Transcript Powerpoint
Chap 13 Hysteria and drug myths: Drugs and “non-drugs”? “Protect our children” Drug dealers as predators “Killer drugs” Drugs and crime many many more! Chap 13 What are the trends in illegal drug use and what are the two parts of the drug problem identified by Elliott Currie? – General population -- decrease – Poor/Minorities/Teens -- chronic problem Chap 13 Note: Huge incr in use of legal drugs (driven by the pharmaceutical industry) and alcohol (alternative to illegal drugs) Both are much more harmful and costly than illegal drugs! Chap 13 Several drug problems: Illegal drugs Legal drugs: Alcohol. Tobacco, Sugar? etc. Prescription drugs Chap 13 What are Walker’s three general conclusions about the trends? (relation of illegal drugs to serious crime) 1. Gen pop decrease in 1970s-80s 2. 1985 -1990 Crack epidemic spreads 3. Since early 1990s crack decrease Chap 13 What are the three connections between illegal drugs and crime? 1. Drug-defined crimes 2. Drug-related crimes 3. Crime and Drug use associated (“deviant life style”) Chap 13 What are “gateway” drugs and is the gateway claim consistent with research evidence? – “Soft drugs” lead to “hard drugs” --- – This is a drug warrior myth!! Chap 13 What are “Hawks, Doves, and Owls”? – Which approach guides the “war on drugs”? – A useful way to look at the problem?? Chap 13 Hawks -- run the “war on drugs” – “Supply reduction” heavy emphasis on law enforcement – Political propaganda leads to public/polit support for this approach Chap 13 Doves -- critics of the war on drugs – Emphasize “harm reduction” – Advocate some legalization/decrim – Similar to many European approaches Chap 13 Owls -- middle approach – emphasizes “demand reduction” through drug education and treatment programs – Liberal/Rehab oriented approach Chap 13 What has been the real impact of the war on drugs? 1. Huge cost -- money and human costs 2. Criminalization of Poor/Minorities 3. Imprisonment Binge & destroyed lives and communities 4. Little impact on illegal drug use Chap 13 What are the three general components of the war on drugs and do any work? 1. Law enforcement 2. Interdiction/Eradication 3. Tougher sentencing None work -- displacement, replacement, low clearance, supply and demand Chap 13 What are the “lessons of history”? Is declining tobacco use an example of “owl” strategy? Tobacco -- restrictions and education But “dumping” -- from 400k Amer deaths/year to 4 million global deaths/year + hasn’t worked with alcohol Chap 13 What are the “lessons of history”? 1. 2. 3. 4. Supply and Demand problem Illegal economies “Collateral Damage” Adaptation Chap 13 What is “demand reduction” (“owl”/liberal approach) and what are its strategies? Persuasion involving: 1. 2. 3. 4. “Information” Fear Moral appeal Resistance strategies Chap 13 Does “drug education” work? (does it reduce drug use?) Two key problems: 1. Honest education vs. Propaganda 2. Peer pressure and impulsive behavior Chap 13 What are the varieties of drug treatment and what is the “relapse problem”? “Reported success” (in-house studies) vs. Dropouts, Relapse, Aging out Chap 13 Does anybody know why crack use has declined (and with it violent crime)? Most drugs are fads (Crack: Cities - E Coast to W Coast to Interior) and are soon replaced by new drugs/fads -e.g. Ecstacy, “designer drugs,” meth, etc. + stabilization of “markets” Chap 13 Varieties of decrim/legalization strategies? Maximalists -- libertarian approach Minimalists -- focus on “soft drugs” Agnostics -- study the problem rationally e.g., National Commission (CU Report alternative 30 years ago - Decentralize/Localize the issue) Chap 13 What are 7 areas of impact of decrim? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Impact on drug use Impact on crime Money saved Impact on illegal economies Impact on CJS Impact on eroding individual rights Impact on general “quality of life” Chap 13 What does Walker conclude about the decriminalization/legalization issue? – National Commission to study relations among Drugs - Economy - Crime – And make practical recommendations Chap 13 What does Walker conclude about the whole drug/drug policy problem? No real answers to drug problems. Punishment/Treatment don’t work. (“Make peace” with drug use?)