THE US “WAR ON DRUGS” – HOW ARE WE DOING?

The answer seems clear from data provided by the National Institute on Drug Abuse in NIDA Notes, vol 22, no. 5, 2009, p. 19. Among 17 countries in five continents, US reportedly had the highest life-time use of cocaine (16.2% - no other country greater than 4.3%); and cannabis (42.4% - New Zealand had 41.9%, next came Netherlands with 19.8% and France with 19.0%). No other rates for illicit substances are given. For the world’s most rigid and enthusiastic champion of zero tolerance, the data seem to suggest it may be time for a change...