Spring 2011 Critical Thinking Research on US Drug Policy
Contents
- 1 Background
- 1.1 Reflections on Drug Policy
- 1.2 Economic Consequences of the War on Drugs
- 1.3 Obama Drug Policy
- 1.4 The two faces of the US Drug Policy
- 1.5 Obama Drug Policy Focuses On Prevention, Treatment
- 1.6 CIA World Fact Book: Illicit Drugs
- 1.7 Bureau of Public Affairs: Notes on Economy, Trade, Government, and the effects of Drugs in Columbia
- 1.8 Freakonomics
- 1.9 DEA Drug Policy Page
- 1.10 Impact of Drug Lord Extraditions
- 1.11 AN ANALYTIC ASSESSMENT OF U.S. DRUG POLICY
- 2 U.S. Policy effects in America
- 2.1 US drug policy: a bad export
- 2.2 War on Drugs Unsuccessful, Drug Czar Says
- 2.3 National drug control strategy
- 2.4 Cost-benefit/cost-effectiveness research of drug abuse prevention : implications for programming and policy
- 2.5 Programs under fire; D.A.R.E drug prevention curriculum bumped in face of call for measurable results
- 3 U.S. Policy effects outside America
Background
Reflections on Drug Policy
McBride, D., Y. Terry-McElrath, H. Harwood, J. Inciardi, and C. Leukefeld. "REFLECTIONS ON DRUG POLICY. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=4&did=1740720691&SrchMode=2&sid=2&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1300912272&clientId=10553 " Journal of Drug Issues 39.1 (2009): 71-88. Platinum Periodicals, ProQuest. Web. 20 Mar. 2011.
SUMMARY: The history of United States drug policy is complex, ranging from laissez-faire to strict prohibition. In recent years, there has been little federal interest in drug policy reform and a continuing focus on a prohibitionist deterrence approach. During this period, state initiatives have been in the forefront of drug policy experimentation via ballot initiatives, legislative actions, or judicial and administrative policy decisions. The resulting state-level drug policy landscape includes continued prohibition as well as harm reduction, medicalization, and decriminalization. In addition, there has been considerable state-level policy focus on substance abuse treatment quality. With a new presidential administration, there is some indication that drug policy reform may be a national issue as part of the federal health reform agenda
Bryan Newsom
Economic Consequences of the War on Drugs
"Economic Consequences of the War on Drugs." Drug Policy Alliance: Alternatives to Marijuana Prohibition and the Drug War. 2002. Web. 06 Apr. 2011. <http://www.drugpolicy.org/library/factsheets/economiccons/fact_economic.cfm>.
SUMMARY: This article takes a look at some of the economics behind the war on drugs. It also answers the question everyone wants to know, does the U.S. think its winning the war on drugs?
Bryan Newsom
Obama Drug Policy
TIERNEY, John. "Obama's drug policy." New york Times 12 March 2009: 1-2. Web. 6 Apr 2011.
http://tierneylab.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/12/obamas-drug-policy/
SUMMARY: Analysis of Obama's Current drug policy
Nick Pangares
The two faces of the US Drug Policy
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2009/04/the-two-faces-of-us-drug-policy/7397/
Horwitz, Jeff, and Dave Jamieson. "The Two Faces of U.S. Drug Policy - Magazine - The Atlantic." The Atlantic — News and Analysis on Politics, Business, Culture, Technology, National, International, and Life – TheAtlantic.com. Web. 23 Mar. 2011. <http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2009/04/the-two-faces-of-us-drug-policy/7397/>.
SUMMARY: This article give a neutral view of both sides of the US drug policy and how it and the Mexican drug policy are effecting the state of affairs in the two countries
Jeff Barnhart
Obama Drug Policy Focuses On Prevention, Treatment
Hananel, Sam. " Obama Drug Policy Focuses On Prevention, Treatment." Huffpost politics 10 May 2010: 1-2. Web. 6 Apr 2011. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/10/obama-drug-policy-focuses_n_571087.html>.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/10/obama-drug-policy-focuses_n_571087.html
SUMMARY: Analysis of Obama's Current drug policy
Nick Pangares
CIA World Fact Book: Illicit Drugs
CIA Web Site — Central Intelligence Agency. Web. 23 Mar. 2011. <https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2086.html>.
