Literature Review: The War on Drugs

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Methodology
Findings
Conclusion
Reference List

Introduction

The war on illicit substances is a global initiative intended to eliminate the burdens associated with drug supply, sale, possession, and use. It is vital to note that castigatory policies are informed by the deontological idea that the use of certain drugs is morally reprehensible and perpetrators must be punished (Holland, 2020). The aforementioned policies are further guided by the belief that the substances in question have the potential to cause harm to users.

However, the misguided notion that anything with the potential to cause harm is immoral has led to the limited effectiveness of punitive policies with regard to the reduction of the negative impacts of drug use. This literature review will demonstrate the ineffectiveness of the UK’s current war on drugs and propose mechanisms through which outcomes can be improved. The UK’s insistence on implementing punitive rather than liberal drug policies is the main reason the war on drugs has negatively impacted the lives of its residents.

Methodology

The identification of credible sources that highlight relevant issues with regard to the war on drugs in the UK was the primary objective. A total of twelve sources from specific databases such as the House of Commons Library, the AlJazeera News Network, Google Scholar, and the Directory of Open Access Journals were identified. A specific set of criteria was then used to select articles relevant to the literature review. The articles had to be at least five years old in addition to having been published by reputable organizations. They also had to focus on specific drug-related issues. These included relevant statistical data, the need for policy reform, potential solutions, and the benefits of implementing change. A total of seven articles were analyzed and a synthesis of the collected data is presented in the findings below.

Findings

The Need for Reform

The current drug policies applied across the world are failing in view of the fact that the consumption of drugs is on the rise. The Open Society Foundations (2021) elaborates how the illegal drug market has evolved into a breeding ground for corruption, conflict, and violence. The implementation of ill-conceived drug policies and the incarceration of individuals who use illicit substances have worsened health crises and led to the social marginalization of low-level actors (Open Society Foundations, 2021). The current efforts to eliminate illicit substances are geared towards the destruction of supply chains that allow the entry of drugs into the UK. It is vital to note that the UK’s approach to the drug menace has not only failed but created a new set of problems.

The use of drugs in the United Kingdom has affected numerous communities and led to the loss of lives. According to the Office for National Statistics (2020), in 2020, it is estimated that 1 in 11 adults between 16 and 59 years of age in England and Wales consumed drugs which represents an 8.6% increase compared to the year 2019. In addition, 3.4% of all adults aged between 16 and 59 years in the same countries took a class A drug in 2020 which is similar to the rates reported in the previous year (Office for National Statistics, 2020). The Office of National Statistics (2020) highlights the fact that cannabis remained the most popular drug among adults followed by powder cocaine and nitrous oxide. The findings suggest that overall drug consumption has remained fairly stable, with the highest rates reported among the youth.

One of the challenges of the efforts to eliminate illicit substances is the increase in violence. According to Open Society Foundations (2021), sixteen years after Mexico’s former president declared that he will oversee the eradication of drug trafficking rings through the use of arms approximately 300,000 people have lost their lives. It is vital to note that health epidemics have arisen as a result of the war on drugs. For instance, the Centers for Disease Control estimates that 70,000 people died in 2019 due to drug overdoses (Open Society Foundations, 2021). In addition, the use of injectable drugs has increased the spread of diseases such as HIV and chronic hepatitis. The aggressive nature of anti-drug law implementation forces drug users into hiding meaning they have no access to the treatment they desperately need.

The illicit drug problem has significantly impacted the UK’s economy. According to HM Government (2017), the estimated economic and social cost of the supply of drugs in Wales and England is 10.7 billion pounds annually. Stauber (2021) notes that the high drug-related mortality rate in the UK is a result of prohibition. The strict laws are inextricably linked to the high death rate among drug users. The adoption of a more liberal drug policy is likely to reduce drug-related fatalities in the UK.

