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Show The United States' Drug Problem Brandon T. Johnson Because of this, most Americans support a strong international stance against international drug traffickers. However, there is debate over whether the drug problem really should be a foreign policy issue, or the United States would be more successful concentrating on the domestic or "demand-side" of the drug war. The remainder of this paper discusses this debate. The U.S. Program The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) has the responsibility to "establish policies, priorities, and objectives for the Nation's drug control program, the goals of which are to reduce illicit drug use, manufacturing, and trafficking; drug-related crime and violence; and drug-related health consequences" (ONDCP 1997b). The tasks are pursued by producing a National Drug Control Strategy that directs the nation's anti-drug efforts and establishes a program, a budget, and guidelines for cooperation among federal, state, and local entities. The purpose of the strategy is to substantially reduce drug use and its consequences in the United States by focusing on two objectives: 1) Reducing the demand for illegal drugs: • Number one priority is to decrease use of illegal drugs, alcohol, and tobacco by youths. • Seek more effective, efficient and accessible drug treatment programs. • Support the expansion of drug-free workplaces. • Oppose the legalization of marijuana and other dangerous drugs. • Seek to increase the safety of our citizens by breaking the cycle of drugs and violence. 2) Aggressive supply reduction programs to complement demand reduction efforts: • Devote greater resources to protecting the southwest border and other vulnerable air, land, and sea frontiers. • Seek the elimination of coca cultivation destined for illicit consumption within the next decade. • Reinforce interdiction efforts in the "source country" and "transit" zones. • Support the counter-drug efforts of committed democracies and multilateral organizations (ONDCP 1997c). This strategy sets the course for all of the United States agencies' efforts against drugs in both domestic and foreign-policy areas. International efforts at reducing supplies of drugs are a major part of the nation's drug-control strategy. In fact, as of recent years, roughly 70 percent of federal anti-drug dollars went to supply-side or foreign reduction. The remaining 30 percent was invested in demand-side or domestic consumption reduction (Andreas, et al. 1991-92, 107). From examining the money spent and the actions and comments of policymakers, it is obvious that the United States is focusing much of its efforts in the drug war on foreign countries and supply reduction. However, there are several difficulties with this approach to the drug problem. Problems One of the main problems with the international efforts of the United States in stopping the production of drugs abroad, is that the main agency in charge of counter-narcotics is the DEA, under the Department of Justice. Neither the DEA nor the Department of Justice have experience in international affairs. They are ill-prepared in terms of personnel, training, foreign languages, and experience. This inexperience has led to many problems in the international drug war. The policy of the DEA often has damaged foreign relations because the DEA and Justice Department are both enforcement agencies that often fail to take into account the broader political and foreign policy issues involved (Wiarda 1996, 234). Another problem is the number of agencies that are involved in the drug war. According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) more than 50 federal government agencies have drug control responsibilities (even the Internal Revenue Service has participated in foreign antidrug programs) (ONDCP 1997a). In fact, it was because of the number of agencies involved in anti-narcotics and the need to coordinate their efforts that the ONDCP was created. "The principal purpose of the ONDCP is to establish policies, priorities, and objectives for the nation's drug control program....The director of the ONDCP also evaluates, coordinates, and oversees both the international and domestic anti-drug efforts of executive branch agencies" (ONDCP 1997d). In order to do this the ONDCP has produced the National Drug Control Strategy, as previously stated. But, despite the ONDCP's efforts to coordinate the agencies involved in the drug war, much competition and conflict occur between bureaucracies over policy and actions. One of the biggest conflicts and demonstrations of "bureaucratic politics" is between the Justice Department and the State Department. "The tough law enforcement approach of the Justice Department and DEA runs up against the more restrained and political approach of the State Department" (Wiarda 1996, 236). State's objectives are to build strong ties and develop good relations with Latin American countries and, specifically in the drug issue, work closely with other government agencies on domestic drug issues (Dept. of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, 1997b; hereafter INL). But this objective is often undermined by the DEA and its strong enforcement approach to the drug problem. The DEA uses cancer-causing chemicals to destroy drug plants, kidnaps citizens (drug traffickers) from the country, often ignores local laws and customs, and attempts to indict high level government officials. These policies and actions do not help the State Department develop strong relations with Latin American countries. Both have legitimate responsibilities and goals, but they contradict each other, resulting in bureaucratic competition for leadership. These differences are fought out between the agencies both in Washington and in foreign countries, often leading to gridlock in America's anti-drug efforts and also creating other 62 |