US Drug War Fails At Home, Undermines Human Rights And Democracy Abroad, Study Says

US Drug War Fails At Home, Undermines Human Rights And Democracy Abroad, Study Says

December 2, 2004 - Washington, DC, USA

Washington, DC: United States drug policies have failed to reduce illicit drug use or drug availability in America, while undermining human rights and destabilizing democracy abroad, particularly in Latin America, according to a study released this week by the nonprofit Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA).

US drug control efforts in Latin America have not reduced the supply of illicit drugs entering the United States and have instead caused "widespread, often profoundly damaging, harm to citizens' lives and their nations' democracies," concludes the report, entitled "Drugs and Democracy in Latin America: The Impact of US Policy." The study notes that the retail prices for illicit drugs, specifically cocaine and heroin, have fallen dramatically even though government spending on efforts to reduce supply and demand have risen greatly. The report further notes that the number of drug offenders incarcerated in America has risen from approximately 45,000 in 1981 to over 480,000 in 2002.

"It's time for policy makers to face up to the fact that the war on drugs is not working, and to take a more effective and less damaging approach," said John Walsh, WOLA's Senior Associate for Drug Policy. "We've been tough on drugs; now it's time to get smart on drugs."

An executive summary of the study is available online at:
http://www.wola.org