WE'RE NO. 1!!! The US leads the world in drug use, does this mean that the war on drugs is a total failure?

Question

Billions upon billions of taxpayer dollars have been spent for the war on drugs, yet the US is still the No 1 importer and consumer of cocaine and marijuana.

Is the war on drugs:

1) a failure

2) a wasteful expense of tax dollars

3) a total failure

4) all of the above

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080701/hl_nm/drugs_who_dc

In addition, this article is skewed because it doesn't mention that the US is no. 1 in the numbers of prescription pain medication (eg: legal dope) abusers as well. Which in my eyes, isn't much of an accomplishment either.

Why do you think Americans use/abuse so many drugs per capita, compared to other countries (alcohol included)?

Answer 1

yes and imagine how bad it would be without it

Answer 2

A total failure and then some:

-billions wasted

-thousands killed

-countless politicians bribed

And, any 14 year old can get all the drugs he wants any time of day.  Have you considered that?  If a 14 year old can find the dope-man, why can't the cops?

Answer 3

4)

Think about all of the programs that money could have gone towards. There are people on the street dying of hunger while we pay billions of dollars to imprison pot heads. Does anyone else see something wrong with this?

Answer 4

4

Answer 5

How many people are incarcerated in the penitentiaries around the country for petty non-violent drug charges? How much do we the citizens pay in taxes each month to keep the incarcerated? How much work do they produce for free? How many law officials are employed in America? How many drug councilors? How many judges? Lawyers? How many Customs Officials? How many politicians have been elected with their cries of 'getting tough on crime'? What crime is their primary objective?

The "War on Drugs" is a multibillion dollar industry. It keeps people employed all across the country, and helps keep the rich rich and the poor poor. When looking at it from a power perspective, it is an outstanding success and it will never end.

Answer 6

American culture has for many years been centered on "instant gratification", and drugs provide that instant high.

Only in America would cocaine not be good enough so someone had to invent crack.

Only in America wouuld crack not be good enough so someone had to invent crystal meth.

We are a nation of excess.

Answer 7

The problem with statistics, it can be interpreted differently.  There weren't that many countries that were surveyed.  Plus, it was a survey based on "have you ever used these substances" and not so much as current drug use.  It stated that lifetime tobacco use in the US is 74%, but actually current use is only around 30%.

It's really not surprising that US leads in certain drug use ... considering we have higher incomes.  With money, more people are able to experiment with drugs.  but that doesn't mean their going to continue using it.

As for the war on drugs...unfortunately, a lot of money is wasted on the program, but in a way it's kinda necessary.  There are a lot of money being wasted on even more stupid programs though. US is a huge country, so a lot of drugs will get through anyway.  But if we can make a dent in that amount, it's kinda worth it.  I've been to areas around the US that are overrun by drugs, and I definitely do not want to see that spread.

Answer 8

Because per capita, we have the highest average personal income...

The rest of the world would be worse... if they could afford to...

Answer 9

#4

When will we ever learn that declaring "war" on problems doesn't solve anything?

We are not at peace with ourselves, each other, or much of anything.  Just Say No has become Just Stay Numb.