By using the Freedom of Information laws, the Associated Press has learned how some of our first trillion dollars in the failed "war on drugs" was spent. Here are the figures:

*$20 billion to fight the drug gangs in their home countries. In Colombia, for example, the United States spent more than $6 billion, while coca cultivation increased and trafficking moved to Mexico — and the violence along with it.
*$33 billion in marketing "Just Say No"-style messages to America's youth and other prevention programs. High school students report the same rates of illegal drug use as they did in 1970, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says drug overdoses have "risen steadily" since the early 1970s to more than 20,000 last year.
*$49 billion for law enforcement along America's borders to cut off the flow of illegal drugs. This year, 25 million Americans will snort, swallow, inject and smoke illicit drugs, about 10 million more than in 1970, with the bulk of those drugs imported from Mexico.
*$121 billion to arrest more than 37 million nonviolent drug offenders, about 10 million of them for possession of marijuana. Studies show that jail time tends to increase drug abuse.
*$450 billion to lock those people up in federal prisons alone. Last year, half of all federal prisoners in the U.S. were serving sentences for drug offenses.
*At the same time, drug abuse is costing the nation in other ways. The Justice Department estimates the consequences of drug abuse — "an overburdened justice system, a strained health care system, lost productivity, and environmental destruction" — cost the United States $215 billion a year.

http://bestoftheblogs.com/Home/29456

It's a fact of life that, if people want drugs they will get them.
Decriminalise them and sell them cheap in the chemist. This will have a bigger effect on the global drug trade than any law enforcement.
There is no real argument against decriminlisation because;
1 - the drugs are cleaner so there would be less health problems,
2 - the crime rate associated will illicit drugs is phenominal, this would be almost eliminated, at very least, reduced to a fraction of what it is today.
3 - it will not stop over doses but bad luck, natural selection works in mysterious ways.
That what I think anyway, and I am an ex drug addict.

Quote:

I am an ex drug addict.

You know some people would just call you a 'quitter'. ;)

The simple fact of the matter is that drugs cost society in so many ways, not just financially.

I must admit to having some pretty grave concerns about speed, because people go off their flippin' rockers when they use that stuff for long, but I am sure they could work out some way to monitor it, and if there were lots of alternative ways to get off your tits that did not require the consumption of drugs that make you go all psychotic, then people would probably make do with that.

We will have to face the fact that we cannot change human nature, and the government could probably make some new cocktail drug up that would satisfy nearly everyone.

The money is the key, once you take the money incentive away, nobody will have a desire to see people become addicted.

Once it is not illegal, then taking drugs will not be cool, or rebellious, just a need, and it would be a need that could be managed far better than we currently do.

I really think that if all drugs were legalised, we would likely see a drop in the use of many of the more harmful drugs, plus we would see far fewer people running foul of the law, and judges could give sentences for real criminals based on what was most appropriate, without the pressure of worrying about over crowded jails, and a lack of facilities.

decriminalising ALL drugs would cease the profits crims get from drugs.
It would decrease the detrimental overall effects of banned drugs.

literally speaking, 20 year ago you would say it would have been a liberal decision.

nowadays, its so far beyond a joke, it;s just sad.
So many lives wasted, so many resources wasted ..............

mozzaok wrote on May 15^th, 2010 at 9:16pm:

Quote: I am an ex drug addict. You know some people would just call you a 'quitter'. ;)

LOL, and proud to be one in this case. 8 years next month.

well done merou.

merou wrote on May 16^th, 2010 at 8:48am:

mozzaok wrote on May 15th, 2010 at 9:16pm: Quote: I am an ex drug addict. You know some people would just call you a 'quitter'. ;) LOL, and proud to be one in this case. 8 years next month.

Is it a case of 7 years, 10 months, 12 days, 9 hours, 6 minutes and 16... 17... 18 seconds?

I know you knew that I was only joking, and I expect you use the term ex-addict for the simple understanding it conveys to those with little understanding of the subject, but it is easier for them to relate to alcoholism, and the AA term of being an alcoholic for life, but some people make the choice to be alcoholics that no longer drink.
The same is true for addicts of all hues, they can never not be an addict, but they can be an addict that chooses not to use drugs anymore, they choose to take control of their own lives, and not allow drugs to control them.

Dry drunks, and straight addicts can offer great inspiration to people who fear they may never regain control of their lives, and the 13 step programs are very beneficial for many people, because the non active addicts show them the possibility of a changed life is not beyond them.

We need to make the prisions profitable.

party's who advocate drugs remind me of the cigarrette companies in tehir defences.

There are some rehab centers to cure

Drug Rehab

locutius wrote on May 17^th, 2010 at 11:55am:

We need to make the prisions profitable.