The criminalization of drug possession is associated with serious psychological and physical adverse effects. According to Holland (2020), interactions with the criminal justice system lead to the exacerbation of various social and health inequalities especially when individuals are subjected to prosecution. The UK’s approach to addressing the drug problem has specific objectives. According to Barber, Harker, and Pratt (2017), the first is to prevent people, especially the youth, from getting addicted to drugs. Barber, Harker, and Pratt (2017) further note that the government is determined to offer individuals with substance abuse problems the best possible chance of recovery while leading action on an international scale. It is vital to note that the aforementioned objectives have not effectively eliminated the effects of drug and substance abuse in the UK.

Proposed Solutions

Decriminalization is perhaps the most widely suggested proposal to help effectively address the drug problem. According to Open Society Foundations (2021), the UK government should implement a legal policy where drugs are still considered illegal but individuals found engaging in the prohibited behavior are charged with administrative offenses or misdemeanors. Madden, Tanguay, and Chang (2021) illustrate the idea that drug users are invaluable resources and meaningful engagement will facilitate the creation of effective solutions. Including drug users in the policy-making process will facilitate the assessment of contextual factors that have made the war on drugs largely unsuccessful.

Regulation is an important tool that can be used to improve outcomes in the fight against illicit substances. Madden, Tanguay, and Chang (2021) propose that nations such as the UK should implement a model where the purchase and supply of drugs are allowed and legalized under specific conditions. Some proposals include the use of medical prescriptions, governmental monopoly over the access and supply of the substances, and the licensing of private operators who must adhere to stringent rules. According to Madden, Tanguay, and Chang, (2021), the implementation of threshold amounts for all drugs will facilitate the differentiation of genuine users from dealers and will guide the implementation of legal statutes designed to dissuade drug use. It is vital to note that taking a non-punitive policy approach to the drug problem is likely to yield better results than the current tactics employed in the UK.

Potential Benefits

The UK could benefit immensely from the implementation of reforms in its attempt to eliminate substance abuse. Nations that have taken a less restrictive approach to the drug menace have experienced unprecedented success. For instance, Open Society Foundations (2021) notes that since decriminalizing the possession of drugs in 2001, Portugal’s drug use levels have remained lower than the EU average. It should be noted that the number of people sent to prison in Portugal due to drug-related offenses dropped by 44% after the implementation of the revised drug policies (Open Society Foundations, 2021). Portugal’s success is proof that punitive drug policies increase incidences of violence instead of making the population safe.

Conclusion

The fight against illicit drugs is a complex and multifaceted endeavor. The UK’s approach has undoubtedly yielded little success given that the number of people using illegal substances is on the rise. In addition, the challenges associated with the implementation of punitive policies have led to significant health, social and economic problems. The UK should adopt a liberal approach to the drug problem by focusing on decriminalization and regulation.

It is vital to note that there is insufficient evidence demonstrating the benefits of regulation with regard to illicit substances. Further studies need to be conducted on the benefits of implementing a non-punitive legal policy with regard to drugs in the UK. It is essential to gather objective data that will aid enforcement agencies to implement evidence-based policies designed to effectively address the drug menace. The UK needs to reform its drug policies to save the lives of those affected by drugs.

Reference List

Barber, S., Harker, R. and Pratt, A. (2017) Human and financial costs of drug addiction, House of Commons Library. Web.

HM Government (2017) 2017 Drug strategy. Web.

Holland, A. (2020) ‘An ethical analysis of UK drug policy as an example of a criminal justice approach to drugs : a commentary on the short film putting UK drug policy into focus’, Harm Reduction Journal, 17(97), pp. 1–9. Web.

Madden, A., Tanguay, P. and Chang, J. (2021) Drug decriminalisation: progress or political red herring? International network of people who use drugs. Web.

Office for National Statistics (2020) Drug misuse in England and Wales. Web.

Open Society Foundations (2021) Why we need drug policy reform. Web.

Stauber, P. (2021) ‘These people are broken’: Why the UK’s war on drugs has failed. Al Jazeera. Web.

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