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2086.html
SUMMARY: Provides the CIA's notes about the functions of multiple countries in the illicit drug trade.
Jeff Barnhart
Bureau of Public Affairs: Notes on Economy, Trade, Government, and the effects of Drugs in Columbia
"Colombia." U.S. Department of State. Web. 23 Mar. 2011. <http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/35754.htm>.
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/35754.htm
SUMMARY: This is the State Departments notes on the state of U.S. Affairs in Columbia and contains information about how the Columbian government is cracking down on drug production. The decrease in drug production in Columbia has created optimism in their economy which has led to increase foreign investment. This gives the people more jobs that aren't influenced by the cartels which is hurting the amount of power they have in the country, dropping the amount of terrorism and drug related violence in the country.
Jeff Barnhart
Freakonomics
Levitt, Steven D, and Stephen J. Dubner. Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything. New York: William Morrow, 2005. Print
SUMMARY: In this book the author investigates into a drug ring and realizes how the black market on drugs is set up as a perfect capitalist society. He then comes to realize how the drug market has more to gain from the war on drugs then they have to lose from legalization.
Nick Pangares
DEA Drug Policy Page
SUMMARY: This page is posted by the Department of Justice's Drug Enforcement Agency. It provides 10 reasons for why drugs should not be legalized and it backs them up with statistics about drug related crime in America. In addition to this, it talks about what happened when Marijuana legalization was tried in Alaska and, contrary to the "Forbidden Fruit" belief, drug use sky-rocketted among teens and young adults.
http://www.justice.gov/dea/demand/speakout/index.html
Jeff Barnhart
Impact of Drug Lord Extraditions
"SUMMARY": This source gives reviews the case of a drug lord that was extradited from Jamaica by the U.S. which caused the country to break into a state of war for several weeks.
<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/25/christopher-dudus-coke-pleads_n_626281.html>
AN ANALYTIC ASSESSMENT OF U.S. DRUG POLICY
Boyam, David, and Peter Reuter. "AN ANALYTIC ASSESSMENT OF U.S. DRUG POLICY." 26 Mar. 2005. Web. <http://www.ahrn.net/library_upload/uploadfile/file2216.pdf>.
SUMMARY: This article provides some ideas of what could be done to help the failing war on drugs.
Bryan Newsom
U.S. Policy effects in America
US drug policy: a bad export
Nadelmann, E. "US drug policy: a bad export." Foreign Policy 70 (1988): 83. America: History & Life. EBSCO. Web. 21 Mar. 2011.
SUMMARY: This article shows the continuing business of foreign drug importing/exporting, and how that and the war on drugs is costing our government billions of dollars
Nick Pangares
War on Drugs Unsuccessful, Drug Czar Says
"War on Drugs Unsuccessful, Drug Czar Says - CBS News." Breaking News Headlines: Business, Entertainment & World News - CBS News. 13 May 2010. Web. 20 Mar. 2011. <http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/05/13/politics/main6480889.shtml>.
SUMMARY: The war on drugs isn't very effective and it is costing a ton of money. This article shows some of the numbers involved in this war on drugs.
Bryan Newsom
National drug control strategy
United States. National drug control strategy.. Washington D.C: Executive Office of the President, 1999-2003. Print.
