spent $4.7 billion from 2000 to 2006 on Plan Colombia in an effort to eradicate coca fields. Coca fields were destroyed, but the effect was simply for cocaine producers to move to different, more remote areas. The total acreage of coca fields, then, remained the same. To put it one way, this was the equivalent of squeezing a balloon.

42 The War on Drugs - Efficacy The same lack of efficacy seen in the US s war on drugs is seen elsewhere, too. According to a study, approximately 29% of Canadians in 1994 reported that they d used illegal drugs in their life. By 2004, the number who said they d used illegal drugs reached 45%. Per the Monitoring the Future Survey, about 85% of high school seniors in 2005 found marijuana easy to obtain. That number remains virtually unchanged, even going back to Additionally, the number never dropped below 82.7% during the three decades the survey has been taken.

43 The War on Drugs - Efficacy Some suggest that because the war on drugs is failing, legalizing [certain] drugs would be beneficial. An economist at Harvard suggested that legalizing all illicit drugs would produce net benefits of $65 billion a year in the US. The RAND Corporation stated that if marijuana were legalized, Mexican drug cartels would lose at least a fifth of their annual income from drug smuggling.

44 The War on Drugs - Efficacy Since the Obama administration [and most every other administration] has not advocated for legalizing drugs, a more likely alternative to the war on drugs would be to go after the demand [via treatment programs] rather than focusing on shrinking the supply. According to the Bureau of Prisons, the fee for incarcerating a federal prisoner was $24,440 per year in The cost of receiving treatment in a drug court program ranges from $900 to $3500 per year. You do the math. Money talks.

Working to Reform Marijuana Laws

MARIJUANA DECRIMINALIZATION TALKING POINTS TALKING POINT #1: Decriminalizing marijuana frees up police resources to deal with more serious crimes. Working to Reform Marijuana Laws 60,000 individuals are