Analysis of the Articles on Failure of War on Drugs - Article Example

Analysis of the Articles on Failure of War on Drugs Roll No: Teacher: 24th October 2008 Analysis of the Articles on Failure of War on Drugs War on drugs is an issue that is well talked among the literary circles and think tanks of America and other countries of the world. Initially people only thought about prohibition of drugs as the only solution to this problem but with the passage of time, when in spite of all measures taken in terms of prohibition, there were not required results by the war on drugs, the authors like Buckley, Nadelmann, Schmoke, McNamara, Sweet, Szasz and Duke come up with new thinking on the issue. According to the mentioned authors, the war on drugs has failed. In their essays on the issue of the failure of war on drugs, they give multiple reasons for the failure of war on drugs. They consider that the usage of drugs should be legalized in order to reduce the ratio of drug employment by the masses of America. According to William F. Buckley in his essay about the failure of war on drugs, drug taking is a gregarious activity. Buckley informs that there is no involvement of medical proceedings and medical evaluation in order to check the amount of consumption of drugs because of its being illegal (Buckley 1996). Because of illegality of drugs, medical evaluation is not possible. The war on drugs has failed because more people die because of the war on drugs in place of overdosing (Buckley 1996). According to Buckley, because of drug usage being illicit, people are involved in doing crimes such as robbery and killing. People who are desperate to take drugs have to take money from any illegal means to take hold of illegal drugs (Buckley 1996). Buckley adds that government has to appoint many thousands of policemen to chase the people taking and selling drugs illegally and they are involved in pursing the criminals of drugs business. A large number of policemen can do other constructive tasks in place of doing their cat and mouse game with the drug users and sellers (Buckley 1996). Buckley opts for the establishment of federal drugstores with no extra profit that is involved in illegal trafficking of drugs (Buckley 1996). The drug users because if illegal access to drugs are forced to do other crimes illegally. According to Buckley, the jails are full with illegal drug users due to which, the government has to endure a large amount of expenses on those drug criminals. He further informs that medical treatment for drug usage is far cheaper as compared to this cost that is involved in keeping drug criminals in jails. War on drugs has failed because the government is unable to control the usage of drugs by all their measures (Buckley 1996). Nadelmann emphasizes in his essay on the failure of war on drugs that the war on drugs has done nothing except taking the freedom of the citizens. Moreover, all the problems of the society are linked to the illegal usage of drugs (Nadelmann 1996). According to the author, many people are involved in taking drugs for medical reasons but legally, they are considered criminals on the basis of their dosages of drugs. People are sent to jails because of the usage of drugs for the treatment of their health (Nadelmann 1996). Nadelmann informs that no one can eradicate drugs completely as they are here to stay; therefore, the war on drugs has failed. According to Nadelmann, war is drugs is doing nothing but just stopping people to do self-medication that is a right of every citizen. People are not prohibited towards drugs but they obtain them illegally for the eradication of their pains. Drug prohibition is making people more criminal minded in place of deterring them towards its usage (Nadelmann 1996). Nadelmann gives examples of many other countries, where the drug usage is legalized and the rate of drug usage has reduced due to this legalization. Methadone that is reported to be effective in drug related treatment is kept very expensive and is sold only in some areas (Nadelmann 1996). Therefore, the government and drug prohibition institutes are just taking away the individual rights of citizens by stopping them to make use of drugs for their treatments, due to which, the war on drugs is meaningless. Instead of making people move away from drugs, they are pushing people towards their usage (Nadelmann 1996). Schmoke regards war on drugs as a problem that should have a solution. He informs the drug prohibition is strengthening crime because due to illegality of drugs, there are more profits in this business due to which, new people and businesspersons are attracted towards it (Schmoke 1996). The police officers who should work for stopping violent crimes are made to chase drug criminals due to which, violent criminals get refuge and time to go away with their violence. Schmoke informs that due to illegality of drugs, the rate of HIV is also increasing (Schmoke 1996). Due to the war on drugs, people are involved in exchanging used needles due to which, there are chances for the spread of HIV. Mostly people that come up with AIDS are related to drug usage because of illegal usage of drugs by means of exchange needles (Schmoke 1996). Schmoke informs that hundreds of billions of dollars are consumed in stopping or reducing the usage of drugs but nothing has