The failed drug war

October 16, 2012

The United States, home to beer, vodka and Xanax, has been waging a war against getting high on unapproved substances for 40 years.How big a failure is it? Perhaps the biggest policy failure in our history.

 

  • http://www.facebook.com/cmoore2001 Chris Moore

    This makes me mad. Thanks Eric.

  • CEKent

    You know, this chart also demonstrates that the money spent kept the addiction rate flat. You can argue the cost, but not the results.

    • http://www.ericgarland.co ericgarland

      Actually, it doesn’t demonstrate that at all. There is zero proof that the trillion-dollar program of incarceration and dumping poison on South Americans has an impact on addiction one way or another. Moreover, the hockey-stick uptick in spending actually shows that more money does not equal better results. To argue that the drug addiction rate was destined to rise to 20% of the population were it not for our heroic efforts to put people in jail for marijuana is a little improbable.

      On top of it, Europe’s programs of medicalization of the problem show tangible improvements to addiction rates and recovery.

      Criminalization of drugs: failure, failure, failure. But then, don’t ask me: ask Mexico.

Previous post:

Next post: