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Legal & Illegal Drug Use & Drug Policy

By Gabriel Gonzales

University of San Diego

LEPS-500-03-FA20 – Contemporary Issues

September 21, 2020

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Introduction:

Substance abuse is commonly referred to as a victimless crime. Victimless meaning, no

adversely affected individual, such as one who receives harm or damage from a crime.i However,

substance abuse is a disorder where consequences extend far beyond the user. Drug users are

self-inflicted victims of their own disease, who also indirectly victimize those around them. ii

Without swift government interference, we create a setting for drug users to thrive. This report

will identify my drug policy vision to address the drug use epidemic with supportive reasoning.

American Drug Policy Vision:

The drug problems of today have evolved from drug problems in the past. Drugs of all kinds

are more powerful and available today than they were 40 years ago.iii The drug trade represents

an estimated 400-billion-dollar businessiv, with 150 billion spent on cocaine, heroin, marijuana,

and methamphetamine in the U.S. Drug use of all kinds has steadily increased from 2010 to

2016.v The future of the American Drug Policy should acknowledge the advancements made in

the drug trade and avoid minimizing enforcement, which seems to further facilitate an

environment for crime, specifically drug use. My vision is to reduce drug dependency by

focusing on drug users' psychological and emotional components, referred to as "the set." Also,

by analyzing the physical environments that promote substance abuse, referred to as "the

setting."vi This vision aims to focus on the underlying reason for addiction and victimization by

substance abusers. A resolution can be accomplished by upholding a punitive approach to the

war on drugs by strict government regulation and intervention.vii

Drug Addiction Set and Setting:

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The physical and mental effects of substance abuse create a culture of poverty. From a law

enforcement perspective, poverty does not create homelessness; rather, the culture of drug use

creates poverty.viii Drug users are seen as a form of pollution by those of higher status.

Sociologist Ervin Goffman wrote, "One avoids a person of high status out of deference to him…

and avoids a person of lower status out of self-protective concern.ix As an example, in Seattle, we

see how substance abuse poses a significant threat to their community, where the addicts infest

and pollute cities, and commit multiple crimes without retribution.x In the video, Seattle is

Dying, drug addicts are dehumanized and exiled by society and avoided by law enforcement. In

my opinion, a lack of effective policies and a lack of strict enforcement by government leaders

causes these deficiencies in a system that was designed to proactively prevent substance abuse.

Drug addiction, mental health, and homelessness seem to be interwoven titles given to identify

the challenges with this population. All three titles will run rampant without government

intervention, something we can already see in the City of Seattle.

City leaders have taken an approach of limiting police powers which give support to criminal

activity. During violent riots, city leaders took power away from Seattle Police by banning

chokeholds and crowd control weapons with a 9-0 City Council vote.xi This resulted in Seattle

Police abandoning their East Precinct, establishing a perfect “setting” for criminal activity;

Seattle’s “Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone” where police no longer respond to non-life-

threatening calls for service.xii This is an example of how a less punitive approach to low-level

crime advances criminal’s psychological dispositions toward illegal activity, while also creating

a physical environment that promotes lawlessness.

Drug User and Police:

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Deficiencies in the justice system seem to generate a lack of enthusiasm by law enforcement.

It is essential to understand that lawmakers' policy decisions have a trickledown effect on the

spirit of front-line officers to conduct enforcement, and its direct correlation to the deterioration

of a substance abuser. From a police officer's perspective in Baltimore, police lose sympathy and

empathy for substance abusers if they believe their actions are not worthwhile. The focus of

police work shifts from helping and serving, to other ideals such as minimizing contacts and

avoiding the effort involved in prosecuting low-level offenders.xiii In my experience, enforcing

laws and affecting arrests to combat the drug trade is far less rewarding. In some situations

involving the potential for use of force, greater liability is placed on the officer with less

punishment placed on the offender.

