INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL POLICY - AN INTERAGENCY REVIEW

• NCJ Number: 61565
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 105 pages
• Corporate Author: US Executive Office of the President
• Sale Source: National Technical Information Service
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE U.S. INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL POLICY WAS REVIEWED BY AN INTERAGENCY TEAM OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES AND DEPARTMENTS UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE WHITE HOUSE OFFICE OF DRUG ABUSE POLICE IN 1977.

Abstract

THE INTERAGENCY TEAM INCLUDED REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE FOLLOWING FEDERAL AGENCIES AND DEPARTMENTS: DEPARTMENT OF STATE; DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE; DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY; DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE; DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE; DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE; DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION; U.S. CUSTOMS SERVICE; NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DRUG ABUSE; AND CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY. THE FOCUS OF THE REVIEW WAS ON NARCOTICS POLICY IN THE CONTEXT OF U.S. FOREIGN POLICY, INTERNATIONAL DRUG SUPPLY REDUCTION (LAW ENFORCEMENT, TRAINING, NARCOTIC CROP SUPPRESSION, FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS, AND ARREST AND PROSECUTION), INTERNATIONAL DEMAND REDUCTION, AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN THE CONTROL OF NARCOTICS. REVIEW FINDINGS INDICATE THAT THE MAGNITUDE OF THE INTERNATIONAL DRUG PROBLEM, IS EVIDENCED IN THE LARGE AMOUNTS OF OPIUM AND COCAINE PRODUCED WORLDWIDE. IN 1976, APPROXIMATELY 1,000 METRIC TONS OF OPIUM AND 60 METRIC TONS OF COCAINE WERE AVAILABLE FOR THE ILLICIT MARKET. WHILE ENFORCEMENT MEASURES DIRECTED AGAINST ILLICIT DRUG TRAFFIC INVOLVE MANY FOREIGN POLICE AND CUSTOMS OFFICERS AND HAVE ACHIEVED NOTABLE SUCCESSES, FURTHER CONTROL OF ILLICIT DRUGS CALLS FOR AN INCREASED EMPHASIS ON THREE BROAD BUT INTERRELATED AREAS: (1) REDUCTION OF SUPPLY THROUGH THE CURTAILMENT OF OPIUM POPPY AND COCA BUSH CULTIVATION; (2) INITIATION OF INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS TO REDUCE THE DEMAND FOR DRUGS; AND (3) INCREASED USE OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO ENCOURAGE, PLAN, AND FINANCE DEMAND REDUCTION MEASURES WITH FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS. THE PRODUCTION AND SUPPLY OF ILLICIT NARCOTICS AND PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS ARE, TO A SIGNIFICANT EXTENT, A FUNCTION OF DEMAND; WITHOUT DRUG CONSUMPTION, THERE IS NO INCENTIVE TO PRODUCE AND LITTLE PROFIT IN TRAFFICKING. THE IMPORTANCE OF DEMAND REDUCTION AS PART OF A BALANCED INTERNATIONAL DRUG CONTROL PROGRAM SHOULD BE EMPHASIZED AS A MEANS OF CONVINCING OTHER GOVERNMENTS OF THE IMMEDIACY AND SERIOUSNESS OF THE WORLDWIDE DRUG ABUSE PROBLEM. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--DEP)