NCJ Number
48193
Journal
Journal of Drug Issues Volume: 8 Issue: 2 Dated: (SPRING 1978) Pages: 157-172
Date Published
1978
Length
16 pages
Annotation
IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT DRUG LAW ENFORCEMENT BE REMOVED FROM FEDERAL JURISDICTION AND TURNED OVER TO THE STATES. A REVIEW OF THE RECORD OF THE FEDERAL ENFORCEMENT BUREAUCRACY IS MADE, WHICH SUPPORTS THIS THESIS.
Abstract
FEDERAL DRUG LAW ENFORCEMENT, BEGINNING WITH THE HARRISON ACT OF 1914, IS REVIEWED. THE HOPE OF THE HARRISON ACT WAS THAT UNAVAILABILITY OF OPIATE-TYPE DRUGS WOULD REDUCE DEPENDENCY, AND AS THE NUMBER OF EXISTING ADDICTS GREW OLDER, THE PROBLEM WOULD DISAPPEAR. INSTEAD, ILLEGAL CHANNELS OF DRUG DISTRIBUTION IMMEDIATELY SPRANG UP AND THE FEDERAL ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS SINCE HAVE BEEN A CONTINUAL WAR AGAINST ILLEGAL ENTERPRISES. CURRENT DRUG LAW ENFORCEMENT IS CALLED UNFAIR BECAUSE THE FEDERAL AGENTS THEMSELVES SANCTION CERTAIN 'LEGAL' ADDICTS. AGENTS PROVIDE INFORMANTS WITH DRUGS OR THE MONEY TO BUY DRUGS. ADDICTS IN RURAL AREAS OFTEN GO UNDETECTED AS DO PHYSICIAN-ADDICTS. MANY INFLUENTIAL PERSONS MAY FIND IT EASY TO OBTAIN DRUGS LEGALLY. THE CURRENT ENFORCEMENT TECHNIQUES WHICH REMOVE LARGE QUANTITIES OF DRUGS FROM U.S. STREETS RESULT IN A 'PRICE SUPPORT' FOR REMAINING SUPPLIES AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE LARGE PROFITS MADE BY ILLEGAL DRUG DEALERS. THE $9 MILLION THE DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION REPORTEDLY SPENT FOR 'DRUG BUYS' IN 1975 ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO PROFITS FOR DEALERS. FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS HAVE FREQUENTLY COMPLAINED ABOUT THE ARROGANCE OF U.S. DRUG AGENTS. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT DRUG ENFORCEMENT BE TURNED OVER TO THE STATES AND THE FEDERAL APPARATUS, ESPECIALLY FUNCTIONS WHICH CONFLICT WITH EXISTING FEDERAL AGENCIES SHOULD BE DISMANTLED. AT PRESENT, CUSTOMS BUREAU PERSONNEL AND DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENTS OFTEN DUPLICATE EFFORTS. STATES EFFECTIVELY CONTROL ALCOHOL. THE SUCCESS OF ONE STATE IS OFTEN COPIED BY ANOTHER. A MISTAKE MAY ONLY BE PERPETRATED BY A FEW NEIGHBORING STATES. THEY CERTAINLY DO NOT AFFECT THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. INNOVATION, A BETTER PERSPECTIVE ON THE PROBLEM, AND MORE EFFICIENT CONTROL MIGHT RESULT. AN EXTENSIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY IS APPENDED AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (GLR)