4 Hidden Costs of the Drug War: How the War on Drugs Hurts Us All
Latest News
The War on Drugs has failed and may even be past the point of recovery. The United States is the most incarcerated nation in the world, and drugs are still a problem. The way this country “fights” drugs is counter-productive, creating an underground marketplace where drugs are in high demand and therefore highly valuable. But in addition to the obvious effects of the Drug War—like increased prison populations, stress on the justice system, and increased violent crime as a side effect of the drug trade—there are numerous other effects we don’t normally hear about.
Eric E. Sterling of the Criminal Justice Policy Foundation and former counsel to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee penned an extensive list of these effects. Sterling explains the Drug War is more costly than we give it credit. The obvious expenses like police wages and prison costs are only the tip of the iceberg. To that list, he adds:
1. The Drug War has reduced purchasing power, impacting the number of people out shopping and spending their money. This hurts businesses as potential customers have problems finding work because of drug convictions and arrest, even when they are drug-free. The millions of people incarcerated over the War on Drugs aren’t able to purchase cars and homes while behind bars, affecting the bottom-line of everyone from car dealers to the local small business owner.
2. The Drug War has created more violent criminals, making business scarce for many who operate in communities ravaged by the war. These violent people are robbing and stealing for drugs because they are addicted and because drugs are outlandishly expensive. They aren’t getting the help they need until they are caught doing a crime, and for the victim, that’s too late.
Read: Drug War Ending Should be a Left, Right, and Center Concern
3. Insurance policies for business owners have skyrocketed as insurance companies have adjusted for retail losses that occur due to theft and shoplifting. Again, the Drug War has created a climate where addicts must steal to support a habit. This, in turn, affects the people trying to protect their product and ultimately trickles down to their employee wages and the prices they charge.
4. Housing is depressed and real estate taxes are higher in communities where the War on Drugs has wreaked havoc. In these neighborhoods, once nice homes are left to crumble as people are sent to prison. People move away when the drug market moves in and entire swaths of city blocks are left like ghost towns. This depresses real estate values and because no one is paying taxes on these homes, the tax burden on those who do pay is increased.
Not all of the effects of the Drug War are so obvious. They can’t all be covered in simple talking points where “drugs are bad and we need to punish users more”. We know that simply doesn’t work. Sterling touches on several more lesser-known effects of the Drug War and concludes:
American businesses manufacture and distribute an infinite array of products without violence or corruption while making a reasonable profit. We can apply the American way of business – the most widely admired in the world – to control the distribution and use of drugs while protecting public safety and health.
I thought there would be more real discussion and meat. Most of what I see seems to indicate a desire to keep druggies out. You’re wring!
I have worked in social work for many years, trying to help people do better. I have seen second and third generation (and now fifth and six) of families affected by dysfunction. Dysfunction in the family often comes about vecause of alcoholism and/or drug use. The generations following often start out (and many stay that way, creating another generation) a little cheated, crippled, in a sense.
I’ve known of babies that were cooked, one in the microwave and another in boiling water, because they were on drugs and didnt know they were babies. In thid small town, within the year, a young, professional man, late 20s (from another area, nobody knows why he was here) started himself on fire; the verdict is still out on that one.
nearly a whole village was over ridden by a large number of the residents becoming the town’s barflies and offering their drugs there, with children present (kids become desensitized to the realities of drug use, and it seems to be common practice to them then). People from other towns then frequented, making it a common drug infested area. There was lots of talk about quitting jobs but they could earn money by killing people (This, I happened to witness, plans were in the works, some for insurance payouts, some just pay for doing the job). The open sexuallity breaks apart families and opens many doors for unwanted pregnancies and diseases. I have heard that the 20-30 somethings think they have no chance at a forever marriage, they “know” it will likely end. I’ve heard that on many occasions. Well, that’s what we have shown them!
Yes, marijuana is, very often, the gateway drug. Seems to be the desire to sneek and do something bad, and get away with it gives this personality type a buzz of its own. It IS NOT a good idea. It will cost us more than you are thinking ot through. Who will pay for their healthcare bill? Who will pay for the council of their fsmilies? Who will pay for their “retirement” (if they make it that far)? How much will it cost in more government agencies? Who will really foot the bill?
I disagree with #3. The premise presumes that were drugs to be legalized, theft for drug money would decrease.
I hardly see how the legal status would change anything. In fact, although I support decriminalization, I can easily foresee a rise in theft.
The assumption is that drug prices would deminish which is a reasonable assumption and would indeed reduce the crime used to pay for illegal drugs. So you are wrong I think.
Only one way to find out.