Current drug abuse situation in USA
Findings have shown that many teenagers in high schools and colleges are regular drug abusers, and statistics do not lie. This point will be elaborated further in the section. The US Government has not been lost on the fact of the increasingly popular drug-abusing trend, and on 1st July 1973, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) was set up. According to the DEA’s official website, “The mission of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is to enforce the controlled substances laws and regulations of the United States and bring to the criminal and civil justice system of the United States, or any other competent jurisdiction, those organizations and principal members of organizations, involved in the growing, manufacture, or distribution of controlled substances appearing in or destined for illicit traffic in the United States; and to recommend and support non-enforcement programs aimed at reducing the availability of illicit controlled substances on the domestic and international markets.
In carrying out its mission as the agency responsible for enforcing the controlled substances laws and regulations of the United States, the DEA's primary responsibilities include:
- Investigation and preparation for the prosecution of major violators of controlled substance laws operating at interstate and international levels.
- Investigation and preparation for prosecution of criminals and drug gangs who perpetrate violence in our communities and terrorize citizens through fear and intimidation
- Management of a national drug intelligence program in cooperation with federal, state, local, and foreign officials to collect, analyze, and disseminate strategic and operational drug intelligence information.
- Seizure and forfeiture of assets derived from, traceable to, or intended to be used for illicit drug trafficking.
- Enforcement of the provisions of the Controlled Substances Act as they pertain to the manufacture, distribution, and dispensing of legally produced controlled substances.
- Coordination and cooperation with federal, state and local law enforcement officials on mutual drug enforcement efforts and enhancement of such efforts through exploitation of potential interstate and international investigations beyond local or limited federal jurisdictions and resources.
- Coordination and cooperation with federal, state, and local agencies, and with foreign governments, in programs designed to reduce the availability of illicit abuse-type drugs on the United States market through nonenforcement methods such as crop eradication, crop substitution, and training of foreign officials.
- Responsibility, under the policy guidance of the Secretary of State and U.S. Ambassadors, for all programs associated with drug law enforcement counterparts in foreign countries.
- Liaison with the United Nations, Interpol, and other organizations on matters relating to international drug control programs.”
Thus, it can be seen that the DEA plays a crucial role in ensuring that the drug abuse situation in USA is under control. There is sufficient evidence that the DEA is doing very well, as shown in the following statistics and facts.
DEA Arrests (Domestic) |
Calendar Year |
Number of Arrest |
2006 |
29,800 |
2005 |
29,005 |
2004 |
27,053 |
2003 |
28,549 |
2002 |
30,270 |
2001 |
34,471 |
2000 |
39,743 |
1999 |
41,293 |
1998 |
38,468 |
1997 |
34,068 |
1996 |
29,269 |
1995 |
25,279 |
1994 |
23,135 |
1993 |
21,637 |
1992 |
24,541 |
1991 |
23,659 |
1990 |
22,770 |
1989 |
25,176 |
1988 |
24,853 |
1987 |
22,751 |
1986 |
19,884 |
Total |
568,596 |
DEA Drug Seizures |
Calendar Year |
Cocaine (kgs) |
Heroin (kgs) |
Marijuana (kgs) |
Methamphetamine (kgs) |
Hallucinogens (dosage units) |
2006 |
69,826 |
805 |
322,438 |
1,711 |
4,606,277 |
2005 |
118,311 |
640 |
283,344 |
2,161 |
8,881,321 |
2004 |
117,854 |
672 |
265,813 |
1,659 |
2,261,706 |
2003 |
73,725 |
795 |
254,196 |
1,678 |
2,979,594 |
2002 |
63,640 |
710 |
238,024 |
1,353 |
11,661,157 |
2001 |
59,430 |
753 |
271,849 |
1,634 |
13,755,390 |
2000 |
58,674 |
546 |
331,964 |
1,711 |
29,307,427 |
1999 |
36,165 |
351 |
338,247 |
1,489 |
1,736,077 |
1998 |
34,447 |
370 |
262,180 |
1,203 |
1,075,457 |
1997 |
28,670 |
399 |
215,348 |
1,147 |
1,100,912 |
1996 |
44,735 |
320 |
192,059 |
751 |
1,719,209 |
1995 |
45,326 |
876 |
219,830 |
876 |
2,768,165 |
1994 |
75,051 |
491 |
157,181 |
768 |
1,366,817 |
1993 |
55,529 |
616 |
143,055 |
560 |
2,710,063 |
1992 |
69,324 |
722 |
201,483 |
352 |
1,305,177 |
1991 |
67,016 |
1,174 |
98,592 |
289 |
1,297,394 |
1990 |
57,031 |
535 |
127,792 |
272 |
2,826,966 |
1989 |
73,587 |
758 |
