It is becoming increasingly obvious that it is virtually impossible to wipe all the drugs off the street. Like germs, the sheer quantity and adaptability of drugs makes the goal of total eradication unattainable. As a result of drug prohibition laws, black markets emerge to fill the demand in the form of drug cartels (from which gang violence emerges). If people cannot smuggle drugs, they will find ways to manufacture their own out of household products (consider methamphetamines). In short, regardless of the environment, there will always be a way in which drugs can infiltrate and adapt to it. Therefore, spending billions of tax dollars per year in attempts to eliminate drugs and incarcerate drug offenders is pointless.
On the other hand, we are able to minimize the impact the drugs have on society through education and treatment. In fact, the RAND Corporation reports that law enforcement costs about 15 times as much as treatment for the same reduction in societal costs. Unfortunately, because of strict anti-drug laws, many drug abusers are afraid to seek treatment. Compare that to Portugal's drug policy. After the state decriminalized drugs in the early 2000s, not only did aggregate drug use not rise, but a far greater number of people were willing to seek treatment for their drug problems. Aside from treatment, we have great potential to increase our drug education efforts. Education is the single greatest prevention tool. In 2006, about 45 percent of American adults reported being former smokers. The fact that such a large percentage of the population was able to stop using nicotine, one of the single most addictive drugs known to man, is a testament to the value of education efforts.
A War on Drugs seems like an attractive idea: The concept of keeping drugs off the streets appeals to a large portion of society. The problem is that modern drug policy does very little to actually achieve that goal. Drugs are still readily available in large quantities despite the billions of dollars we spend each year on law enforcement. The fact of the matter is that drugs are an evil that can never be fully eradicated through frivolous spending and law enforcement. We should instead be focusing our efforts in the areas where we can make the most difference: treatment and education. However, this will not happen until lawmakers realize that we are about as likely to completely eliminate cocaine as we are to completely eliminate influenza.
Mark Goldstein
junior
ACIS/management
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If you support prohibition then you've helped trigger the worst crime wave in this nation's history. 

You've helped create a black market with massive incentives to hook both adults and children alike. 

You've helped to make these dangerous substances available in schools and prisons. 

You've helped raise gang warfare to a level not seen in this country since the days of alcohol bootlegging. 

You've helped remove many important civil liberties from those citizens you falsely claim to represent. 

You've helped put previously unknown and contaminated drugs on the streets. 

You've helped to escalate Theft, muggings and burglaries. 

You've helped to divert scarce law-enforcement resources away from protecting your fellow citizens from the ever escalating violence against their person or property. 

You've helped overcrowd the courts and prisons, thus making it increasingly impossible to curtail the people who are hurting and terrorizing others.
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I disagree, no one likes germs, but some people like drugs.
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WOWAWOWOD: you are missing the point of the article. The point is that, like germs, drugs are an epidemic that infiltrate, adapt to, and infect societies in large quantities. Like germs, it is impossible to eliminate all drugs because of this ability to adapt. Also, like germs, we can minimize their impact on society through education and treatment.
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I don't think he was being serious.
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The germ analogy is used to represent how the government thinks of Drug users. Very well written article.
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For anyone interested in this article and learning more about what you can do to end the Drug War, come join Virgina Tech's chapter of Students for Sensible Drug Policy! We meet Wednesdays at 8:30 in Squires 145 and are dedicated to educating people about the harms caused by the War on Drugs and how there is a better way to solve our nation's drug problem.
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To add on to what Perry said, stop by Sharky's tonight around 11pm to buy SSDP Brownies! Each brownie will come with a card with more facts about the drug war!
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Very well written mate
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