News / Health & Wellness
Drug War Downfall
As America’s war on drugs has become a punchline, a policy official speaks out with criticism of his own.
Police officers may have made more than 850,000 marijuana arrests in 2009, a recent government report shows youth marijuana use increased by approximately nine percent. And that’s just the beginning of the bad news. Bill Piper, director of national affairs for the Drug Policy Alliance, is speaking out about the failed war on drugs and the growing drug problem in the US.
The War on Drugs
The war on drugs was initially declared nearly 40 years ago by then-President Richard Nixon. Since then, tens of millions of Americans have been arrested and hundreds of billions of dollars have been spent, according to Piper, but drugs are just as readily available all these years later.
“Supporters of the failed war on drugs will no doubt argue this increase means policymakers should spend more taxpayer money next year arresting and incarcerating a greater number of Americans,” Piper said. “In other words, their solution to failure is to do more of the same. Fortunately, the ‘reform nothing’ club is getting mighty lonely these days -- 76 percent of Americans recognize the drug war has failed; millions are demanding change.”
Just how widespread is drug use? “The FBI changed its policy of not hiring people with a history of illegal drug use because the policy disqualified so many people that it could not fill its law enforcement positions,” according to Piper.
While that may seem funny to some, criminalizing those suffering from the disease of addiction is a serious matter. It stigmatizes those in need of help and may keep them from seeking treatment.
Drug Addiction
If you or someone you love is battling a drug addiction, call The Canyon at our toll-free number. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about treatment, financing or insurance.
