US War on Drugs is over

[Matanuska Thunder]

From:

http://ofsubstance.o...gs-is-over.html

 

 

15 November 2012

 

The US has long been known for its tough approach to drug use, with its prisons overcrowded with people arrested on drug-related matters.

However, there are now clear signs that the country's 'war on drugs' approach has ended.

 

 

US Director of the Office of Drug Control Policy Gil Kerlikowske has been in Australia this week for high-level meetings with government officials, drug policy advisors, researchers and advocates.

 

Kerlikowske's visit highlighted the significant shift in the US's drug policy approach which has occurred since his appointment by President Barak Obama in 2009. Kerilowske coordinates all aspects of US Federal drug control programs and implements the President's National Drug Control Strategy. His position is sometimes known as the 'US Drug Czar'.

 

At a forum hosted in Canberra yesterday by the Australian National Council on Drugs, he explained how much the US has moved from its traditional law enforcement focus to adopting a public health approach to drug problems.

 

When Obama was first elected, international drug and alcohol experts wondered whether his stated public-health approach to drugs would translate into reality. When he was appointed, Mr Kerlikowske called for an end to the term 'war on drugs'.

 

With the passing of time, it appears that rhetoric has begun to turn to reality.

 

In Canberra yesterday, Kerlikowske emphasised the importance of a partnership between public health approaches and public safety measures such as law enforcement. He listed a number of initiatives as evidence that the US had changed its policy approach to drug problems:

• The passing of the Fair Sentencing Act,reduces the disparity of mandatory term of imprisonment for a drug offences involving powder and crack cocaine – a situation that disproportionately affected minority populations.
  
• the growth to 2600 drug courts to divert offenders into treatment
  
• drug-free communities, a $370 billion program which funds 700 small community organisations to educate young people about the effects of drugs.
  
• $31 billion in funding for drug education and treatment programs.
  
• healthcare reform which will allow many people who have problems with drugs to seek help
  
• the National Prevention Strategy, which aims to prevent harms in a diverse range of areas including domestic violence and alcohol and other drugs.
  
• work to include substance use treatment within primary health care, rather than as an isolated treatment approach.
  
• the establishment of 27 programs targeting high-intensity drug trafficking areas, incorporating Federal, state and local governments.
  
• the HOPE project which works with former prisoners who fail the drug-testing conditions of their parole.
  

Kerlikowske noted that President Obama had also removed a ban on Federal funds being used for needle exchange programs, but that this had been overturned by Congress.

 

While the US has adopted a public health approach, Kerlikowske made it clear that the legalisation of illicit drugs was not on the agenda.

 

'Both the phrase "war on drugs" and the term "legalisation" are not helpful,' he said. 'Neither approach is humane, realistic or grounded in science. There is a growing policy recognition that drug problems are a public health issue. However, public debate is still polarised between a war and legalisation.'

 

Kerlikowske told the audience that he and his team had learnt much on this visit about Australia's approach to both drink and drug driving.

 

The address was televised live on ABC 24 Hour News.

Edited November 15, 2012 by Matanuska Thunder

[bufo marinus]

Interesting days indeed... where this will end up is anyone's guess

[Ferrethead]

I think the term 'drug problem' shouldn't be used. Just because there is a drug doesn't automatically mean there is a problem.

 

Maybe it should be called an 'addiction problem'. Leave the word drug out of it, cause its the persons use that causes the problem.

 

Guns don't kill people. People kill people.

[buzzo]

I think it will end up in the positive when Government finally admit the cost of fighting drugs keeps going up the problems is more prevalent than ever.

Governments are all starving for for income these days.

[iTiC]

'Both the phrase "war on drugs" and the term "legalisation" are not helpful,' he said. 'Neither approach is humane, realistic or grounded in science. There is a growing policy recognition that drug problems are a public health issue. However, public debate is still polarised between a war and legalisation.'

 

This sounds great, these arent the only alternatives, the Power brokers present these as the alternatives so they can continue to govern thier economic interest.

This is volitle

I_Think the time might be soon here, where the sheer numbvers of 'those that smoke" will be able to be voiced and have their influence... I like the sound of the 5th of November, remeberece day is at that time, Yet no-one rmebers teh 5th of November any more

On the 5th wear a sprig of a real Poppy, not the cut papper thing you buy, but one you grew... a red one

(or a white one stuck into green water for a while)

??

[Budzzz]

"Remember Remember the 5th of November....I see no reason why.....Should ever be forgot."

Some of us remember the 5th of November.

That sprig of a real Poppy will make a nice addition to a Guy Fawkes mask.

But I don't think that blowin up parliment house is gonna get it legalised, though it is a nice thought.

 

On a serious note I don't like the way the words "drug problem" gets used to imply that simply because cannabis is illegal, that therefore labels anyone who uses it as having a drug problem. Though when these same words are used to descibe someone that abuses a drug (any drug), I believe that it's fair to use the same words to describe their addiction.

[lifestylez]

I think he is actually right about not using the word "legalisation" because it can imply that it will just become freely available to anyone.

 

They should be talking "regulation" because all legal drugs are regulated anyway. I wouldn't expect heroin to just be available on the shelf of my local supermarket. But at the same time, someone who desperately needs herion should be able to access it in a safe way and with known quality control.

 

I believe this is a large reason why the 2 US states got the votes for their cannabis initiatives because they propsed a government regulated solution to cannabis possession and growing. For example, you are still only allowed to posess 1 ounce in colorado without prosecution. Is that legalisation? If you are caught carrying more than an ounce you are most likely back in the court system.

 

We've got to end the war on drugs but at the same time, we need to propose intelligent regulations that will be implemented as law when it comes to allowing adults more freedom with drugs.

Edited November 18, 2012 by lifestylez

[The Stoned Jester]

check this out guys it's a doco all about it

 

https://cannabis.community.forums.ozstoners.com/topic/58937-the-house-i-live-in-documentary-on-the-war-on-drugs/

[Ford Fairlane]

Be worth checking out Russell brands doco on abciview too.. Talks a.lot about addiction and what addiction is