Reducing the Harm of America?s Drug Problem Essay -- essays research p

The use and abuse of non-prescription drugs has been a problem in America since colonial times. Historically, the reaction to this problem has been the enforcement of prohibition laws and providing total moderation education. This has resulted in big business in America according to the coupled States power of National Drug Control policy, the federal government worn out(p) $19.2 billion dollars in 2003 on the state of fight on drugs (1). Unfortunately, the abstinence ground education and prohibition laws that are incorporated in the war on drugs have been wholly ineffective in slowing the demand for outlawed drugs, and have had the opposite effects of driving up demand, street value, and drug-related crimes. The U.S. war on drugs bases its success on a decrease, and eventual eradication of the prevalence of drug use, a goal that has yet to be met. Detroit chief of police force Jerry Oliver, in a 2002 interview with ABC news, said Clearly, were losing the war on drugs in this country and its insanity to keep doing the identical thing over and over again (qtd. in Stossel). As the war on drugs continues to fail and cost this country billions of dollars, it has become clear that a new approach to the problem is needed. By changing the focus from severe to decrease the overall use of drugs to focusing on decreasing the cast out side effects (both personal and societal) of drug use, our country result eventually be able to make significant steps forward in our drug problem. This approach is known as harm diminution.Harm reduction is a multi-faceted philosophy that includes various strategies to help lessen the negative wallop of drug abuse on our nightclub. These negative impacts include death, disease, suffering and crime. 1 of the basic assumptions which harm reduction is based on is there has never been, is not now, and never will be a drug-free society (Drug indemnity Alliance). Some of the approaches endorsed by harm reduction are science- based, earlier than scare tactic education, treatment for drug addicts instead of imprisonment, and the reduction of wellness risks for addicts still actively using drugs. The programs which have grown out of these ideals will not only reduce the cost of the drug war by reduction of imprisonment and law enforcement costs, but will reduce the circularize of diseases associated with drug use such as HIV/AIDS. ... .... Drug Policy Alliance. Treatment vs. Incarceration Drugpolicy.org 2004. 21 July 2004. Myers, Jim. Just Say Less. Youth instantly May 2003. Pew Research Center. Interdiction and Incarceration Still cover charge Remedies People-Press.com 21 March 2001. 25 July 2004. Riley, Diane & OHare, Pat. Harm lessening Policy and Practice. Prevention Researcher 2000. 25 July 2004. Rosenbaum, Martha. Kids, Drugs, and Drug Education, A Harm Reduction Approach Drugtext.org 1996. 22 July 2004. Stossel, John. Just Say No Governments War on Drugs Fails. ABC News.com 30 July, 2002. 25 July 2004. United States. Office of National Drug Control Policy. National Drug Control scheme FY 2003 Budget Summary. Feb 2002. 25 July 2004. United States. Partnership for a Drug-Free America. A Snapshot of the Teen Drug Problem in America right away 2002. 25 July 2004. http//www.drugfreeamerica.org/Templates/Article.asp?ws=PDFA&vol=1&grp=NewsCenter&cat=Feature+Stories&top=Articles&tit=A+Snapshot+of+the+Teen+Drug+Problem+in+America+TodayZernike, Kate. Anti-Drug curriculum Says it will Adopt a New Strategy. The New York Times on the Web 15 Feb. 2001. 25 July 2004.