DOCUMENT RESUME ED 353 161 SO 241 TITLE Fighting the Drug War. INSTITUTION Council of State Governments, Lexington, Ky. PUB DATE 90 NOTE 32p. PUB TYPE Collected Works Serials (022) JOURNAL CIT The Journal of State Government; v63 n2 Apr-Jun 1990 . EARS PRICE MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Current Events; Drug Abuse; Federal Government; Government (Administrative Body); *Government Role; *Illegal Drug Use; Law Enforcement; *Public Policy; Social Problems; *State Government; State Programs IDENTIFIERS *War on Drugs ABSTRACT All nine articles in this periodical issue focus on the theme of the war against illegal drug use, approaching the topic from a variety of perspectives. The articles are: "The Drug War: Meeting the Challenge" (Stanley E. Morris); "Ways to Fight Drug Abuse" (Bruce A. Feldman); "Treatment Key to Fighting Drugs" (Stan Lundine); "Patience and Persistence: A Winning Strategy in the Drug War" (Jim Jones); "States Vital to National Drug Effort" (Edwin J. Delattre); "Hidden Dangers of the Drug War" (David F. Musto); "A Harmfulness Tax: Legalize and Tax Drugs" (Lester Grinspoon); "Cities Need Money to Fight Drugs" (Julio Barreto, Jr.; Janet E. Quist); and "States Must Lead Local Efforts" (Donald L. Reisig; Richard J. Liles). Connections with the field of education occur in descriptions of student assistance programs and in the emphasis on education as the key to reducing demand. (DB) ********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** \ ulume b i, Number 2 April-June 1990 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Fighting the Drug War Office d Educahonai Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) fiMs document has been reproduced as awed from the person or organuatIon The Drug War: Meeting the Challenge )ngmattng r Minor changes have been made to omproye by Stanley E. Morris reproduction Quality Points& stew or °gllons stated In this clocu. ment do not necessarily represent official Wi-ys to Fight Drug Abuse OERI posmon or policy by Bruce A. Feldman Treatment Key to Fighting Drugs by Stan Lundine Patience and Persistence: A Winning Strategy in the Drug War by Jim Jones States Vital to National Drug Efforts by Edwin J. Delattre "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY Hidden Dangers of the Drug War by David F. Musto A Harmfulness Tax: Legalize and Tax Drugs TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES by Lester Grinspoon INFORMATION CENTER (ERICI." Cities Need Money to Fight Drugs by Julio Barreto Jr. and Janet E. Quist States Must Lead Local Efforts by Donald LReisig and Richard J. Liles The Council of State Governments is a joint agency of all state governmentscreated, supported, and directed by them. It conducts research on state programs and problems; maintains an informa- tion service available to state officials and legislators; issues a variety of publications; assists in state-federal liaison; promotes regional and state-local cooperation; and provides staff for affiliated organizations. Council Officers Chairman: President: House Speaker Thomas B. Murphy, Georgia Governor Michael N. Castle, Delaware Chairman-Elect: President-Elect: Senator W. Paul White, Massachusetts Governor Terry Branstad, Iowa Vice Chairman: Vice President: Speaker Pro Tem Jahn H. Connors, Iowa Governor Rose Mofford, Arizona CouncilOffices Headquarters: Eastern: Alan V. Sokolow, Director Iron Works Pike 270 Broadway, Suite 513 P.O. Box 11910 New York, NY 10007, (212) 693-0400 Lexington, KY 40578.1910 (606) 231-1939 Midwestern: Virginia Thrall, Director 641 E. Butterfield Road, Suite 401 Lombard, IL 60148, (708) 810-0210 Executive Director: Daniel M. Sprague Southern: Colleen Cousineau, Director 3384 Peachtree Rd., N.E. Atlanta, GA 30326, (404) 266-1271 Directors: Darrell Perry Western: Andrew P. Grose, Director Administration and 121 Second Street, 4th Floor Associated Programs San Francisco, CA 94105, (415) 974-6422 Washington: Benjamin J. Jones, Director E. Norman Sims Hall of the States, 444 N. Capitol St. State Services Washington D.C. 20001, (202) 624-5460 Council Editorial Staff: Dag Ryen, Director, Information Services Elainc. Knapp, Executive Editor Linda Wagar, Associate Editor Cheri Collis, Contributing Editor © Copyright 1990 The Council of State Governments Iron Works Pike P.O. Box 11910 Lexington, KY 40578-1910 Effective with Volume 63, Number 1, the Journal is published quarterly, rather thanbimonthly.