LEPS 500 Issues in Law Enforcement University of san Diego Matt Moser Current State of the Drug War Annual nationwide spending on Drug Enforcement 51 billion Drug War Statistics Substance Abuse costs the US 700 billion annually from crime lost productivity and healthcare ID: 592282
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Slide1
Effective Drug Policy
LEPS 500 – Issues in Law Enforcement
University of san Diego
Matt MoserSlide2
Current State of the Drug War
Annual nationwide spending on Drug Enforcement - $
51 billion
("Drug War Statistics") Substance Abuse costs the US $700 billion annually from crime, lost productivity and healthcare ("Trends & Statistics")1.5 million people arrested in 2013 for “non-violent” drug offenses ("Drug War Statistics") 43,982 Americans died from overdoses in 2013 ("Drug War Statistics") Slide3
The War on Drugs
In 2013 – 9.4% of Americans 12 and up used drugs in the
past month
("Nationwide Trends")In 2002 – 8.3% of Americans 12 and up used drugs in the past month ("Nationwide Trends")Other than marijuana, most drugs use rates have stayed the same over the past decade ("Nationwide Trends")Slide4
Portugal
July of 2001 – Portugal introduced Law 30/2000
Simple possession of all substances were decriminalized
Drugs were not legalized, only decriminalizedGrowing, manufacturing, dealing, and smuggling remained criminalPossession offenders were referred to the Commission for the Dissuasion of Drug Addiction (CDT)Goals included: Increased focus on dealers, more job training for offenders, and investment in treatment programsSource: (Hughes)Slide5
Commission for the Dissuasion of
Drug
Addiction (CDT)
Regionally based panelsMade up of three peopleMedical ProfessionalSocial WorkerLegal advisorPolice refer addicts to the panelsCDTs use fines, community service, treatment centers and license suspensionsFines are not used on people determined to be dependent on drugs, they are referred to treatment instead
Source:
(
Hughes)Slide6
Portugal Before & After
39,492 cases between 2001 and 2007
62% Cannabis
18% Heroin5% CocaineHeroin fell from 33% of offenders in 2001 to 15% in 2005 Cannabis rose from 47% of offenders in 2001 to 65% in 2005 Drug related deaths fell from 369 in 1999 to 152 in 2003Mainly from a reduction in heroin useSource: (
Murkin
)
(Hughes)Slide7
Conclusion
Drug abuse should be treated as health issue rather than a criminal issue
Deferring addicts to treatment rather than jail helps them recover and return to society
Decriminalization does not encourage drug useSlide8
Citations
Hughes, C., & Stevens, A. (2007, December 1).
The Effects Of Decriminalization Of Drug Use In Portugal.
Retrieved September 21, 2015, from https://kar.kent.ac.uk/13325/1/BFDPP_BP_14_EffectsOfDecriminalisation_EN.pdfMurkin, G. (2014, June 11). The Success of Portugal's Decriminalisation Policy – in Seven Charts. Retrieved September 21, 2015, from http://www.tdpf.org.uk/blog/success-portugal’s-decriminalisation-policy-–-seven-charts Drug War Statistics. (n.d.). Retrieved September 21, 2015, from http://www.drugpolicy.org/drug-war-statistics
Trends & Statistics. (
n.d.
). Retrieved September 21, 2015, from http://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/trends-statistics
Nationwide Trends. (
n.d.
). Retrieved September 21, 2015, from http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/nationwide-trends