Hot Topic (10/26): The "War on Drugs"

[Cafe GroupAdmin]

 

War on drugs: Definition of insanity

7:15 am October 23, 2009, by Cynthia Tucker

The timing was probably coincidental, but days after announcing that the feds would no longer prosecute folks for using medicinal marijuana, Attorney General Eric Holder and the Drug Enforcement Administration publicized huge raids conducted nationwide, including in metro Atlanta, against the Mexican drug cartel La Familia. In other words, they want it known that they  are still heavily involved in the futile “war on drugs.”

In metro Atlanta, authorities arrested 31 people  in Gwinnett County, three in Cobb and one in Clayton while recovering a total of 188 pounds of crystal meth, 17 kilos of cocaine, 13 guns and $50,000.

Gwinnett police officers raided 10 locations in that county alone. Rodney Benson, special agent in charge of the DEA’s Atlanta Field Division, said metro Atlanta, Dallas and the Los Angeles area were La Familia’s biggest operational centers.

Of course, there is a huge difference between cancer patients smoking a little pot and the savagely violent La Familia, which traffics in meth and cocaine, launders drugs and kidnaps and kills. Still,  the feds wouldn’t say whether they arrested any cartel leaders, which suggests they didn’t.  And as long as cartel leaders remain free,  the family’s violent work will continue.

And why wouldn’t it when they have so many customers here in the United States?

Analysts said the operation appeared designed to allay skepticism among Mexico’s political leaders about the U.S. government’s commitment to Mexico’s crackdown on cartels. The drug-related violence has taken about 15,000 lives since President Felipe Calderón entered office in 2006. Mexican authorities have arrested 80,000 drug suspects, and Washington has responded with $1.4 billion in aid under the Merida initiative, but some in Mexico have grown frustrated with the U.S. market’s continuing demand for illegal drugs.

In other words, the war on drugs still isn’t making any progress. Both Mexico and the United States would be better off if the US shifted billions in resources away from police and prosecution and into education and drug treatment. Yes, we should still target violent cartels. But until we can curb the appetite for meth through drug treatment, the violence will continue.

* * *

Do you agree or disagree with the author of this article?

Is the the "War on Drugs" is working?  Or is it a misguided and expensive failure?

What is the solution to the problem of illegal drugs, especially meth?

[Grannygoli]

I agree with the author that resources should be put into education instead of punishment. 

When children are neglected or taught things through means that disempower them such as the use of constant fear to curb their behavior, they do not have a sense of what is good for their bodies; they just do things because they are afraid someone is going to punish them.  And when the punisher is not there, they do the deed, like drink or have irresponsible sex.  So, there has to be education and ways to have communities to prevenet issues of addiction. 

Even if you magically get rid of all drugs, some other drug will replace it.  FOr instance, some children who are dirt poor, abused, and raised in terrible situations, go around to public bathrooms and take out the, "what do you call it?", the hockey puck like disinfectant out of the unrinals and they suck on them and it gives them a high and they are addicted to it.

In some places, street children go around sniffing glue and are addicted to it.  Meth which as I understand it, I may be wrong, is something you can make at home, is something that addicted people can figure out how to produce.  I might be wrong about meth, I just dont remember how it is made but there are drugs you make at home easily or grow.

What else?  My point is that as long as people are raised in the dark, they'll live in the dark and if you make that substance of abuse illegal, then there is crime, such as all the mafia and cartels surrounding alcohol prohibition.

Education is the answer.

That is why the war on drugs is likened to flushing money into the toilet by researchers who have looked at its affectiveness.  It takes up so much resource and does not work, infact it increases crime.

Instead of putting money into the war on drugs and the wars and military bases around the world, we need to put all these trillions of dollars into securing our borders, and then educate and build this country. 

The money can be put into re-newable and sustainable energy such as wind, solar, and countless other ways that exist (this will create employmet) but do not have a chance in the monopolistic economy of energy today because the energy industry has power to stop other sources from working in the market, and it must be put into local agriculture, and education and health.

Also, all drugs should be made legal because then we see the users right in front of us and we can then help them and prevent future addictions from happening.  Also, it takes away crime.

In communities that are ridden with gangs, crime, drugs, young people turning to it all, a green economy, legalization of drugs, community building, education, hope for a future with good employment will turn those negative tides around.  I am sure of it!

