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The failed global war on drugs: Why the UN declared the battle a failure.
The War on Drugs is a global effort led primarily by the U.S. federal government to reduce the trade in illegal drugs. The beginning of this war can be traced back to June 17, 1971, when President Nixon declared at a press conference that drug abuse was the nation's "public enemy." He stressed that a nationwide, comprehensive offensive was necessary to combat and defeat this enemy. However, the results of this series of policies over the past few decades have raised questions.
"The failure of the global war on drugs has had devastating effects on individuals and societies around the world."
In a 2011 report on drug policy, the United Nations bluntly stated that the war, which has lasted for decades, has failed to achieve the expected anti-drug results. As of 2023, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights also stated that decades of punitive drug policies have not only failed to reduce drug production and consumption, but have instead led to the continued emergence of new types of drugs.
According to the United Nations, total spending on the drug war has exceeded $1 trillion since 1971. Although such heavy investments have failed to effectively curb the drug trade, the annual drug war budget is still as high as $39 billion. Many opinion leaders and experts began to question this strategy that mainly relies on punishment and military means.
"With the widespread use of drug information and the decline of medical voices, the enforcement of the law is too simplistic."
Historically, drug use in the United States has been virtually unchecked. In the mid-19th century, the rise in opium and cocaine prevalence in the United States sparked intense medical controversy and ultimately led to serious problems with disease and addiction. However, as drugs were gradually regulated in the 20th century, white society and the advantaged social classes filled the medical gap, and the blame for drugs began to be placed on minorities.
At that time, drug legislation in the United States was incomplete, which further led to chaos in the drug market. It was not until 1909 that the first law prohibiting non-medical drug use, the Smoking Opium Elimination Act, was officially introduced, followed by the Harrison Narcotic Tax Act, marking the federal government's increasing attention to drug control.
"We must re-examine the fairness of our drug laws and reflect deeply on their effectiveness."
However, over time, drug penalties have escalated and become more focused on criminal penalties rather than public health. This model reached its peak in the Federal Bureau of Narcotics under Harry Anslinger, who promoted the gradual legislation of drugs and the policies based on it also gained support on the international stage at the time.
However, reports from the United Nations and other international organizations continue to point out that the drug problem should be viewed more as a public health crisis, with education and medical treatment as the main approach, rather than repression and suppression.
"Should we invest money and energy in a never-ending battle, or should we try to treat and improve the health of society?"
The drug war, with its uncertain future, appears to be back on track. In 2023, the drug war will be intensified again in the face of emerging synthetic drugs such as fentanyl, and in 2025 it is planned to use more targeted counter-terrorism strategies to combat drug dealers and terrorist organizations. As human rights experts worry, such a re-emergence may not only deviate from the original intention of treatment and recovery, but may also cause many innocent people to become victims of policy integration.
Faced with this series of setbacks and unresolved issues, can the UN's calls be translated into actual policy changes?