Yeah, that would be such an asset to society wouldn't it? Just like the U.S.



"What would you like to be when you grow up little Johnny?"

- "I'd like to be a prisoner so that I can contribute to society"


Get real. A "profitable prison" is a disaster for society.

And let's make that one trillion and one dollars shall we?
I'm going for a drive in my suped up V8 with whale-skin hubcaps  ;D

OK, I'm back. Bloody nice drive that   :)

As far as I know, I didn't kill anybody or smash anybody's property.
I must just be inherently responsible I suppose.

I dont think the war was ever intended to be won.

Trillion wasted, nothing fixed, etc.


Yeah, but look at all the jobs it created

It's an industry, this War on Drugs


Look at all the tv shows it spawned, for one

Look at all the jobs it created -- all the departments and sub-departments and secret departments and all those who loll around in air-conditioned government, taxpayer funded offices doing nothing more strenuous than messing around on Facebook and arranging where to have lunch ...

Look at the media.  Now the media's been a huge winner from the Joke War on Drugs

and what about the privatised prisons


Then the go-between between the Fighters of Drugs and the Pimpers of Drugs --- all stemming from the same governments

What a racket

What an industry





They'd collapse if anything was 'fixed'

All those wannabee-actors leaping into govt., taxpayer-paid souped up vehicles in their designer jeans and stubble, living the dream, courtesy of drugs and the opportunity to play at being undercover Warriors Against Drugs

The world's an insane asylum

Just need to accept that and laugh at the antics

there is an easy way to turn people off illegal drugs, but no one has the balls to do it.

am sure it would be MUCH more than that

Time to legalise marijuana, the US Is biting the bullet on this one. We will follow in 20 years.

I think it will be soon.

Still, 20 years too late !!

John Smith wrote on Feb 1^st, 2014 at 9:00pm:

there is an easy way to turn people off illegal drugs, but no one has the balls to do it.

How ?


In the meantime, was reported last week in the media that the most used drugs right now in Australia are steroids.  It's claimed steroid users outnumber all other drugs

I don't know much about drugs and always thought people took steroids to bulk up.  And it's said that steroids cause 'roid rage'

So that's nice isn't it -- a country filled with roid-raging inadequates who put animal steroids in their idiots bodies so they can look 'buff' or whatever

And it's particularly pertinent to me right now because our idyllic haven has been suffering for a couple of years at the hands of a third-generation Mediterranean and his friends, all of whom use steroids and walk around in a gang intimidating old people like me for no known reason other than the fact they're gutless cowards who have to get around clutching each other's penisis whilst monstering those old enough to be their grandparents

I hope they roll their thumpty-thumpty wreck of a car out in the boondocks and perish in a ball of fire -- I genuinely hope so.  Because the police are just as bad and do nothing to protect the public.  Seems all the police want to do is get around in uniform, in taxpayer funded vehicles, being paid to go to Subways ten times a day

Drugs?  What does that say about the human condition when every single culture and society is too gutless, too useless to live the life they were given.  They all have to put something in their system in order to make their pointless lives more bearable

And now this country is filled with idiots using steroids and walking with their arms held out from their sides and their legs apart like kids with dirty nappies to prove what big arms and testes they have

PZ547 wrote on Feb 1^st, 2014 at 9:41pm:

John Smith wrote on Feb 1st, 2014 at 9:00pm: there is an easy way to turn people off illegal drugs, but no one has the balls to do it. Drugs?  What does that say about the human condition when every single culture and society is too gutless, too useless to live the life they were given.  They all have to put something in their system in order to make their pointless lives more bearable

That's a pretty simplistic view of drug taking. It could {perhaps} be more accurate in regards to addiction, but not all people who take even addictive drugs are or will become addicts.

PZ547 wrote on Feb 1^st, 2014 at 9:41pm:

John Smith wrote on Feb 1st, 2014 at 9:00pm: there is an easy way to turn people off illegal drugs, but no one has the balls to do it. How ? In the meantime, was reported last week in the media that the most used drugs right now in Australia are steroids.  It's claimed steroid users outnumber all other drugs I don't know much about drugs and always thought people took steroids to bulk up.  And it's said that steroids cause 'roid rage' So that's nice isn't it -- a country filled with roid-raging inadequates who put animal steroids in their idiots bodies so they can look 'buff' or whatever And it's particularly pertinent to me right now because our idyllic haven has been suffering for a couple of years at the hands of a third-generation Mediterranean and his friends, all of whom use steroids and walk around in a gang intimidating old people like me for no known reason other than the fact they're gutless cowards who have to get around clutching each other's penisis whilst monstering those old enough to be their grandparents I hope they roll their thumpty-thumpty wreck of a car out in the boondocks and perish in a ball of fire -- I genuinely hope so.  Because the police are just as bad and do nothing to protect the public.  Seems all the police want to do is get around in uniform, in taxpayer funded vehicles, being paid to go to Subways ten times a day Drugs?  What does that say about the human condition when every single culture and society is too gutless, too useless to live the life they were given.  They all have to put something in their system in order to make their pointless lives more bearable And now this country is filled with idiots using steroids and walking with their arms held out from their sides and their legs apart like kids with dirty nappies to prove what big arms and testes they have