[kdompke]

I agree i feel that inorder to fix something it needs to be stopped at the schools.  Kids need  to be educated about what is good and wrong but also in various areas kids need to have mentors in their neighborhood to help them when tempted to do drugs.  Because most schools have the dare program it is the education that is done in the community that is most important.

[trippyhippy]

The war on drugs is a complete failure as is the DARE program.  Did you know that if your child goes through the DARE program they have a higher chance of using drugs?  I did a research paper on DARE in college and I was shocked at the #s.  I think we need to legalize pot and tax it then use that money to help pay for rehab programs for people on harder drugs.  Anyone who says they need rehab for weed is an idiot.

[grammie6]

Have to agree with you, all 4 of my kids went through DARE.  Both girls dabbled in drugs at around age 15...luckily nothing long term...I have found the best defense against drugs is sports..both of my sons are athletic and I never had problems with them..."knock on wood"

Quoting trippyhippy:

The war on drugs is a complete failure as is the DARE program.  Did you know that if your child goes through the DARE program they have a higher chance of using drugs?  I did a research paper on DARE in college and I was shocked at the #s.  I think we need to legalize pot and tax it then use that money to help pay for rehab programs for people on harder drugs.  Anyone who says they need rehab for weed is an idiot.

[Grannygoli]

Yes, school education is important but also education of parents and early childhood educators.  Community centers, programs to help new parents and even soon to be parents are important.  So many things go into the creation of an addictive presonality and those have to be addressed. 

Quoting kdompke:

I agree i feel that inorder to fix something it needs to be stopped at the schools.  Kids need  to be educated about what is good and wrong but also in various areas kids need to have mentors in their neighborhood to help them when tempted to do drugs.  Because most schools have the dare program it is the education that is done in the community that is most important.

[Grannygoli]

Quoting grammie6:

Have to agree with you, all 4 of my kids went through DARE.  Both girls dabbled in drugs at around age 15...luckily nothing long term...I have found the best defense against drugs is sports..both of my sons are athletic and I never had problems with them..."knock on wood"

Quoting trippyhippy:

The war on drugs is a complete failure as is the DARE program.  Did you know that if your child goes through the DARE program they have a higher chance of using drugs?  I did a research paper on DARE in college and I was shocked at the #s.  I think we need to legalize pot and tax it then use that money to help pay for rehab programs for people on harder drugs.  Anyone who says they need rehab for weed is an idiot.

I agree completely.  Sports is engages the body in a practice and discipline that is beneficial mentally and physically. 

How often do we see children playing sports when they are young?

[mmtosam06]

Quoting kdompke:

I agree i feel that inorder to fix something it needs to be stopped at the schools.  Kids need  to be educated about what is good and wrong but also in various areas kids need to have mentors in their neighborhood to help them when tempted to do drugs.  Because most schools have the dare program it is the education that is done in the community that is most important.

[grammie6]

Quoting Grannygoli:

 

Quoting grammie6:

Have to agree with you, all 4 of my kids went through DARE.  Both girls dabbled in drugs at around age 15...luckily nothing long term...I have found the best defense against drugs is sports..both of my sons are athletic and I never had problems with them..."knock on wood"

Quoting trippyhippy:

The war on drugs is a complete failure as is the DARE program.  Did you know that if your child goes through the DARE program they have a higher chance of using drugs?  I did a research paper on DARE in college and I was shocked at the #s.  I think we need to legalize pot and tax it then use that money to help pay for rehab programs for people on harder drugs.  Anyone who says they need rehab for weed is an idiot.

 

I agree completely.  Sports is engages the body in a practice and discipline that is beneficial mentally and physically. 

How often do we see children playing sports when they are young?

For my boys the teammate aspect is definitely a plus....the boys tend to keep each other out of trouble.

[Grannygoli]

I see.  Thanks Grammie.  I hear you.

[Friday]

 Yes, I agree with this article. The War on(some) Drugs is an abject failure and waste of resources. Besides that it's not the govts place to tell consenting adults what they can do to or with their bodies.

Legalize, regulate and tax. Use the revenue to offer rehab to those who want it and to educate with the truth about all drugs and their effects.