...Research and analyse debates on the current 'war against drugs' and its success or otherwise, globally and/or locally. Explain the debate and present an argument, supported by evidence, for either the continuation of a 'war against drugs' or for an alternative. Introduction The use of prohibited drugs has been predominant in Western society since the 19th century, with cannabis introduced to the United States in 1839, while opium was introduced to Europe and the United States through trade with China. These drugs were initially used for pharmaceutical benefits, but over time various legislatures introduced laws to administer, regulate and prohibit the use of various drugs. The declaration of ‘war on drugs’ took place in the United States of America (USA) in 1971. The historical response to the ‘war on drugs’ has been prohibition: the complete banning of drug use. This approach, which involves strict enforcement of illegal drug laws, has proven costly and ineffective (RCAP & RANZCP, 2004). This essay will focus on Australia’s current drug debate regarding the legalisation of certain prohibited illicit drugs. Whilst examining the Australian position, this essay will use international examples to illustrate how the current strategy fails and survey workable solutions. Firstly, this work examines the historical position of the ‘war on drugs’. It will outline the history of drug use in Australia and the nation’s current drug policy. This essay will then discuss the criminal, social...
Words: 2641 - Pages: 11
...Southeast Asian Nations to work closely with the UNODC to reduce the trafficking in illicit drugs through strategies combining treatment, rehabilitation, education and enforcement in accordance with the values of participating sovereign Member States The Asian Development Bank, to increase development grants to Member States negatively affected by the Southeast Asian illicit drug trade for the purposes of allowing them to help local farmers transition from illicit drug crops to legal and sustainable forms of agriculture Member States to continue their partnerships with the International Labor Organization’s (ILO) Youth Employment Programme as a means of combating illicit drug trafficking by providing alternative forms of employment for young persons who might otherwise be exploited by the illicit drug market; Recommends the expansion of the UNODC Alternative Development Programme to include regional education initiatives that will operate on a voluntary basis with full consent of Member States Member States should continue to funding these education initiatives through the use of Inter-Regional Banks and Non-Governmental and International Organizations; These UNODC-facilitated regional education initiatives focus on: Providing education to farmers regarding the benefits of growing licit crops, and sustainable growing practices, as well as the risks involved in engaging in growing illicit drug crop Member States to hold the private sector and property owners accountable...
Words: 723 - Pages: 3
...Real-Time Crime Information System for National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Nigeria C.H. Ugwuishiwu & K.C. Ugwu Department of Computer Science University of Nigeria Nsukka, Nigeria Chilkodili.ugwuishiwu@unn.edu.ng H.C. Inyiamah Department of Computer Engineering Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Nigeria drhcinyiama@gmail ABSTRACT The problems of narcotic drugs in Nigeria as manifested in the cultivation, trafficking and abuse of drug is of increasing concern to the government, social researchers, and other stakeholders. The impact of illicit drugs continues to threaten the economies and social structures of both producing and consuming countries. This paper presents an implementation framework for a reliable, efficient and mobile real- time crime information system (CIS) that will help to maintain instant flow of information between the general public and NDLEA. This application solved this problem through a just-in-time flow of crime information from an informant who could be an individual, corporate body or any other government agency to the NDLEA office for a necessary action. This kind of information if handled properly will lead to illicit drug supply suppression hence reduce its availability as well as other substances of abuse. It will also help in drug demand reduction which result in a decline in the consumption of illicit drug substances. Keywords: : NDLEA, Law Enforcement Agency, Crime, Drug Trafficking, illicit drug, information System. . African Journal of Computing...
Words: 4125 - Pages: 17
...Corporate Crime, Organized Crime, Illicit Drugs and Violence. Illicit drugs affect everyone. They may cause family problems, health problems even effort jobs or your performance. Even with the use of drugs that may have to be swallowed or even injected into your own body could increase chances of obtaining the HIV virus. But drugs that we smoke like marijuana could cause lung cancer. Illicit drugs can also affect the brain, by causing the brain cells to die and in cases resulting in permanent brain damage. The abuse of drugs also affect the economy, people using drugs are accident waiting to happen. Each year drug uses is the cause of a large number of accidents at home, office and on the roads. Everybody pays the price of drug abuse more cops and prisons more hospitals and treatment centers and many lives lost. Australia has approximately one drug overdose death each year. Broadly speaking, the prevalence of illicit drugs has been falling since the late 1990’s though some drugs have increased over that period. The authoritative reports below will summaries the trends as follows. In 2010, approximately 15% of the national population 14 years and above had used one or more illicit drugs in the past 12 months, with Cannabis the most commonly used illicit drug (10.3%), followed by MDMA (ecstasy),(3.0%) and amphetamines and cocaine (each used by 21%). Non – medical pharmaceutical use (0.2% to 0.4%). Just by using drugs they become part of the drug world. They are already committing...
