America’s War on Drugs

Drug use in the U.S.

• The demand for drugs in the United States has fueled a prosperous underground and illegal business.

• The question becomes what impact does this have on the United States?

All (ages 12 and other)

Ever 31.3%

34.4%

34.0%

34.2%

34.2%

34.8%

35.8%

39.7%

38.9%

41.7%

Past year 17.5 16.3 12.4 11.7 10.3 10.8 10.6 11.5 11.0 12.6

Past 30 days 14.1 12.1 7.7 6.7 5.9 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.3 7.1

Incidence of use up to 2001

Drug use among Seniors in High School

Drug use among high school seniors, 2002

Drug Ever used Past year Past month

Amphetamines 16.8% 11.1% 5.5%

Cocaine 7.8 5.0 2.3

Crack 3.8 2.3 1.2

Hallucinogens 12.0 6.6 2.3

Heroin 1.7 1.0 0.5

Inhalants 11.7 4.5 1.5

LSD 8.4 3.5 0.7

Marijuana/hashish 47.8 36.2 21.5

MDMA (ecstasy) 10.5 7.4 2.4

Methamphetamine 6.7 3.6 1.7

PCP 3.1 1.1 0.4

Steroids 4.0 2.5 1.4

Source: Monitoring the Future Study

Drug Expenditures

1995  $40.0 $13.2 $10.2 $9.2 $2.7 $75

1996  $39.2 $12.8 $9.5 $10.1 $2.7 $74

1997  $34.7 $11.4 $10.5 $9.3 $2.5 $68

1998  $34.9 $11.1 $10.8 $8.0 $2.3 $67

1999  $35.6 $10.1 $10.6 $5.8 $2.6 $65

2000* $35.3 $10.0 $10.5 $5.4 $2.4 $64

DRUG USER EXPENDITURESTable 1. Total U.S. Expenditures on Illicit Drugs, 1988–2000 ($ Billions)

Year Cocaine Heroin Marijuana Meth- amphetamine Other drugs Total

The government’s role

• The issue before the federal government is to evaluate the costs to society of illicit drug use.

• What are the costs in terms of lost productivity, educational costs, money spent on drugs rather than legitimate economic activity, societal costs of rehabilitation, etc…

Table 4. Drug Use by Current Employment Status,1 1995–20002

(Percent Prevalence)

Full-time

Part-time

Unemployed

Other3

Past month use of any illicit drug

1995 5.5 9.0 14.3 3.1

1996 6.2 8.6 12.5 3.0

1997 6.5 7.7 13.8 3.0

1998 6.4 7.4 18.2 2.8

1999 CAI 6.1 6.3 6.2 3.3

2000 CAI 6.3 7.8 15.4 3.5

National Drug Control StrategyUpdate 2003

February 2003

DRUG USE CONSEQUENCES

Table 22. Estimated Direct1 Costs to Society of Drug Abuse,1992–2000 (2000 $, Millions)

Year Health care costs   Other costs Total Direct costs

1992 13,132 26,579 39,711

1993 13,095 26,406 39,501

1994 12,959 28,078 41,037

1995 12,630 30,300 42,930

1996 12,402 29,782 42,184

1997 12,821 32,383 45,204

1998 13,435 33,513 46,948

19992 14,165 35,050 49,215

20002 14,899 35,274 50,173

1”Direct costs ” include health care costs attributable to drug abuse and other costs which include the cost of goods and services lost to crime and social welfare costs.2Figures for 1999 and 2000 are projections based on observed trends for 1992 through 1998.

Source: Office of National Drug Control Policy. The Economic Costs of Drug Abuse in the United States, 1992–1998 (September 2001).

