Policing: Why a Crackdown on Illicit Drugs Increases Crime (Essay Sample)

Why A Crackdown on Illicit Drugs Increases Crime
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Summary
The text chapters insinuate that the consumption of drugs in communities is a rampant problem that demands the utilization of a combination of tactics in solving. Therefore, in seeking solution to the case of NT, the authorities have no obligation but employee diverse tactics in dealing with the challenge since it is posing negative economic consequences to the community. In the text chapters, one of the strategies suggested for use by NT police entails increasing crackdowns and enacting strict policies that curb the utilization of the commodity. According to the authority, the expectation is that the adaptation of the tactic will curb the utilization of the drugs; thus, freeing the society from ills associated with drug abuse. The NT health department, on their part, also suggests the use of an approach that encourages the enlightenment of the population as the tactic for curbing drug abuse. To an economist, both techniques can work (McTaggart, Parkin, Findlay, & Spencer, 2012). However, the economic implications of the two methods might be dire hence the need for caution in dealing with the menace of rampant drug use in NT. Considering that the demand for the commodity is inelastic, coordination amid health professional and police is mandatory because increasing crackdowns will not provide the ultimate solution to the problem facing the community. Instead, the suppliers and users will continues with their trade and the police will not manage to coordinate with the addicts in devising ways for dealing with the problem, yet the enlightenment of the masses is the required tactic and such only succeed with coordination. Opting to increase crackdown will only breed crime which is economically detrimental for the city.
Introduction
As suggested in the article, Reading between the Lines, fighting rampant drug abuse requires direct involvement of the users in curbing drug abuse since without the inclusion of the addicts no single approach can work effectively in solving the problem. For the suggestion of increasing investments in programs that strive to educate the people on the dangers of the drug, the approach might work effectively since enlightenment is the key to solving communal problems (McTaggart, et.al, 2012. For the option of increasing the penalties, the addict will devise ways of evading the police traps. Additionally, the users of the drugs might coordinate with some members of the community in concealing their act leading to infectivity of government mission despite use of resources. On the contrary, coordination in sensitization will minimize wastage as education enhances the use of bottom up approach in problems solving for societal problems.
Theorize
Examples presented in text chapters suggest that increasing expenditure for curbing the use of drugs rarely helps in situation where the users of the drugs are not involved in the programs. Therefore, in the case of NT, the police and health care professionals ought to coordinate in discouraging drug usage in the community. According to the chapter titled Reading between the Lines: Why a crackdown on illicit Drugs Increases Crime and the ideal way of doing so entails educating people on the dangers of the use of the substance. The studies ought to commence gradually as rampant change results in resistance by the people targeted for a given course. However, in situation where studies are conducted in sequence the chances of improvements are high.
Based on economic crime theory, prior to advancing such a program it is advisable conducting study to establish the motive behind the usage of illicit drugs. This is because there are cases in which quest for monetary gain influence indulgence in drug business and such is case for many suppliers. There are also cases in which suppliers target genuine user proscribe to use the drug by healthcare professionals (Cooper, Moore, Gruskin & Krieger, 2005). Therefore, in fighting the drug, use of stiff penalties might results in incarceration of the genuine users of the programs in such a case. In turn, people who are genuine users may collide with criminals in advancing drug usage. Suppliers will equally devise ways of concealing their act since the demand for illicit drugs is inelastic. The cost of the drug might also increase; hence, translating in crime especially in situations where the economic statuses of the people lead to consumption in drugs in the first place. As noted, the frustrations will lead the poor to employ ruthless tactics in obtaining a commodity that is costly and inelastic (Cooper, Moore, Gruskin & Krieger, 2005). Given that the demand poses dire economic consequences, increasing penalties only harden the people who use the drugs. To an economic, the method is irrelevant since increasing the cost of the commodity as a strategy will not only increase poverty, but it will contribute to addicts’ indulgence in crime. The users of sustenance such as cocaine will forgo many of the basic things in life in seeking to quench their thirst for illicit substance.
Utilize
The outcome of operation of strike force police in NT suggests that consumption of drugs affects all either directly or indirectly. In a situation where one member of the family uses hard drugs, the other members are affected economically, especially in cases where the individual is a sole bread winner. He/she might resort to crime to fulfill his/her needs. In such a scenario, enacting in place strict penalties might lead to the jailing of a person who people depend on for their live hood. Regardless of the strategy used, the disposable income of addicts will be spent on drugs and as such the economy status of a family is jeopardized.
The government on its parts has the obligation of embracing strategies that promote positive economic growth and not creating divisions in the society. A case in point is channeling funds towards programs that seek to enlighten the masses as opposed to investing in prison infrastructure for incarcerating the users of the drugs (Aitken, Moore, Higgs, Kensal & Kerger, 2002). Existing policies also work well in situations where a significant majority of the people are enlighten on the dangers of the use of drugs unlike in a situation where policies exist but people lack understanding on the negative consequences of the use of illicit substance.
Coordination of the police and professionals is mandatory whenever dealing with case of drugs abuse in communities. This is because the professionals will guide the officers in devising tactics for rehabilitating the addicts who cannot withdraw from using the drugs within a shorter period. In such circumstance, biological techniques will aid eradicate a social problem in the community (Mukherjee, 2002). As opposed to utilizing a single approach in solving a problem, institutions will embrace a holistic approach in dealing with day to day challenges that increase consumption of drugs.
Analyze
Effects of use of revenue in education
With the option of education, it is easier encouraging people to come out for therapies among many other causes that strive to discourage drugs use. However, in the adaptation of the process caution is necessary to minimize cases of victimization of the addicts. Additionally, the healthcare practitioners and police officers ought to help people address life difficulties that prompt indulgence into drugs (Wood, Tyndall, Lai, Montaner, & Kerr, 2006). Another requirement in a community as NT where drug use is impacting negatively on the economy of the region, suggesting for alternative sources of entertainment for the populace is necessary. It is equally advisable solving some of the underlying societal problems such as unemployment in an attempt to discourage frustration that lead people to use drugs. Healthcare institutions also have the obligation of notifying the responsible authorities cases in which the practitioners proscribe the usage of illicit drugs.
Effects of crackdown and increasing penalties
According to an economist, the decision to increase penalties and conduct more crackdowns should be employed sparingly since the approaches in many cases work on the short-term but pose negative consequences on the long-term. A case in point is crackdown encouraging addicts to devise ways of concealing their acts and stricter penalties leading to the incarceration of people who are willing to reform. On the converse, increase in investment in education is economically viable since the impacts are long-term (Small, Kerr, Charette, Schechter & Spittal, 2006). The neoclassical economics theory implies that human are rational and respond to action based on how they are proved. For ...