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Drug Trafficking in the United States

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Drug Trafficking in the United States
Treating People to Treat the Problem
Ashley Hamm
ENG122: English Composition II
Prof. Richard Schnoll
August 30, 2012

I have chosen to write about Drug Trafficking in the United States. I believe that the drug trafficking in our country has become and absolutely absurd market based on supply and demand. Drug trafficking is not only detrimental to our future due to its effects on society but to its effects on our economy as well. Since 2009, our government has spent $31 billion on drug control (whitehouse.gov). That’s right, thirty-one billion dollars. In this paper, I will talk about how drug treatment programs are the answer to this problem. “The logic is simple: if drug users can be systematically removed from the drug marketplace through participation in treatment, demand will be reduced.” (National Research Council, 2010) Just like any supply and demand market, if demand is reduced then there is less need to supply. Crime related to drug use and drug trafficking is out of control in the United States. Did you know that 17 % of state and 18% of federal prisoners committed their crime in order to obtain drug money? (US Department of Justice) Justicepolicy.org states that, “treatment delivered in the community is one of the most cost-effective ways to prevent such crimes and costs approximately $20,000 less than incarceration per person per year.” The truth is in the facts. Treating the drug problem in the United States starts with treating the people.

References:

National Research Council (2010). Understanding Demand for Illegal Drugs [ebrary Reader version]. Retrieved from http://site.ebrary.com/lib/ashford/docDetail.action?docID=10425174&p00=drug%20trafficking%20united%20states www.justicepolicy.org


References: National Research Council (2010). Understanding Demand for Illegal Drugs [ebrary Reader version]. Retrieved from http://site.ebrary.com/lib/ashford/docDetail.action?docID=10425174&p00=drug%20trafficking%20united%20states www.justicepolicy.org www.whitehouse.gov
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