The war on drugs is focused on the wrong end

We have all heard about the war on drugs and billions have been spent on it.  This money has been spent with the intent of wiping out the source of the drugs by crushing the cartels, destroying the poppy fields in Afghanistan and arresting those that distribute and sell drugs.  We have produced ad campaigns and created slogans, such as “just say no” and “drug abuse is life abuse”.  You may have also seen the TV ads, such as the one showing the frying egg in a pan, where they say “this is your brain on drugs”. Since 1971 when the war on drugs was declared by President Nixon we have spent over $1 trillion.

What we have to show for it is 2.3 million behind bars for violation of drug laws and 240 million drug users worldwide.  When you trow someone in jail they learn more about the drug world than they knew before the went in.   It is never good to put like minded people who are struggling with life together with out a plan. I have met many who have come out of jail and struggle with the world, they tell me it is easier inside than outside.  Why would that be if they were being property educated and treated?

A Pew study says it costs the U.S. an average of $30,000 a year to  incarcerate inmate, but the nation spends only an average $11,665 per public school student. The future of our nations and our children should be our priority.

All of this money and effort spent on the war on drugs has had little to no effect on drug use in in the US or the world for that matter.  In all categories the use has steadily climb every year since the war on drugs was declared.

Are we going at this from the wrong end?  What if that $1 trillion was spent on the war on drugs was spent on treatment and dealing with the demand side and not the source.  Let’s look at it from a pure business model of supply and demand.  Cut of the demand and you reduce the supply.

If we properly treat and educate those addicted with long term treatment, not just continue with the current model of dry someone out for 28 days and send them right back to where and what got them started in the first place.  Ninety percent of those going through rehab relapse and most relapse multiple times.  Treatment and recovery is a life time not spot treatment, one and done.   Treatment needs to be long term and treat the source and underlying cause, not just the surface addiction.  They must have the tools of accountability in their hands and the knowledge about how to use them.

I find this alarming…  We need to take action with education, treatment and accountability that is effective.