National Drug Control StrategyUpdate 2003

February 2003

Table 23.Estimated Indirect1 Costs to Society of Drug Abuse,1992 –2000 (2000 $,Millions)

Premature death

Drug abuse related illness

Institutionalization/ hospitalization

Productivity loss of victims of crime

Incarceration

Crime careers

1996 21,375 21,997 1,664 2,530 26,949 25,782 100,296

1997 17,791 21,128 1,763 2,432 28,877 28,227 100,218

1998 17,351 24,175 1,866 2,262 31,477 25,725 102,855

19992 17,823 24,832 1,890 2,164 33,515 26,424 106,648

20002 18,256 25,435 1,915 2,217 35,601 27,066 110,491

Costs to Society

• We can’t deny the fact that illicit drug use costs the U.S. billions of dollars a year.

• The issue for the government becomes how to attack the enemy and wage war.

Budget Outlays

Where to attack??? Demand?

• From the demand side.• Gain an understanding

of the affects of many drugs.

• Profiling America’s typical drug user and/or abuser.

Where to attack??? Supply?

• From the supply side.• Protecting the borders.• Cooperation from

countries who are producing.

• Questionable due to potential for corruption.

Traffic

• The film "Traffic," tells the story of American and Mexican police working to combat the vast, underground network of drug production and distribution.

• The movie has an up close view of the dangers of addiction, and how deeply entrenched the drug networks are. By the end of the film, audiences are not only left wondering whether governments will win this so-called "war" but also whether winning is even possible.

• No Facet of society is left unscathed.

So far in our story…

• The story lines:

• 1. Mexican local and state police and the Federales.

• - Are the Federales corrupt or the police?

• - Often it is the Federales who are responsible for enforcing the drug laws.

So far in our story…• 2. The new Drug Czar.• - Head of the Office of

National Drug Control Policy.

• - The previous head is based off the real Drug Czar in the 1990’s General Barry McCaffery.

• - Today that position is actually held by John Walters. The man on the right is the attorney general of Mexico Rafael Concha.

So far in our story…

• 3. DEA Case• - Undercover gone

wrong.• - Will he sell his

supplier out?

The Drug Czar’s Daughter

• What is she on???• Crack and heroin seem

to be her drugs of choice.

• What is happening to her?

• Frontline link

Table 1. Percentage of Americans reporting lifetime use of heroin, by age group, 1999–2001

Age 1999 2000 2001

12–17 0.4% 0.4% 0.3%

18–25 1.8 1.4 1.6

26–34 1.3 1.1 1.3

35 and older 1.5 1.4 1.5

Total population 1.4 1.2 1.4

Source: National Household Survey on Drug Abuse.

Marijuana’s History in the U.S.

• Marijuana cultivation began in the United States around 1600 with the Jamestown settlers, who began growing the cannabis sativa or hemp plant for its unusually strong fiber that was used to make rope, sails, and clothing.

• Between 1850 and 1937 marijuana was widely used throughout United States as a medicinal drug and could easily be purchased in pharmacies and general stores.

• The increasing use of marijuana by mainstream white Americans helped lead to the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970, under which mandatory penalties for drug offenses were repealed by Congress and marijuana was categorized separately from other narcotics.

Marijuana’s History in the U.S.

• President Carter's administration pushed for decriminalization of marijuana, with the president himself asking Congress to abolish federal criminal penalties for those caught with less than one ounce of marijuana.

• In 1986, President Reagan signed the Anti-Drug Abuse Act, reinstating mandatory minimums and raising federal penalties for possession and distribution.

• NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) was created in 1970. It is the largest lobbying group for the decriminalization of marijuana.

• The debate hinges upon the impact occasional use has on society versus the addiction aspect and gateway aspect of marijuana use.

Decriminalization in Denver, Colorado.

• Passing with 54 percent of the vote, Initiative 100 states that if over the age of 21, possession of up to one ounce of marijuana is legal within city limits.  However, state and federal laws override.

• Several states have lessened the penalty of possession of small amounts but still issue fines.  Other cities, such as Seattle and Oakland, have passed laws making marijuana possession a low priority for police officers.

Frontline Video

• The video will take us though the impact penalties on marijuana has had on American Society.

• It will also take us through a little history relating to these penalties.

• A Quiz