happened and the rate of crimes and diseases has increased; so, the war on drugs has failed (Schmoke 1996). McNamara informs in his essay on failure of war on drugs that the business of illegal trafficking, dealing, selling and distributing is highly profitable because of its illicitness. He informs that a large number of law enforcement institutions along with great prohibition measures and policemen, the criminality associated with the employment of drugs, has not been even reduced a bit (McNamara 1996). In place of reduction, the criminality associated with illegal drug usage has increased. Arresting makes no use except that the jails and prisons are made full of jails with illegal users and sellers of drugs. A person who has been enticed to violate law can be arrested in place of the guilty (McNamara 1996). Many people who are innocent get entrapped because of the war on drugs. Many people are killed because of wrong accusations and many people have to lead a major part of their lives in imprisonment because of this war on drugs (McNamara 1996). All of these steps have harmed the lives of people and the war on drugs has become only a reason to endanger people. In addition, the war on drugs has also started a racial war as non-whites are trapped in more drug related crimes as compared to whites (McNamara 1996). It has done no fruitful work to stop the usage of drugs. Sweet reports that the expenditures involved in impeding the drug business have increased to a large extent but the problem is at its place as it was before. Therefore, there is no improvement towards the solution of illegal drug business (Sweet 1996). Sweet further informs that drug problem is related to health and there is no need of a war on this problem. There are no reasons for the imprisonment of people who are involved in taking drugs because it is purely a health issue and it should be dealt in terms of medication, not persecution (Sweet 1996). Szasz accounts in his essay that self-medication is considered a crime in America because people use drugs for their self-medication. Szasz reports that war on drugs and its followers have harmed people, their rights and their lives on the basis of their false legalities that they have associated to drugs (Szasz 1996). Adults should not be dealt as children and should be given their rights. According to Szasz, when there was no war on drugs, the usage of drug rate was lower but with the start of war on drugs, the rate has only increased. People suffer because of drug laws not because of drug usage (Szasz 1996). According to Duke, war on drugs has destructed the inner cities such as a war does, it has taken away the freedom of individuals and it has spread racism as more non-whites are accused of making use of drugs. Duke informs that prohibition of drugs has increased crime and evil in society. A lot of money is consumed on the prohibition of drugs but usage of drugs is in its place and consumption of a heavy economy has done no favour in decreasing the rate of drug usage. Duke reports that America can have healthy cities or war on drugs. It cannot have both because war on drugs is a main reason of the destruction of health in American cities (Duke 1996). When there was alcohol prohibition in America, Americans were more alcoholic and the rate has reduced with legalization of alcohol. Same is applicable for drugs. People are forced to lead their lives in jails because of drug abuse and the unlawful usage of drugs. Illegality of drugs and accusation of crimes on drug users is dealt as a scapegoat in order to continue the war on drugs (Duke 1996). Overall, the essays written by the essayists are persuasive. The arguments that they make for informing that the drug war has failed are convincing and credible. The essayists regard the war on drugs as the major reason for causing criminal activities by drug abusers. The reason that the drug war has failed because in accessing drugs illegally, people do other crimes such as robbery and killing for accessing drugs that they are unable to get legally. War on drugs has failed because the government instead of its consumption of a large budget and preventive measures is not able to control drug usage. According to my perception and understanding, I think that the essayists are right in their claim that the usage of drugs should be legalized. The reasons for this legalization are that people are attracted towards taking drugs and get involved in the business of trafficking drugs because a lot of money is involved in it and there is no tax in this business because of its being illegal. When this business will be legalized, the cost of drug trafficking and business will be like other businesses, which will push people away from this business. When the business will be legalized, people will not have to be in jails for most of their lives for their intake of some ounces of drugs. Drug usage is also employed for medical reasons, which is a right of citizens of America. Works Cited Buckley, William F. National Review. July 1, 1996. Nadelmann, Ethan A. National Review. July 1, 1996. Schmoke, Kurt. National Review. July 1, 1996. McNamara, Joseph D. National Review. July 1, 1996. Sweet, Robert W. National Review. July 1, 1996. Szasz, Thomas. National Review. July 1, 1996. Duke, Steven B. National Review. July 1, 1996. Read More