War on Drugs

The War on Drugs isn't working. That's a heck of a thing for a drug and alcohol rehab website to say! Many view the War on Drugs as propaganda and rhetoric with no real teeth. Money spent on the War on Drug in 2005 is expected to top $50 billion dollars in the U. S. with $20 billion coming from the federal government and $30 billion coming from state governments.

The War on Drugs in the U. S. has its roots deeply embedded in racism. In 1875, the first anti-drug ordinance was passed in San Francisco, because authorities at the time were afraid of Chinese men luring "white women" into promiscuous activities using opium.

In the early 1900's, the idea of the "Negro Cocaine Fiend" was highly publicized as someone who was prone to violent sexual rampages against white women. Outlawing marijuana in 1937 was a repressive measure against Mexican migrant workers who were crossing the borders and taking jobs during the Great Depression. Marijuana was supposed to promote violence within the "degenerate races." No evidence to any of this has ever been verified.

This is not to say that all drugs should be legalized, for which some groups have been pushing. Not at all. There is a serious drug problem in this country right now. According to the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, 46.4% of the U. S. population (12-years-old and above) have used an illegal drug. With the economy at its present condition and limited resources to throw at the War on Drug, it is important that we focus on the correct way of dealing with drugs in the U. S.

The War on Drugs would do well to continue efforts to keep drugs out of the country. Education, treatment and changing societal thinking also needs to be addressed in a bigger way. Sending people to prison for minor drug offenses instead of rehab is definitely not the way to address current problems. Drug courts have shown to be popular alternatives, which have proven to be more humane and effective in combating substance abuse issues.

With so many special interest groups, pony-ing up their views on the War on Drugs and what needs to be done, its been difficult to separate the history and emotion from the current needs of our individuals and societal changes that must occur. Educating ourselves and clarifying our own beliefs is the first step. The second step is educating our children by example. And not just educating our children about drugs, but about helping them to heal the pain that may make them susceptible to turning to drugs in the first place. When you come down to it, its not about the War on Drugs at all. It's about the War on Pain.