Words: 2184 - Pages: 9
...Office of the President created the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), as a response to the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988. The purpose of the ONDCP “is to establish policies, priorities, and objectives for the Nation's drug control program. The goals of the program are to reduce illicit drug use, manufacturing, and trafficking, drug-related crime and violence, and drug-related health consequences” (The White House, 2006). Each year the policies are updated to reflect the current trends within the illegal world of drug trafficking. Drug use in the last decade has nearly doubled. The Bush Administration updated the policies in February 2006 to achieve the primary goal of reducing drug use within the United States. The President’s strategy focuses on three principal elements: stopping drug use before it starts, healing drug users, and disrupting the market for illicit drugs. This paper will discuss the specifics, origins and goal of the third strategy, “Disrupting the Markets”. The writer will also discuss resources and costs involved for effective implementation and maintenance. Finally, this paper will provide information on the effects of drug use on the community, ethical implications and suggestions to improve this particular strategy. The policy of “Disrupting the Markets” attempts to stop drug trade by attacking the economics of the system. This element of the Bush Administration strategy provides details on progress being done domestically and...
Words: 1478 - Pages: 6
...DISCUSSION OF ALTERNATIVE STRATEGIES NDS policy has been supported by government in power since it was established in 1985 (NDS, 2015). In the year between 1998 and 2001 when Michael Moore was the Minister for health, he advocated for the use of prescribed heroin to be used as heroin dependence treatment (Jiggens, 2008). Mr Moore was greatly opposed by the media and the Howard government whose main focus was on the use of Law enforcement to tackle heroin problem (Jiggens, 2008). Mr Moore argument was dismissed when the 2001 heroin shortage was announced and the government at the time argued that law enforcement was the best way to tackle heroin issue. However some researchers have argued that the heroin shortage was not due to the law enforcement seizer alone, but mainly due to the change in the drug market to Methamphetamines and cocaine (Jiggens, 2008 and Ritter, 2011)....
Words: 453 - Pages: 2
...to tackle illicit drug markets. In this essay, I want to define how the problem of illicit drug market is tackled by the governments one by one and jointly. I will try to determine which policies are the best in preventing illicit drug market and what policies international community regarding that problem uses. There are 4 types of illegal markets defined by Jens Beckert and Frank Wehinger, and the one I want to focus on is of type 1 (“illegality due to the outlawing of specific products”[1]). Free sale of hard drugs (excluding alcohol and nicotine) is prohibited everywhere and of soft drugs is prohibited almost everywhere. However, the global illicit drug market is huge and it has big impact on international community because of drug trafficking, drug-related crimes and the number of people involved in producing, transporting and selling drugs. States and international communities are making efforts to eradicate drugs from the society spending substantial parts of their budgets. As to international community’s efforts, the United Nations is the prime organization that “controls” drug flows around the globe. Since 1912 Hague Opium Convention, the international community decided to focus on supply side of the global drug market. They decided to allocate all resources on battling the supply side, because they thought that once they control supply side they would prevent drug use and abuse. Such supply-centric policies are damaging countries in which drugs are produced ...
Words: 3772 - Pages: 16
...Arms Trafficking between the United States and Mexico: The Drug Trafficking Nexus Transnational Crime and Globalization By: Katrina T. Mason May 2, 2008 The United States is quite known for their proactive stances on the “War on Drugs”, “War on Terror”, and “War in Iraq”. Some view them as the international police and others view them as the international fiend, but it is in no doubt that the United States takes a very active stance in fighting what they believe is evil and wrong within the world. This is increasingly true for the evils that occur within its own borders such as the continued drug epidemic, domestic violence, child abuse, poverty, gangs, and prostitution (with the exception of Nevada). Unfortunately though, the United States’ stance on legal activities crossing from their own governance into neighboring states where the activity is illegal is not held with the same level of concern or dedication. A primary example of this double standard can be seen on the Mexican-United States border. This is not in reference to the debris from the giant wall being built on the Mexican border falling to the southern side, the young Americans fleeing across the borders to intoxicate themselves, or even the revolution of McDonalds springing up in towns throughout Mexico; but instead to the small arms and light weapons trafficking continually flowing down from the border states into Mexico causing alarming murder rates, economical...