SUMMARY: Official document released by the U.S Government in regards to the “war on drugs”
http://gu.wash-id.net/vwebv/holdingsInfo?searchId=982&recCount=10&recPointer=7&bibId=268780
Nick Pangares
Cost-benefit/cost-effectiveness research of drug abuse prevention : implications for programming and policy
Evans, Richard. Cost-benefit/cost-effectiveness research of drug abuse prevention : implications for programming and policy. Rockville, MD: U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Division of Epidemiology and Prevention Research, 1998. Print.
http://gu.wash-id.net/vwebv/holdingsInfo?searchId=982&recCount=10&recPointer=12&bibId=261972
SUMMARY: This book speaks about how effective government run drug prevention programs are doing, and the economics of having them against their lack of existence.
Nick Pangares
Programs under fire; D.A.R.E drug prevention curriculum bumped in face of call for measurable results
Williams, Rebecca. "Programs under fire; D.A.R.E drug prevention curriculum bumped in face of call for measurable results." News Sentinal Mar 8 2011: School matters section. Print.
SUMMARY: This news article reveals that some local governments may find their low scale drug prevention programs not as productive as they desired. This could be a huge step towards a greater realization
Nick Pangares
U.S. Policy effects outside America
The War on Drugs is a Failure=
Cardoso, Fernando Henrique. "The War on Drugs Is a Failure - WSJ.com." Business News & Financial News - The Wall Street Journal - Wsj.com. 23 Feb. 2009. Web. 06 Apr. 2011. <http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123535114271444981.html>.
SUMMARY: This is a fairly generalized article by the Wall Street Journal about how the drug war is a failure.
Bryan Newsom
Only a Drastic Change in U.S. Drug Policy Will Ease the Carnage in Mexico
Carpenter, Ted G. "Only a Drastic Change in U.S. Drug Policy Will Ease the Carnage in Mexico | Ted Galen Carpenter | Cato Unbound." Cato Unbound. 12 Aug. 2009. Web. 23 Mar. 2011. <http://www.cato-unbound.org/2009/08/12/ted-galen-carpenter/only-a-drastic-change-in-us-drug-policy-will-ease-the-carnage-in-mexico/>.
SUMMARY: This article focuses on how Mexico is so involved in the drug trade and the problems it is creating. Thee author offers the one solution of making drugs legal, but he knows that the U.S. doesn't like that plan. He sees that as the only way to fix things.
Bryan Newsom
The Drug War and the U.S.-Mexico Border: The State of Affairs
ayan, Tony. "The Drug War and the U.S.-Mexico Border: The State of Affairs." South Atlantic Quarterly105.4 (2006): 863-880. America: History & Life. EBSCO. Web. 21 Mar. 2011.
SUMMARY: This article outlines one of the main drug import/export scenarios, which is that between Mexico and the U.S. It also highlights how the drugs that the U.S buys many times funds Mexico’s local government.
Nick Pangares
"Mexico Cartels Turning into Full Scale Mafias
"Mexico Cartels Turning into Full-scale Mafias - World News - Americas - Focus on Mexico - Msnbc.com." Breaking News, Weather, Business, Health, Entertainment, Sports, Politics, Travel, Science, Technology, Local, US & World News - Msnbc.com. Web. 23 Mar. 2011. <http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32437386/ns/world_news-americas>.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32437386/ns/world_news-americas
"SUMMARY": This talks article talks about how the Drug Cartels in Mexico are beginning to become full scale mafia's that control all of Mexico's small businesses, real estate, job market, and police forces.
Jeff Barnhart
Afghan Assault Targets Drug Trade
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/feb/15/afghan-assault-targets-drug-trade/?page=1
Monday, 5:00 A.m.,. "Afghan Assault Targets Taliban Drug Trade - Washington Times." Washington Times - Politics, Breaking News, US and World News. Web. 23 Mar. 2011. <http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/feb/15/afghan-assault-targets-drug-trade/>.
SUMMARY: This article talks about how the Taliban has taken over Afghan agricultural farms and is now using them to produce more heroin that they can sell. It also explains how this money goes to fund 60% of Taliban operations such as purchasing arms, training and paying fighters, and supporting terrorism.
Jeff Barnhart
