Drug and Behaviour (Research Paper Sample)

Drug and Behaviour
Name
Institution
Drugs are the new monsters in town. Monsters that threaten to wipe out the young population, both in US and in the rest of the world. Drug abuse among the youth in US can only be likened to a person colliding with a heavy truck willingly. The older generation is not left behind, as well. They are notorious for non-narcotic drugs, in particular tobacco and alcohol. Having picked the habit at a tender age, withdrawal is a nightmare. The youth derive fun and ‘coolness’ in the abuse of narcotic drugs like heroin and cocaine. Other culprits, known to the youth rather than their elders, include methamphetamines, LSD and marijuana. Drug abuse has been on the rise despite vigorous drug enforcement laws and policies enacted in the past. Habitually, this gives drug abusers and abuser-to-be the impetus to pursue their interests.
However, only recently, US President Barrack Obama made it clear that the war is far over. He stated that his government is ready to stab the ‘monster’ right through the spine. President Barrack unleashed a new drug policy that is meant to reduce the rate of drug abuse in the country. US citizens appraised the policy with the hope that if implemented to the letter, drug abuse and its consequences will be buried in the past. To fully understand the policy, this exposition will expound on its major pillars: interdiction, incarceration, prevention and treatment. I shall also focus on the components of each pillar: strategies, policies, programs, agencies and economic impact of implementation. All branches of the government-federal, state and local- will be addressed, as well. This is in a bid to demystify the credibility and effectiveness of the Obama policy on drug abuse.
Interdiction
Policy
There are two major policies on interdiction of drugs: “Disrupt Drug trafficking” and “Support the UN Drug Conventions”. These two policies guide the agencies involved in interdiction on how to operate. Their operations should follow the conventions and guidelines of the UN organisation.
Programs
There are many programs in this drug policy pillar. The police in the various neighbourhoods locally enforce most of them. International interdiction provided by the federal government is the “Customs and Boarder Protection Program”. This program helps in interdicting drugs at the sea boarder and air traffic.
Strategies
To ensure those policies are properly implemented through the various local and federal programs, a modicum of strategies have been proposed. Firstly, US government aims to reduce supply of illegal drugs. This is to be done both locally and internationally. Locally, all levels of government are urging hospitals and pharmacies not to misuse drugs by overprescribing. They urge medical professionals to resort to alternative drugs, if and they can, to reduce illegal drug outside the hospital. Internationally, the strategy is to disrupt the supply chain. Most drug cartels work in anonymity for security reasons, hence downstream employees rarely know the drug barons they are serving. Disruption of drug flow to the end user severely paralyses the system. The second strategy is to interdict drugs in the prisons. To reduce drug abuse inside prisons, the state government, through police, is stiffening the search for drugs going in and out of prisons. The last strategy is to shield US boarders against the threat of drugs. This will help to stop the main portal of entry of drugs into US- the border.
Agencies.
The US Customs Service and Coast Guard are involved with overseeing the implementation of these policies on drug interdiction. Coast Guard deals mainly with the sea and ocean traffic while the former is involved in interdicting drugs possibly transported by air.
Cost
To implement this policy for one year, 2013/2014 financial year, the US government spends 3.7 billion. The “Customs and Border Protection” program spends 94.7 million on border security and 644.9 million on air and marine support. The “US Coast Guard Acquisition, Construction and Improvements” takes up close to $400 million.
Incarceration
Policy
Obama’s policies on incarceration are “Protection of human rights, and Reform criminal justice Systems to Support Public Health and Public Safety”. These policies are aimed at overseeing that incarceration of drug offender is fair but legal at the same time.
Strategies
Previous strategies on incarceration have been overruled. The first strategy is to reduce overreliance on prisons as well as jails just punish drug offenders. This is urge law enforcers to consider other aspects of overall drug policy to be discussed below. Secondly, the Fair Sentencing Act to be enforced with full force. No more brutality against narcotic drug users, such as being sentenced like a first-degree murderer. The last strategy is to increase the use of law enforcement agencies and drug rehabilitation centres. This will strike a balance between treatment and punishment.
Programs
Programs for this policy have been in existence even before it was passed. In the federal, local and state governments, programs point to the direction of rehabs and prison correction programs. The “Drug Market Intervention” is a community-based program that helps in reducing the use of drugs. “Hawaii’s Hope Probation Program” is a program that aids drug related litigations. They see to it that drug offenders get a fair trial (Hakim, 2011).
Agencies
Various agencies in the federal, state and local levels are crucial in implementation of these policies. These are mostly Drug Courts. The “Adult Drug Court” deals with drug abuse related cases that involve non-violent members of the local community. These could the elderly as well as the middle-aged people with no criminal record. The “Veterans Treatment Court” is specialised to handle cases of military retirees who have delved into drug abuse. The court facilitates treatment of the veterans, as well. The “Family Dependent Treatment Court” deals with drug-related cases of juvenile and adults, whose cause of drug abuse is parent-influenced drug use (Kilmer, Rand Corporation et al, 2011). The “Federal District Court” undertakes the role of ensuring drug-related ex-convicts are re-integrated back into the community after their final year of sentence. Most of this type oversees admission into rehabs. “Juvenile Drug Court” handles cases of juvenile delinquency and drug abuse.
Cost
The US budget on implementation of the incarceration policy is $4,527 million to the Department of Justice and “Federal Judiciary”. An additional $200 million was allocated to High Intensity Trafficking Areas.
Prevention
Policy
Obama’s drug policies on drug prevention are mainly: “Address the Drug Problems as a Shared Responsibility” and “Protect Citizens from Drugs”. Personally, the two policies are ingenious in drug abuse prevention. The fact that we have to share the responsibility of protecting the citizens from drugs is remarkable. If implemented well, the two will see an end to this drug menace.
Strategies
The government is strategic about this pillar. It plans to re-integrate rehabilitated ex-offenders back into community to spread the word on drug prevention. The government, through schools, plans to educate children and youth on the importance of drug prevention. Working with police, the government is trying to ensure the message reaches the local community members, as well. The federal and state governments are using media to create awareness on drug prevention.
Programs
The two policies will be implemented through various programs. The “High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program” is entrusted to oversee prevention of drugs, especially in the endemic areas. “Drug Free Communities Support program” is a local program that works with the community members to prevent drug entry and abuse amongst themselves. The “Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities National Act Program” is aimed at making most, if not all, schools drug free and safe for those back from rehab. “Youth Gang Prevention” is a program that aims to accomplish drug prevention through prevention of youth gangs, which have been known to cause bad drug influence (Mosher &Akins, 2007).
Agencies
Various agencies are assigned to implement the policies. First, the “Centre for Substance Abuse Prevention”. This is the sole federal agency that provides substance abuse prevention services. It also provides accessibility to funding for programs on substance abuse prevention. The “National Institute on Drug Abuse” supports community-based groups. It is also involved in research on new drug trends and prevention measures. “US bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms” is a federal agency that deals protecting the US public against violence and influence from drug abusers. It is charged with regulating laws governing alcohol and tobacco. Lastly, the “School Survey on Crime and Safety” through the “US Department of Education” aims to support local schools in drug prevention and collect information on the state of crime in and around the school.
Cost
The various agencies share a $1.4 billion budgetary allocation annually. The “Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)” takes the majority share being the umbrella body. US Department of Education takes a huge chunk, as well.
Treatment
Policy
Drug policies on treatment and recovery can be summarized into two: “Reduce drug use to reduce drug consequences, and to Support and Expand Medica...