296,371 |
896 |
13,125,010 |
1988 |
60,951 |
728 |
347,306 |
694 |
16,706,442 |
1987 |
49,666 |
512 |
629,839 |
198 |
6,556,891 |
1986 |
29,389 |
421 |
491,831 |
234.5 |
4,146,329 |
Successes in the Fight Against Drugs |
The successes of 2007 in the fight against drugs were particularly significant, as it can be seen that the DEA was aiming to decrease the drug abuse rate amongst schooling teenagers. The domestic arrests throughout the past 20 years were fairly consistent, with numbers rarely exceeding 40,000. It can be considered an achievement in itself as USA has over 300 million citizens. However, the numbers do not adequately signify any improvement in the drug abuse situation, as the figures only shows drugs that the DEA managed to seize; the real figures will be substantially larger. The DEA can only play its part in enforcing the laws of regulations regarding drug abuse, but ultimately, the citizens of USA must also contribute to its cause. The following section will explain the ongoing campaigns mooted by the DEA. The DEA has also pinpointed the specific drugs that are popular amongst abusers, namely cocaine, heroin, marijuana, methamphetamine, and inhaler drugs. From the statistics above, it can be seen that inhaler drugs seizures are the most common, with an astonishing 8,881,321 dosage units of it being seized. The difficulty of the DEA’s rule is that these drugs are openly available in USA, such as glues and cough syrups. Independent findings have also proved this point. According to an article on Medical News Today’s website:
- The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University stated that cases of abuse of legally-controlled prescription drug amongst Americans increased by 100% from 7.8 million to 15.1 million over the period of 11 years throughout 1992 to 2003, with a worrying focus of the trend in teenagers: Abuse in teens more than tripled during that period of time.
- Americans who abused legally-controlled prescription drugs surpassed the total number of abusers of more common drugs, such as cocaine and heroin.
- “Our nation is in the throes of an epidemic of controlled prescription drug abuse and addiction,” said Joseph A. Califano, Jr., CASA's chairman and president and former U.S. Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare. “While America has been congratulating itself in recent years on curbing increases in alcohol and illicit drug abuse, and in the decline in teen smoking, abuse of prescription drugs has been stealthily, but sharply, rising.”
Many drugs have medicinal properties as well, and it is difficult to control what the user does with it; as a drug, or as a medicine? It can be seen that controlled prescription drugs are the ‘favourites’ amongst abusers.
Some forms of drug abuse not included in the DEA’s statistics are addictions to alcohol and smoking. These two types of drug abuse are the most common around the world, and no longer considered taboo in today’s society, unlike heroin or cocaine users. They are available almost everywhere and it is easy for first-timers to be addicted. According to a report released by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA), there are 13.2 million teenagers ranging from 12 to 17 who try illegal drugs, with the mentality that it is just a one-off. However, the report also found that after first-time use, teenagers still continued using drugs through out high school with a high percentage having ever tried cigarettes, alcohol and marijuana. Other findings include the increasingly important roles of schools in helping students to stay away from drugs, cigarettes and alcohol; one method used would be to clamp down hard on students found to be drug addicts or smokers.
Acknowledgements
- "United States - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia." Wikipedia. 9 Feb. 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA>.
- "DEA Briefs and Background, Drug Policy, DEA Mission Statement." DEA Home. 6 Feb. 2008 <http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/agency/mission.htm>.
- "DEA, Stats and Facts." DEA Home. 6 Feb. 2008 <http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/statistics.html>.
- "Drug Abuse and America's Schools." About.Com: Alcoholism. 10 Feb. 2008 <http://alcoholism.about.com/library/blcasa011105.htm>.
- "Teen Drug Abuse Triples in 10 Years in USA, Adult Rx Abuse Doubles." Medical News Today. 08 July 05. 10 Feb. 2008 <http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/27140.php>.
- Image: Heroin Black Tar.jpg - Wikipedia. Drug Enforcement Administration. 30 Mar. 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Heroin_black_tar.jpg>.