CASE 301 - War on drugs

The War on Drugs is (soon to be was) a campaign of prohibition and foreign military aid and military intervention being undertaken by the United States government, with the assistance of participating countries, intended to both define and reduce the illegal drug trade. This initiative includes a set of drug policies of the United States that are intended to discourage the production, distribution, and consumption of illegal psychoactive drugs. The term "War on Drugs" was first used by President Richard Nixon on June 17, 1971. Countries globally but mainly focussing on Columbia, Mexico, Afghanistan, Puerto rico, central and northern america, but since the war on drugs campaign started illegal drugs production has seen an increase by up to 25% in just the last 10 years.






Newspaper reports - The war on drugs has failed
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-13625503
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1393555/War-drugs-failed-claims-global-narcotics-watchdog.html

On May 13, 2009, Gil Kerlikowske, the current Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, signaled that although it did not plan to significantly alter drug enforcement policy, the Obama administration would not use the term "War on Drugs," as he claims it is "counter-productive". One of the alternatives that Mr Kerlikowske has showcased is Sweden's Drug Control Policies that combine balanced public health approach and opposition to drug legalization. The prevalence rates for cocaine use in Sweden are barely one-fifth of European neighbors such as the United Kingdom and Spain.
In June 2011 the United Nation's Global Commission on Drug Policy released a critical report on the War on Drugs, declaring "The global war on drugs has failed, with devastating consequences for individuals and societies around the world. Fifty years after the initiation of the UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, and years after President Nixon launched the US government’s war on drugs, fundamental reforms in national and global drug control policies are urgently needed.