Words: 8003 - Pages: 33
...DRUG ABUSE IN AMERICA Drug Abuse in America Everett Burton Central Carolina Technical College Abstract Since the 19th century when Americans first discovered new wonder drugs like morphine, heroin, and cocaine, our society has confronted the problem of drug abuse and addiction. The United States--grappling with its first drug epidemic in the early 20th century--gradually instituted effective restrictions: at home through domestic law enforcement and overseas by spearheading a world movement to limit opium and coca crops. By World War II, American drug use had become so rare, it was seen as a marginal social problem. The first epidemic was forgotten. During the 1960s, drugs like marijuana, amphetamines, and psychedelics came on the scene, and a new generation embraced drugs. Today with the drug culture exploding, our government has developed new laws and agencies to address the problem. Drug Abuse in America` A major problem that exists within American society is the abuse of mind-altering substances. Such narcotics cause not only health problems, but also violent and potentially criminal acts. A mind-altering narcotic can be defined as both the legal and illegal type. The four main categories of drugs are: narcotics, CNS depressants, CNS stimulants, and hallucinogens. Most of these drugs are highly addictive and are usually obtained by prescription or are considered a banned substance and must be purchased illegally. ...
Words: 1124 - Pages: 5
...War on Drugs: Is It a Failure? Allen Overall COM/172 August 26, 2014 Denise Mclean Abstract The War on Drugs is a campaign of prohibition of drugs with the intent to define and reduce the illegal trade of drugs. The initiative includes a set of policies that intent to discourage the production, distribution and consumption of illegal drugs. Fundamental reforms in the National drug policy are required. The American War on Drugs has failed, with devastating consequences to societies and individuals. The consistent continued use of drugs and the increasing costs for controlling its usage is what makes this war a failure. More striking than the financial costs have been the broad societal implications: an attrition of civil liberties, a decreased ability to police violent crime, the inability to treat certain drugs as a health issue and denial of potentially effective medicine for patients. Introduction The United States has been through many great wars for many different causes, such as The American Revolutionary War, The American Civil War, The Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, The Vietnam War and the ongoing War on Drugs. The term “War on Drugs” was first used during President Richard Nixon’s 1971 term, when he officially declared the war. The War on Drugs” continues today, although drug use has been consistent throughout the forty three year period of the war. All drug use has remained steady despite the militarization of the drug war as the data below...
Words: 1637 - Pages: 7
...QBT Task 5 Question: Does drug abuse affect the society and the economy? Drug abuse is the misuse of prescription drug or use of illicit drugs to an extent that adversely affects the individuals health(Collins & Lapsley, 2008)It is a relapsing condition that affects an individual, family and the society and impacts on the quality of life of the family, victims of the abuser and the abuser.(Harwood, Fountain, & Livermore, 1998).According to Califano,2008,drug abuse in one of the top five official government killers, with recorded 40 million suffering from disabling and debilitating illnesses and injuries and death of about 600,000 Americans . Rampant use of illicit drugs by Americans started in the second half of the 19th century during The Civil War. During the same period, pharmaceutical companies added opiates and cocaine in their products (Califano, 2008, p. 19). Illicit drugs include (but not limited) marijuana, cocaine, heroin, amphetamine, methamphetamine and illicit use of legal psychoactive medications. (Harwood et al., 1998).Drug abuse affects individuals and the society, socially, economically and physically and is a contributing factor in increasing mortality and morbidity. (McGinnis & Foege, 1999). According to Harwood et al,1998, 23, drug-related deaths occurred in 2000 due to different causes, for instance poisoning, overdose, HIV, homicide and hepatitis B and C. Significant healthcare costs associated with consequences of drug abuse were estimated to 16...
