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DrugScreening.org


 
Three of Four U.S. Voters Say Drug War is Failing
October 6, 2008

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News Summary

Three out of four likely U.S. voters think the war on drugs is failing, and 27 percent think legalizing some drugs is the best alternative, according to a new nationwide poll released by Zogby Interactive Oct. 2.

The dim view on the drug war's chances for success was shared by a majority of respondents from all political parties, albeit by more Democrats (86 percent) and independents (81 percent) than Republicans (61 percent).

When respondents were asked about the single best strategy for reducing drug trafficking and illicit drug use, 27 percent favored legalizing some drugs, 25 percent preferred border interdiction, 19 percent named reducing demand through treatment and education, and 13 percent said stopping narcotics production in foreign countries.

The nationwide poll, conducted Sept. 23-25, queried 4,752 likely voters and has a margin of error of plus or minus 1.5 percentage points.

A spokesman for the group Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) said the poll results were not surprising. "Voters are ready for reform of our nation's failed drug prohibition policies," said Jack Cole, a former New Jersey State Police undercover narcotics officer and LEAP's executive director. "But when will lawmakers get the message?"

COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE:

Posted by Annabah on 08 Oct 08 05:28 PM EDT
First, I would like to thank you all for your comments. There is a little Yang in every Yin and vise-versa. Allow me to introduce myself. I am an ex-substance abuser, who abused crack cocaine for over 13 years. I flatter myself to say I have moved forward, acquiring a BS degree in Human Services and becoming a Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC III) in the state of Colorado. I would like to say that Katy is correct in saying “we spend millions of dollars addressing symptoms and not the problems.” I believe that the difficulty of addiction, with its corresponding symptoms would best be addressed, personally by eliminating the ‘cause(s) via treatment. The chief cause of drug addiction is ‘desire’, whether the desire is for the use of a substance or the sell of a substance, falling in line with supply and demand. The solution is a two-prong push toward eliminating both supply and demand. Strangely enough, stopping production at the source (foreign countries) is the lowest of percents (13%).

Posted by GREGORI M. HARPER on 07 Oct 08 09:20 PM EDT
YES, I AGREE WITH DECRIMINALIZING SOME DRUDS AND LEGALIZING OTHERS... I'M TIRED OF SPENDING 80 BILLION BUCKS A YEAR FOR NOTHING... WE CAN WIN THIS WAR BY TAKING OVER THE DRUG TRADE, AND PUTTING IT IN THE HANDS OF RESPONSABLE PEOPLE, AND REGULATING, AND MANGAGE THIS PROBLEM !!!

Posted by Jim Sharp on 07 Oct 08 08:33 PM EDT
We are spending BILLIONS on enforcement, imprisonment, interdiction, etc. We have effective, research-based, methods of prevention and treatment but they are drastically underfunded and "treatment on demand" is just an unreachable dream. It is past time to reorder our priorities. This is NOT a war. This is NOT a criminal justice issue. This IS an illness and the funding should be so directed accordingly. Paul and Roger are correct: we must do a more than adequate job to reach our young people with effective prevention strategies. Sue and Karen are correct: this is not a war (we are not at war with people with addictions - they are our neighbors and family members). It is time to shift the money from this misguided war to prevention and treatment.

Posted by John from Oceanside on 07 Oct 08 05:09 PM EDT
The United States had the highest persentage per capita of people addicted to drugs in 1900 when all drugs were legal. Legalizing is no solution.

Posted by Katy on 07 Oct 08 02:45 PM EDT
To address the addiction issues, requires getting to the root of the issues.As with most social ills, we spend millions of dollars addressing symptoms and not the problems.The poverty level in this country is rising, creating a sense of despair; hence a large number of persons are seeking escape routes.Efforts need to be made to equalize the playing field, job creation, salary equalizers, etc. No matter how much education is put in place, if a child is going hungry yet sees neighbors living the high life, the choice is easy. When mothers & fathers are seeing their children go hungry, it is easier to avoid in a state of euphoric blissfulness. For those not in poverty, you will find the maj. of users also have some level of mental health issue, which is an issue that is constantly being pushed under the table. For years, people have been self-medicating (i.e. using drugs) to address MH issues.I believe a lot of the persons being diagnosed with MH illnesses are seeking to conform to society and thus create breaks in their psyche.So until we accept people for who they are and recognize their place in society, you will have those issues.

