Policy at the Fringes -- How America's Drug Policy Took a Hard Right Turn

One of the things you may or may not know about me is that I worked for the Drug Czar for about five years.   It's true -- the Office of National Drug Control Policy, as the office of the Director of White House Drug Policy, or Drug Czar, is formally known, is not exactly the epicenter of political action in Washington, DC.  But a lot of the policy -- a lot of the lasting policy -- created by a president and his administration is done at the fringes. 

Drug policy, at least, is sort of at the fringes by necessity.  Can you imagine Barack Obama -- or John McSame, for that matter -- running entirely on a platform of "just say no to drugs"?  Hardly.

What's more, a lot of the world of drug policy is wrapped up in other, larger issues.  For example, interdiction efforts are tied to border and immigration issues, not to mention international policy.  Prevention is really all about education.  And drug treatment is, after all, a "health" issue. 

Health.  Education.  International policy and border issues.  I bet you've heard Obama and McSame mention those a time or two.  Next time you hear a candidate talk about one of those things, really think about all the things that may affect it.

Actually, I worked for two different Czars: Dr. Lee P. Brown, and General Barry R. McCaffrey.  Please don't get me wrong -- I was never more than a staff assistant, a step-up really, from answering the phones.  I handled the scheduling for Dr. Brown for about two years, and I worked doing administrative jobs for General McCaffrey's Chief of Staff for the rest of the time.

Whatever your opinion on drug policy in America today -- and I'll share mine in a moment -- the office which directs that policy is (or was when I was there in the mid-1990s) staffed with hard working, honest, and good public servants.  I had a lot of good experiences there -- it was Dr. Brown who encouraged me to go back to school and finish my degree --  and good mentors as well.  People like George Kosnik and Ross Deck and Barbara Tyler went out of their way to make sure I, one of the only people under the age of 30 in the office, succeeded.

One of the other good people at ONDCP who freely shared his valuable time and knowledge was Dr. John Carnevale.

I would strongly encourage you to read John's article on the Huffingtonpost today.

In the latest 2008 National Drug Control Strategy, the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) -- the federal executive office agency charged with shaping this nation's national drug control strategy -- claims that America has reached a turning point in the war on drugs. In reality, we have little reason to believe a significant change has occurred. ONDCP based its claim on declining use for youth -- a trend that long precedes this administration's tenure -- but ignores the lack of progress with regard to adult drug use, rates of drug addiction, the inaccessibility of substance abuse treatment, and new emerging drugs of demand such as pharmaceutical drugs and methamphetamine. If America is to be successful in the fight against drugs, the first priority for the next administration -- Republican or Democrat -- must be to reinventing ONDCP as an effective policy office capable of leading the nation's struggle with drugs.

The bold is mine.  Take it from John -- and take it from me -- we haven't made any "significant change" in this failed "war" maybe since its inception.   And he's right.  This should be a top priority of the next administration, though you can guess who'll take us in a different direction and who will be, well, the McSame.

There's bad news, John: Neither Senator Obama nor Senator McCain address drug policy on their website issues pages.  At all.  In any capacity.

Sorry.  Like I said, I think it is -- essentially -- a fringe issue.

Please don't get me wrong: just because this issues is under the radar doesn't mean it is not critically important.  It absolutely is.

So here's my opinion on drug policy in America today.

We've imprisoned far too many non-violent offenders under the draconian and racist Rockefeller Laws, and laws and sentencing guidelines like them.  We might as well have flushed billions of dollars down the toilet.  It all goes towards my throw-away society theory -- we throw everything away, including people.  And it's easier to just incarcerate drug addicts rather than try to heal their addiction.

Our demand reduction efforts are generally kicked to the curb for "sexier" interdiction efforts, usually in South and Central America and on the border.  Look, you don't need a washed-up DC-type operator like me, or even a policy professional like John Carnevale, to tell you how well that's working. 

That being said, I think there is a role for international diplomacy.  Our Department of State should work on crop eradication programs with narcotic-producing countries to help transition these farmers -- who usually work for international drug kingpins and thugs, threatening them with death if they don't produce their drugs -- to crops that a world (experiencing a food shortage!) desperately needs. 

Finally, let's talk about education.  "Just say no," is not drug education.  Neither are the ridiculous ads that the ONDCP started producing in my last year or so at the office.  Kids see through them.  But they make parents and politicians feel better, so we continue throwing money hand over fist to advertisers...

This is actually the hardest thing to address, and I don't know that I have the answer, but I'm fairly certain it starts with honesty and it starts at home.  Parents have to talk to their kids.  And in schools, teachers have to be empowered to talk to their students.  Now we're talking a two-pronged education strategy: educating kids on the dangers of addiction, and educating parents and teachers on how to simultaneously empower kids to make the right decision and be honest when talking to them. 

The new administration will face a unique opportunity to reshape American drug policy. ONDCP must develop a strategy that is research- and performance-based. It must present a federal drug control budget that emphasizes effective programs that support an evidence-based, comprehensive drug control policy.

Good work, John.  Right on the money.  And hold out hope -- by Inauguration Day, maybe we'll be looking at a new drug policy for America.  Fringe issue or not.