Words: 2213 - Pages: 9
...attack it at the source, by trying to eliminate, or at the very least disrupt, the supply of illicit drugs available for purchase and consumption. The attempt to make this case is done by pointing out the mixed results of previous substance abuse treatment programs and by using systems theory to explain why the complexity of treatment options makes it difficult to accurately evaluate such programs. The Economic Impact on Substance Abuse The effect of substance abuse on the United States economy is astronomical. Consider that in 2004, almost a tenth of the nation’s population ages 12 and older were classified with substance abuse or dependence disorders (Morgan & Crane, 2010). The issue is so complex, in fact, it is nearly impossible to put an accurate price tag on the impact. If one focuses solely on the economic impact of this epidemic, one would have to calculate numerous costs. People who abuse and are addicted to illicit drugs spend hundreds and thousands of dollars to feed their habit, which is money that could be spent in more productive ways. Substance abusers often steal to fund their habit, which has a negative economic impact. Furthermore, here is a negative impact on the health care sector from substance abuse. Government entities spend millions on everything from law enforcement to treatment programs because of rampant drug use. And those who seriously abuse drugs essentially remove themselves from society, where they would...
Words: 2958 - Pages: 12
...Drug Trafficking and its Influence on Maritime Security Drug trafficking is a transnational industry and strengthens by using violence and crime in the place where it develops. The cocaine industry especially generates billions if not trillions of dollars a year, representing a substantial flow of money. As the business has evolved so its transportation, from human mules, merchant ships, speedboats, semi-submersible, containers, and the use of up-to date submarines, similar to those used by the U.S. Navy. Many Latin-American countries are implementing various programs to fight narcotics because its trafficking also raises violence, crime, money laundering, need for hiring more law enforcement officers, changes the prices of goods, drug use, etc. Drug cartels and their allies have achieved to manufacture and use of the latest maritime machineries available, and to copy some of the technologies that authorities use to scan for drugs, explosives, and piracy. Therefore, making it simpler for them to identify what officers are looking for and how to hide it better, the more expertise law enforcement uses, the more challenges drug cartels have to equal these technologies. Introduction Drug trafficking is a practice of promoting or facilitating the illicit use of certain drugs and addictive substances that threaten public health for profit, although this definition may vary according to the different laws of each State’s criminal offense. Is not only any single act of transfer...
Words: 760 - Pages: 4
...Drug Trafficking Global Issues in Context Online Collection, 2014. [pic] [pic] Drug trafficking refers to the international black market trade of illegal drugs. While some drugs are produced and sold locally, the cultivation and manufacture of some illicit drugs occurs in only a few locations around the world. Most of the world's supply of cocaine comes from Central and South America and most opiates are cultivated in Central, Southeast, and Southwest Asia. A chain of drug cartels ships drugs around the world in order to get the drugs from the point of production to the user on the street. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in its “World Drug Report 2008” estimates that 208 million people worldwide use drugs annually on at least one occasion. The vast majority of global drug uses involved some form of cannabis. UNODC estimates that 165 million people have used cannabis in the last year. Amphetamine use comes in second with about 25 million users per year. According to United Nations (UN) estimates, the drug trade is a $400 billion per year industry. Drug trafficking traces its roots back to eighteenth-century China. By the late seventeenth century, opium addiction had become a major problem on the Chinese coast, where European traders imported opium from other parts of Asia. In 1729, the Chinese emperor banned the importation of opium into China. As the supply of opium decreased, the price of opium increased and drug smuggling increased. By the end of...
Words: 2713 - Pages: 11
...Legalization: The War on Drugs and Criminal Law Howard R. Burke Strayer University Abstract This research will point out that the United States’ current policy on drug prohibition, the so called “War on Drugs,” is ineffective. The current draconian prohibition policies against drug consumption may actually increase their use. As well, contrary to claims made by current drug policy supporters, increased drug enforcement can reduce public safety and compound the individual and social costs of drug use. The U.S. drug policy, born over a hundred years ago, has gone through several transformations becoming more voracious with each new invocation. The War on Drugs is an expensive and failed concept which has incorporated racism in its administration, increased crime rates, imposed harsh sentences for nonviolent offenses, facilitated police corruption and aggressively eroded civil liberties. Table of Contents INTRODUCTION Introduction to the Problem Background of the Study Statement of the Problem Purpose of the Research Research Questions Significance of the Research Assumptions and Limitations Organization of the Remainder of the Study LITERATURE REVIEW CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Marijuana Legalization: The War on Drugs and Criminal Law INTRODUCTION The United States has conducted a long experiment of drug prohibition. The prohibition of marijuana and other illicit drugs has only increased their...
Words: 5079 - Pages: 21