-1 The opinions expressed by authors are their own and do not necessarily reflect opinions orpolicies of The Council of State Governments. The Journal of State Government is published quarterly by The Council of State Governments,Iron Works Pike, P.O. Box 11910, Lexington, KY 40578-1910. Annual subscription: $40. Singlecopies: $15. For address change, notify The Council of State Governments, Iron Works Pike,P.O. Box 11910, Lexington, KY 40578-1910. THE JOURNAL OF 211C 3 WM aMilMarlr The Council ofCSG governmentsState 'Volume 6:3, Vumber 2 April-10s 1990 TABLE OF CONTENTS Fighting the Drug War The Drug War: Meeting the Challenge by Stanley E. Morris 29 Ways to Fight Drug Abuse by Bruce A. Feldman 32 Treatment Key to Fighting Drugs by Stan Lundine 35 Patience and Persistence: A Winning Strategy in the Drug War by Jim Jones 37 States Vital to National Drug Efforts by Edwin J. Delattre 40 Hidden Dangers of the Drug War by David F. Musto 43 A Harmfulness Tax: Legalize and Tax Drugs by Lester Grinspoon 46 Cities Need Money to Fight Drugs by Julio Barreto Jr. and Janet E. Quist 50 States Must Lead Local Efforts by Donald L. Reisig and Richard J. Liles 52 Eitor's Note Those fighting the war on drugs concede there's While victory in this war might never be com- single path to victory. Education, prevention, plete, reducing the toll taken by drug abuse is treatment, law enforcement and corrections are worth fighting for. There is disagreement, how- all vital to success. Neither is the battle likely to ever, on the best way to fight the drug war. be won by governments aloneno matter how The federal strategy stresses cooperation among closely they coordinate their strategies. federal, state and local governments. Stanley E. Just as was said of Vietnam, this is a war that Morris, writing for the Office of National Drug only will be won in the hearts and minds of the Control Policy, says the federal government will people. And while the public supports the drug continue to rely on states and local governments war, there seems to be large numbers of dissent- to carry out their traditional responsibilities. ers who support casual and heavy drug habits. Ways that Pennsylvania is combating illegal The good news is that the number of Americans drugs are reported by Bruce A. Feldman. New who use illicit drugs is apparently falling. From York Lieutenant Gov. Stan Lundine relates his 1985 to 1989, Americans who used cocaine, mari- state's efforts to expand drug treatment for pris- oners. A comprehensive approach of education, juana or other illegal drugs dropped from 23 mil- treatment and enforcement is outlined by Idaho lion to 14.5 million, according to a federal survey. Attorney General Jim Jones. The bad news is that while the number of casual The involvement of state governments is vital cocaine users dived to 2.9 million, the number of to a winning strategy, according to Edwin J. frequent users climbed to 862,000. Delattre of the American Enterprise Institute. Crack, a smokable form of cocaine, gained rapid Delattre also argues against the legalization of popularity for providing an intense high at a currently illicit drugs. cheap price. While crack's spread in the ghettos A historical perspective to our current war on is well publicized, middle- and upper-class Ameri- drugs is provided by David F. Musto of Yale Uni- cans have just as big an appetite for its pleasures. versity, who reminds us of the boom and bust cy- The human attraction to mood altering sub- cle of past drug use. Musto also cautions against stances can hardly be denied. Some experts con- harmful racial and ethnic stereotypes in our tend that human nature dooms to failure any eagerness to overcome illicit drugs. effort to eradicate illegal drugs. Ronald K. Siegel, Legalization of illicit drugs is one of the more a research psychopharmacologist, argues that controversial remedies advocated by some unlike- governments would be better off to seek non-toxic, ly authorities, among them former Secretary of non-addictive substances to replace today's more State George P. Shultz. Harvard Professor Lester dangerous drugs. Grinspoon argues that legalization and regula- Still, the reality is that too many people abuse tion might be the answers to controlling drug drugs to their own detriment and that of society. abuse and taking the profit out of drug dealing. Most obviously, people are harmed by crimes Finally, the question of whether the federal committed in the name of drugs especially as government should channel its anti-drug funds murders, gang warfare and robberies escalate. directly to cities instead of to states is considered Drug abuse has many costs, including the by Julio Barreto Jr. and Janet E. Quist of the 375,000 babies born each year to mothers addict- National League of Cities and Michigan's Donald ed to cocaine. The pain and suffering of these in- L. Reisig and Richard J. Liles. fants is heartbreaking, and the lasting damage Our hope is that state officials will find the they suffer is yet to be calculated. Meanwhile, articles in this Journal of value as they consider taxpayers pick up the hundreds of millions of dol- their own approaches to combating illegal drug lars spent for hospital and foster care. abuse. Elaine S.Knapp Page 28 The Journal of State Government The Drug War: Meeting the Challenge by Stanley E. Morris America's battle against drugs requires federal, state and local cooperation as well as a public will to reduce the demand for drugs.