Drug Use, Consequences and Social Policies

During the twentieth century, the United States has experienced an enormous amount of social policy in the area of substance abuse. Although some would argue that both ideologies and policies have fluctuated significantly over time (e.g., from the punitive law enforcement policies during World War II to the more public health approach of the Kennedy administration), the more punitive approach has clearly dominated. It currently characterizes today's policies and promises to do so in the near future (Office of National Drug Control Policy IONDCPI 1998). Coined more than a decade ago, war on drugs" policies have defined U.S. drug control for at least 70 years of this past century: the early 1900s through 1950s, 1980 through 1999. Today, both Republicans and Democrats typically embrace the punitive approach. Challenges come instead from the academic, medical, and philanthropic communities. These communities push for a more humane approach that favors prevention, treatment, decriminalization. and alternative sentencing. Below are reviewed some of the costs and consequences of drug abuse and the impact of drug-related social policies on society and the individual. Also discussed are other social policies having relevance to the problem (e.g.. welfare reform).