Finally, a new direction in the War on Drugs

President Obama yesterday, unveiled the most comprehensive drug abuse prevention program ever seen in the United States. Among its many provisions, it seeks to promote intervention-based programs through medical care and creates a "community based national prevention system". This plan is the latest development in a series of progressive steps by the Obama Administration to combat illicit drug use. The ban on needle sharing was lifted, the DEA was instructed not to prosecute people in legalized marijuana states, and stiffer incarceration sentencing for crack cocaine over sniff cocaine was abolished. These all appear to be steps toward the acceptance of drug use, but this is discounting the deeper they will have in the war on drugs.

One of the most problematic issues in the war on drugs is the gap in enforcement. A black man who lights up behind his home in New York City is much more likely to get arrested and sentenced for drug possession than a white middle class student who goes to UVM. This is wrong, as it misses the true effect of punishment. Schools like the University of Vermont have established anti-drug policies that spend money combating student use of marijuana and other substances. A little increased enforcement of the state's drug laws would effectively discourage much of the drug consumption on campus. We need to move these programs to poorer areas where people aren't using drugs because they think they can get away with it. People in our economically depressed areas are using drugs because there is no opportunity, little education, and no hope. Why should these areas be the focus of our enforcement efforts? Our enforcement efforts should be focused on discouraging casual users in affluent areas.

Reduced incarceration times and increased intervention programs are essential for achieving a drug-free society. The threat of imprisonment will not deter a crack cocaine addict, but if a health worker correctly identifies the problem and puts the individual in treatment, the cost to the state and personal benefit are much higher. Placing people in prison for drug related crimes, while doing nothing to combat the socioeconomic conditions that led to their drug use is morally wrong. Furthermore, we should be focusing our efforts on drugs that are seriously hazardous to people, such as cocaine, heroin and amphetamines. Wasting our time enforcing marijuana laws is a complete waste of scarce funds.

Good job Obama, glad to see you reversing some of the failed policies of your predecessor. Hopefully this is only the beginning.