That's a great rant pz

Annie Anthrax wrote on Feb 1^st, 2014 at 10:06pm:

PZ547 wrote on Feb 1st, 2014 at 9:41pm: John Smith wrote on Feb 1st, 2014 at 9:00pm: there is an easy way to turn people off illegal drugs, but no one has the balls to do it. Drugs?  What does that say about the human condition when every single culture and society is too gutless, too useless to live the life they were given.  They all have to put something in their system in order to make their pointless lives more bearable That's a pretty simplistic view of drug taking. It could {perhaps} be more accurate in regards to addiction, but not all people who take even addictive drugs are or will become addicts.

Quite  correct AA...  it is a furphy.. 


And John Smith.?  make the harmless... YES.. ''relatively" harmless drugs legal.  LEGAL.

Yep that would surely save many people much grief ,  and Govts HUGE savings. In fact HUGE REVENUE to Govt.
Balance the budget,,??  don't make me laugh till I cry please....

no need to  lay off workers, or cut assistance to the disadvantaged , the cancer sufferers ,  the poor, the mentally ill,  ..

not necessary...
there is a massive market out there that is being given,
yep , undeniably GIVEN to criminals to manage.
THAT is criminal.

It is time for the truly brainwashed voters to realise the harm they are responsible for in supporting this bogus war on drugs..
'cos people will ALWAYS use drugs.. it can't be stopped by repressive regimes.. in fact.. what is really the problem..?? 
..it is illegal..
a piece of legislation from an enlightened govt would solve all the problems,  other than individual issues,  with the stroke of a pen.
And NO govt can or should try to intervene in personal health issues, they should be looking at the causes..not demonising and punishing the users.

Undermine criminal organisations  ..Yep ,, easy peasy
Take AWAY the source of the profits for crims ..turn it into a benefit for society..

why is this so hard to understand...?

I have worked with a guy back in Europe. He was in his late thirties. He was on a heroin rehab program. Basically he was working at an organic farm trying to get off his habit. Previously he had been addicted to heroin for 14 consecutive years. But he was a dealer throughout the whole 14 years, so he only got the pure stuff for himself. When I was working with him, he was off the drug for about a year, and you couldn't tell that he had ever been on drugs. He was in perfect health. Because he had pure heroin, no street shite, and he wasn't living on the street, he had an apartment and proper food, his body never really suffered.

I know another ex heroin addict who was living on the streets of Europe. Within 2 years of his addiction he lost all his teeth, due to malnutrition, life on the streets and poverty. He only got street heroin stretched with crap, which made all the difference.

Plenty of studies in Europe show that criminalization of drugs only hurt the addicts. Drugs become much more expensive, therefore the drugs get stretched with crap, the addicts cannot afford a place to live anymore, they get pushed into crime, it's a vicious cycle. 

Ever heard of an ecstasy addict? I haven't.

gone wrote on Sep 1^st, 2014 at 4:54pm:

I have worked with a guy back in Europe. He was in his late thirties. He was on a heroin rehab program. Basically he was working at an organic farm trying to get off his habit. Previously he had been addicted to heroin for 14 consecutive years. But he was a dealer throughout the whole 14 years, so he only got the pure stuff for himself. When I was working with him, he was off the drug for about a year, and you couldn't tell that he had ever been on drugs. He was in perfect health. Because he had pure heroin, no street shite, and he wasn't living on the street, he had an apartment and proper food, his body never really suffered. I know another ex heroin addict who was living on the streets of Europe. Within 2 years of his addiction he lost all his teeth, due to malnutrition, life on the streets and poverty. He only got street heroin stretched with crap, which made all the difference. Plenty of studies in Europe show that criminalization of drugs only hurt the addicts. Drugs become much more expensive, therefore the drugs get stretched with crap, the addicts cannot afford a place to live anymore, they get pushed into crime, it's a vicious cycle.

Oh agree..  see the govts that cause this have no real idea.. and don't really care.  I wonder why. 

No I know why.. because people in power derive huge profits from illegal drugs.  That would all go away if the black market criminals  didn't dictate to the world.  But they DO.  Approved by govt. 
So  follow the money................ :(

This Topic was moved here from Drug Policy by freediver.