Transcript Drug policy in the Netherlands

Presentation Project Political
Communication
How do the American and the
Dutch government inform their
people about drug policies?
A comparison.
By Ziemowit Falicki and Steven Lips
Structure presentation
Introduction
American drug policy
Dutch drug policy
Conclusion
Pop Quiz

Drug policy in the United States
History
 1964 - Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs
 Lyndon Johnson
 1900: aspirin, heroin
 Today - 1 gram: aspirin: $ 0,20; heroin: $50
Drug policy in the United States
 Legal
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Drugs:
Prescription Drugs
Over-the-counter Drugs
Inhalants
Drug policy in the United States
 Illegal
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Drugs:
Everything else; cocaine, heroin, crack, LSD,
GHB, MDMA, XTC, Marijuana, etc.
Drug policy in the United States
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US: very wide and developed governmental
activities to enforce anti-drug laws, prevent
drug-use, inform public, research, and
treatment.
The biggest are the federal-, and anti-drug
law enforcement authorities (40).
DEA
Drug policy in the United States
 DEA
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2002
2001
2000
1999
arrests
-
27,635
33,539
38,957
39,500
Drug policy in the United States
 DEA
Drug Seizures
DEA Drug Seizures
Calendar Cocaine Heroin Marijuana
Year
kgs
kgs
kgs
61,594
705
195,644
2002
59,426
752
271,785
2001
58,627
546
331,964
2000
36,167
351
337,832
1999
Drug policy in the United States
Penalties
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Marijuana
Heroin
Cocaine
10 Years
5 Years
1,000 kg <
1 kg <
5 kg <
100 - 999 kg
100 gr
500 - 4,999 gr
Drug policy in the Netherlands
Narcotics Act / Opium Act
AHOJ-G criteria
Facts and Figures
Trimbos Institute
Prevention and Public Information
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Drug policy in the Netherlands
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Narcotics Act / Opium Act
Drug policy in the Netherlands
AHOJ-G Criteria
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no advertising (A)
no sales of hard drugs (H)
no nuisance (O)
no admission to coffee shops for minors
(under 18) (J)
and no sales of large quantities (more than 5
grams) per transaction (G)
Drug policy in the Netherlands
Facts and Figures
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Number of Dutch recent cannabis users rose from 326,000 to
408,000 between 1997-2002
The popularity of cocaine has grown
The number of ecstasy users in the general population
increased between 1997 and 2001, in particular among women
Of all members of the European Union, the Netherlands have
the lowest number of problem users of hard drugs per thousand
inhabitants.
There are indications that the popularity of GHB has risen
The drug problem indisputably places a heavy burden on the
resources of the police and the criminal justice system.
Drug policy in the Netherlands
Facts and Figures
Recent use of cannabis among secondary school students
aged 12 and above (%)
Drug policy in the Netherlands
The Trimbos Institute
Government’s main communication resource
and for:
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
the management, clients and staff of service providers both
in the field of mental health care and in the care of addicts;
other organisations involved in prevention and health
education;
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welfare organisations;
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institutions engaged in education and training;
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the general public, and
Drug policy in the Netherlands
Prevention and Public Information
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‘The Healthy School and Stimulants’ project
the ‘Drugs and Leisure Time’ project
XTC testing
Conclusions
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US: drug-laws are harsh
US: focus on drug-laws enforcement
US: anti-drug campaign is more emotional,
direct, and intensive.
US: high costs (2001: $18 bilion)
Conclusions
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(2)
Holland: drug-laws are softer
Holland: focus on information about drug-use
Drugs illegal, but tolerated
Less taxpayer’s money
Conclusions
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(3)
overall, drug-use is raising in both countries
different theories; lack of moral and ethical
values?

Is smoking pot legal in the
Netherlands?
No, according to the opium law it is
illegal, but there is no penalty for
smoking it.
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What institute is very important for the
communication between the Dutch
government and its people about
drugs?
A) The Roodbos Institute
B) The Trimbos Institute
C) The Wilbos Institute

Which of the following projects are
developed by the government to
prevent drug abuse?
A) XTC Testing points
B) ‘The Healthy School and Stimulants’
project
C) “The Drugs and Leisure Time” project

Which US president started The War on
Drugs?
A) Ronald Reagan
B) Richard Nixon
C) Lyndon Johnson
D) Woodrow Wilson
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Which of these drugs are illegal in the
US?
A) Amphetamine
B) Inhalants
C) Overdose aspirin
D) Sniffing ibuprofen

How come illegal drugs are so expensive?
A) Because of the Iraq-situation: Texaco didn’t
produce enough oil for drug production.
B) There hardly grows any cocain in Colombia.
C) Prohibition makes the risk-factor high for
dealers.
D) Because of the California budget crisis.
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