Drug_Abuse

Drug abuse has been a problem in the United States and across the world for quite some time. Politicians and social leaders alike have scrambled for solutions to this problem, and we’ve seen a couple different approaches in the world community. The United States’ approach is one of criminal justice. The possession of drugs is a crime; therefore, when people are caught with them, they are either fined or thrown in jail. However, other nations, such as Portugal and the Netherlands, have taken a different approach. They have legalized drugs and treat the issue as more of a public health concern issue. So which approach works better' To answer this question, we have to look at what each policy entails, the pros and cons of each, and then analyze which solution is better. The United States has many laws and regulations regarding exactly what drugs may be produced, distributed, used, who may produce and distribute them, how they are obtained, etc (Controlled Substances Act n.pag). These laws are passed and regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, or the FDA. They are then enforced by law enforcement agencies. In fact, the United States has an entire portion of law devoted to this area of specialty, known as the Drug Enforcement Administration, or the DEA. It is unlawful for an individual to produce drugs with certain ingredients without permission from the FDA. If they do produce and distribute the drugs, both that individual and the individual coming into possession can face penalties. Some of those penalties are listed in the Controlled Substance Act, passed by the United States Congress as part of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970. Some are listed here: “such person shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment which may not be less than 10 years or more than life, and if death or serious bodily injury results from the use of such substance shall be not less than 20 years or more than life.” What we see is that the United States unabashedly approaches the production, use, and distribution of drugs in a criminal justice manner. As for many European nations, the approach could not differ more. Many nations, such as Belgium, France, Luxemburg, and many others, have passed legislation to legalize marijuana, specifically. However, some nations, such as Portugal and the Netherlands, have created legislation to decriminalize all or most drugs. In the 1990’s, “Portugal had developed a reputation as a gateway for drug trafficking, with more than three quarters of drugs seized destined for other European countries. So in 2001, the socialist government changed the law to turn possession of drugs into an "administrative offence", sending those caught with drugs for personal use to a "dissuasion board" rather than face prosecution” (Hill n.pag). "Controlled Substances Act." U S Food and Drug Administration Home Page. 11 June 2009. Web. 27 Nov. 2010. http://www.fda.gov/regulatoryinformation/legislation/ucm148726.htm#cntlsbd "European Drug Policy: 2002 Legislative Update - NORML." Marijuana Law Reform - NORML. 11 Mar. 2003. Web. 27 Nov. 2010. http://www.norml.org/index.cfm'Group_ID=5446 Hill, Matthew. "BBC News - Can Lessons Be Learned from Portugal's Drug Laws'" BBC - Homepage. 02 Oct. 2010. Web. 27 Nov. 2010. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11454671