The War on Drugs

Paper Summary:

This paper presents and disputes the most common reasons against the war on drugs. The paper argues against the assertions that the war on drugs is not working, that it is too expensive and that the legal system is an ineffective way to deal with drug users. The paper provides evidence that reveals how the war on drugs has reduced drug use, that the social costs of drugs far outweigh the cost of fighting them and that the legal system is necessary to deter crime and to cope with the violence associated with drug use. The paper concludes that the war on drugs is effective and should be continued.

From the Paper:

"Anti-war on drug advocates make generalizations backed by poor research concerning drug use statistics to spread the belief that the war on drugs isn't working. One of their most unsupported claims is that drug use in the United States is on the rise. A variety of shoddy techniques are used to make drug use increases look larger than they actually are. For example, articles will make comparisons based on time frames that are too short to be completely relevant or make fluffy statements that are not based on any factual drug use data such as "The majority of Americans do not see the nation's illegal drug problem getting any better after years of increases in national spending." (Cromie, 1998)"

Sample of Sources Used:

• 10 main pros and cons on medical marijuana. ProCon.org. Retrieved August 8, 2006 from Web site: http://www.medicalmarijuanaprocon.org/pop/conflicts.htm
• Cromie, W. J. (1998, March 19). War on drugs a failure, Americans say." Harvard University Gazette Retrieved August 8, 2006 from Web site: http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/1998/03.19/WaronDrugsaFail.html
• Drug use trends (2002, October) Office of National Drug Control Policy. The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. Retrieved August 8, 2006 from Web site: http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/publications/factsht/druguse/
• Effectiveness of the war on drugs ( 2002). Drug Policy Alliance. Retrieved August 8, 2006 from Web site: http://www.drugpolicy.org/library/factsheets/effectivenes/index.cfm
• Farley, T. P. (2004). Attack against the drug war ignores social costs. New York: Asbury Park Press.

More papers on The War on Drugs:

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• Research Paper # 3000 : "The War on Drugs: Fighting a Losing Battle"
• Essay # 5276 : "The War On Drugs"
• Comparison Essay # 6627 : "The War on Terrorism and the War on Drugs"

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