Supply - or Demand
I was listening to Marketplace on Public Radio Tuesday when they had a story about the 40th "anniversary" of the war on drugs. They pointed out that most of the money spent in this war has been on the side of stopping the "supply" side of the issue, that is keeping the drugs from getting to the US in the first place. The speaker noted that this has had the effect of giving Colombian and Mexican forces new toys to play with.
Yet most studies and "experts" tell us that the best way to "win" this "war" is through decreasing the demand, not the supply. (And you don't do that by upping the criminality, no-choice sentencing, etc.) You do this through prevention and treatment. Prevention is education and cultural shifting that reduces the numbers who start in the first place. No, this is not a pipe dream (oops, sorry.) If 25 years ago I had told you that smoking would be outlawed in many public places you would have called me crazy. (No, I wasn't crazy enough to think it possible.) Yet that is what has happened. Who says it can't happen with other drugs?
Then there's treatment. This means providing the opportunity for good, solid, effective treatment for those who abuse and get addicted. Even if only 10 - 15% of those in treatment "get it" and stay clean, that would be a significant reduction.
Now I work on the demand side of this equation. I see miracles each day as people discover a clean and sober life. I see more than 10-15% of people "getting" recovery. Perhaps it is time to get rid of the war language. To imply or work from a violent metaphor when what we want is a far different lifestyle is to be working against ourselves. No wonder there are drug wars to keep the supply going. It's just the other side of the war fighting back.
In good synchronicity as I got up to get a coffee refill a moment ago I looked across the shop. There, sitting at the corner table, were two people in a significant discussion. On the table in front of them were two books- Alcoholics Anonymous (The Big Book) and Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions. They were doing what this post is all about- staying sober. That is done with one alcoholic (or addict) helping another alcoholic (or addict) discover how to stay sober (and clean).
Isn't that a whole lot better sounding than waging war?
2 comments:
I also heard the same public radio program as you. My only quibble with the program was it did not mention prevention at all. Until we as a society get at the root of the problem, why we use substances to solve problems, I afraid the 'War on drugs' will be a failure.
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