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Polical Policy on Drug Enforcement
Political Policy on Drug Enforcement
Jacqueline Osborne
September 25th, 2015
Abstract
This paper discusses the most effective response to drugs, and how to substantially solve
this terrible problem that is steadily increasing across the United States. Instead of focusing on
just one approach, drug enforcement should focus on a combination of enforcement, interdiction,
and eradication, followed by rehabilitation. By combining all of these approaches enforcers can
crack down and arrest the suppliers of the drugs, help the buyers of the drugs get off of them, and
diminish the drugs at the source. Furthermore, children in schools should also be taught the
dangers of drugs at an early age so this cycle will not continue into the future. However, to solve
the problem that is occurring now enforcers will have to take the three approaches listed above
seriously and use them consistently.
Political Policy and Dug Enforcement
In the United States today, over 193 billion dollars has been spent on illicit drugs,
and over 11 billion dollars has been spent on health care due to illicit drugs (“Overdose Death
Rates.”). These statistics have been recorded by the National Institute of drug use, and they are
overall very alarming. Also, according to the Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic
Research, during the year 2013 there was an estimated 60,000 deaths due to overdosing on illicit
drugs (“Overdose Death Rates.”). Other than deaths, the distribution and selling of drugs can be
very dangerous as well. This can lead to murders, beatings, kidnappings, shootings, and so on.
However, with the use of enforcement, interdiction, eradication, and rehabilitation resolutions
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Polical Policy on Drug Enforcement
drug enforcers can help improve this epidemic that is steadily increasing across the United
States.
Enforcement
The enforcement approach would be to crack down on the sellers of drugs,
increase the numbers of arrest, and demonstrate stricter punishments. The DEA (Drug
Enforcement Administration) should first focus on the buyers or “users” of drugs. By doing this,
the DEA can convince the buyer to expose the supplier or “dealer” of the drugs. Many times, the
buyer will not rat out the suppliers. However, by scaring the buyer with a longer jail
sentence/probation, or bribing them for a lesser sentence or no jail time they will more than
likely figure out who the supplier is. It is definitely easier for a DEA agent to find a buyer than a