Conclusion:

We can see how strict enforcement can influence drug use in America. In Chicago, COVID-

19 has reduced crime overall by forcing and regulating restrictions imposed by government

officials. While these restrictions are related and targeted at reducing the spread of COVID-19,

its restrictive rules have impacted drug trade and drug arrests. Drug arrests went down by 42%,

and overall crime down 10%.xiv "Much of the decrease had taken place because of tougher

security policies."xv

As the former Director of the United Nations Office Antonio Costa stated, drugs are "not a

small enemy against which we struggle, it is a monster." While this drug related population is

small, its effects are significant. Reduced enforcement of drug use and possession is not the

answer to the drug epidemic. Thorough strict punishment and forced intervention, the criminal

justice system can influence an individual's psychological dispositions before they decide to use

illegal substances. We can also change environments that promote substance abuse.
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i
Fritzvold, Erik. Presentation 2.1: American Drug Policy - A Socio-Historical Analysis of Punitive Prohibition. LEPS
500 Contemporary Issues in Law Enforcement and Public Safety. University of San Diego, 2020.

ii
Mauro, Tara. “The Many Victims of Substance Abuse.” Psychiatry (Edgmont (Pa. : Township)), Matrix Medical
Communications, Sept. 2007.

iii
Fritzvold, Erik. Presentation 2.1: American Drug Policy - A Socio-Historical Analysis of Punitive Prohibition. LEPS
500 Contemporary Issues in Law Enforcement and Public Safety. University of San Diego, 2020.

iv
Fritzvold, Erik. Module 2 Introduction. LEPS 500 Contemporary Issues in Law Enforcement and Public Safety.
University of San Diego, 2020.

v
Midgette, Gregory, et al. “How Big Is the U.S. Market for Cannabis, Cocaine, Heroin, and Meth?” RAND
Corporation, 20 Aug. 2019, www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR3140.html.

vi
Fritzvold, Erik. Presentation 2.1: American Drug Policy - A Socio-Historical Analysis of Punitive Prohibition.
University of San Diego, 2020.

vii
Fritzvold, Erik. Presentation 2.1: American Drug Policy - A Socio-Historical Analysis of Punitive Prohibition.
University of San Diego, 2020.

viii
“Chapter 3 New Jack: Learning to Do Drugs.” Cop in the Hood: My Year Policing Baltimore's Eastern District, by
Peter Moskos, Princeton University Press, 2009, pp. 39.

ix
“Chapter 3 New Jack: Learning to Do Drugs.” Cop in the Hood: My Year Policing Baltimore's Eastern District, by
Peter Moskos, Princeton University Press, 2009, pp. 41.

x
News, Eric Johnson | KOMO. “KOMO News Special: Seattle Is Dying.” KOMO, KOMO, 20 Mar. 2019,
komonews.com/news/local/komo-news-special-seattle-is-dying.

xi
Press, Associated. “Seattle City Council Bans Chokeholds, Police Use of Crowd Control Weapons.” Q13 FOX, Q13
FOX, 30 June 2020, www.q13fox.com/news/seattle-city-council-bans-chokeholds-police-use-of-crowd-control-
weapons.

xii
Press, Associated. “Seattle City Council Bans Chokeholds, Police Use of Crowd Control Weapons.” Q13 FOX, Q13
FOX, 30 June 2020, www.q13fox.com/news/seattle-city-council-bans-chokeholds-police-use-of-crowd-control-
weapons.

xiii
“Chapter 3 New Jack: Learning to Do Drugs.” Cop in the Hood: My Year Policing Baltimore's Eastern District, by
Peter Moskos, Princeton University Press, 2009, pp. 46-47..

xiv
Stefanie Dazio, Franklin Briceno. “Crime Drops around the World as COVID-19 Keeps People Inside.” AP NEWS,
Associated Press, 11 Apr. 2020, apnews.com/bbb7adc88d3fa067c5c1b5c72a1a8aa6.

xv
Stefanie Dazio, Franklin Briceno. “Crime Drops around the World as COVID-19 Keeps People Inside.” AP NEWS,
Associated Press, 11 Apr. 2020, apnews.com/bbb7adc88d3fa067c5c1b5c72a1a8aa6.