Posted by Beth Greene, Corryton, Tn. on 07 Oct 08 10:59 AM EDT
Who is the 27% that wants to legalize this hell ? They must not have ever buried a child, or worked in a facility where you watch someone detox off of this poison. Or....could they possibly be in some capacity to benefit from the rewards of addicts ? Nothing needs to be legalized.

Posted by Pat Nichols on 07 Oct 08 10:54 AM EDT
Great post Karen! The first thing we need to do is quit this "blame game" and realize that since the dawn of time every civilization known to man has had about the same number of citizens addicted to some type of mind altering chemicals. It was true then, it is true today and will be true for all future generations. No one caused it, no one will ever find a cure, nor will any society be able to control it. It is what it is!! Here's my solution, anyone convited of a drug or alcohol crime is deported (no plea bargaining) to a island somewhere far, far away for the remainer of their lives. Am I joking? Think about what our society would look like if that was a law. Ok, maybe that's a little radical:)

Posted by Prevention Specialist on 07 Oct 08 10:43 AM EDT
I recently read a quote that I think fits this situation well. "Education is great, but it is real hard to teach abstinence in a brothel." When you have a culture that encourages and accepts drug use, no matter how good your message is, isn't going to do a whole lot of good. We need to be a lot more targetive in our approach and create culture change, and that does not necessarily mean using educational messages to change the culture. We forget that in a high school there is more than one "type of kid" Usually we use messages that are broad and general so we "reach more kids." The problem is a very small percentage of those kids are actually using, and the majority of the ones that are, aren’t in that group. We need to be more targeted and go after specific peer groups where maybe more than half of those kids are using by using social marketing strategies.

Posted by Rob Fleming on 07 Oct 08 09:39 AM EDT
Right, and some people drive over the speed limit, so let's eliminate speed limits. Some drive with bad breaks and bad steering, so let's abolish safety standards. Some of those cars manufactured overseas? Ban imports, and assume there will be no local manufacture to meet demand. Far better to recognize the early signs of trouble and make corrective action readily available.

Posted by Karen Ventimiglia on 07 Oct 08 09:39 AM EDT
I have said for a long time we have been losing the war on drugs. Im 51 yrs old mother of 4 and have heard that education is the key to sucess, well education is out there everywhere, where is the success?? I would iike to make a comment to Paul Hydes comment.. He says family togetherness is the answer.. Ive been an advocate for the fair treatment of addicts for several years now and i dont think that the breakdown of the family is to blame for most of it. I lost my oldest son to a Drug overdose 6 yrs ago this month and there was never a night we didnt have dinner together. We were the traditional family, Mom at home to tend to the kids, Dad out working. I was the soccer Mom, My kids went to church every Sunday and we were the apple pie in the sky family people looked up too. It doesnt matter what came first, the chicken or the egg, what matters is treating the addicts we have with dignity and respect and treating there addictions with the attitude that they are treatable but its a life long chronic disease like diabetes... God bless the Recovering addicts in this county, they are the real heros and the only ones who seem to be making a difference.

Posted by Sue Brooks, LCDC on 07 Oct 08 09:27 AM EDT
We need to get rid of the word and the attitude of "war." It stigmatizes addiction and addicts as the enemy. Only then can a discussion on legalizing psychoactive drugs be held.

Posted by Roger Morgan on 07 Oct 08 08:32 AM EDT
What is lacking is prevention, which has to focus on kids ... and parents can't do it alone. 56% of kids are at moderate to high risk because parents aren't capable of doing this alone. Non-punitive random drug testing should be mandatory in all schools, grades 6 through 12 so that we as a nation protect our national assets and get them to adulthood where research has shown they should never have a problem. If they don't, society won't. If we continue to spend 99% of our resources moping up the damage and treating the wounded, and less than 1% on prevention, we will not achieve a different result. Roger Morgan Californians For Drug Free Schools

Posted by Paul Hyde, Hamblen County Substance Abuse Coalition on 07 Oct 08 08:19 AM EDT
Let's face it, we are not going to stop the manufacturing of drugs or their distribution. Education is not neccessarily the answer. The answer to our drug problem is to reach the young people, making sanctions for providing drugs and/or alcohol to juveniles hurt.Lack of morals in the home is so detrimental. What ever happened to the family actually sitting down at the supper table together and having family time? God forgive our families for neglecting to raise our kids with respect and self esteem!

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