Comparative Drug Policy Analysis

New Zealand

New Zealand is the country that might have recently set the standards for drug and alcohol policies, of which other countries are interested in seeing the results before they follow in its footsteps. New Zealand has taken an alternative route to combatting its drug problem since the normal prohibition, and harsh criminalization of drug use did not seem to have an effect on reducing the problems associated with it. They have made a number of drugs legal, but highly regulated under the Psychoactive Substance Bill which restricts those under 18 from buying. By doing this the second National Drug Policy of New Zealand focusses on alcohol, tobacco, illegal and other drugs by providing specific goals and plans that would prevent and lower the health, social and economic harms caused by these drugs (Ministerial Committee on Drug Policy, 2013). The drug use problem in New Zealand has been very high, and has had significant impact on individuals, their families and communities as a whole. Millions of lives have been affected and hundreds of thousands of dollars have been placed into programs to help those affected by drugs. There is a clear relationship between certain groups and low employment rates, poor living conditions and low social control (Ministerial Committee on Drug Policy, 2013). The issue of drugs is so widespread that the policy incorporates the ideas and views of those who have been in any way affected by drugs, educators, policy specialist, researchers, and many more. By doing this and using the most up-to-date data collected from its citizens they are able to most strategically and successfully know what the public wants and the best solution and implementations to solve the problem.

Since New Zealand’s National Drug policy focusses on four main subjects, here are some statistics that represent the drug culture and its effects on society. The people of New Zealand have one of the highest drug use rate in the world. The first major legal drug is tobacco which causes the highest mortality rate, and is the single most leading cause of preventable death in the country. There are about 5,000 related deaths every year (Ministerial Committee on Drug Policy, 2013). The next legal drug is alcohol which is the “most commonly used recreational drug” that creates “concerns when the misuse of the substance causes health, social and economic harm” (Ministerial Committee on Drug Policy, 2013). The Ministry of Health also looked at numerous illegal drug and found that cannabis was the most widely used illegal drug with stimulants, opioids and hallucinogens also showing clear usage over the years. The fourth type is legal high, these are drugs are legal but are used for the wrong purposes. According to the Ministry of Health there has been an increase in the availability of legal substances like the “party pills” which are more common among the young.

New Zealand’s drugs are scheduled differently than that of the United States. There are three classes, Class A: those that are very high risk such as methamphetamine, magic mushrooms, LSD, Heroin and cocaine, Class B: those that are high risk such as cannabis oil, morphine, opium, and ecstasy, and Class C: those that are moderate risk like cannabis seed, and codeine (New Zealand Police). While these drug classes are not too far off from those of the United States, the United States have broken down their drugs into more categories. Yes, the use, possession and distribution is still illegal in the US and New Zealand if it is not obtained correctly, but it is easier to get these drugs if needed legally because it is heavily regulated. The United States have banned schedule one substances and the only way to get them is through illegal means. Because the United States have placed such harsh views on those who use drugs, and have criminalized its uses those who are affected may not feel free to face their problem. Most individuals want to feel high, and by banning every drug that becomes known only leaves room for more potent, dangerous drugs to surface. If the United States were to adopt such methods that New Zealand is now implementing, I think that there could be many positive outcomes regarding drug use in this country. The first is that drugs are safer to consume if there are legal (Tharoor, 2013). The government and the individuals will know what exactly is in the drug and know its purity. Another major aspect is that the sale of legal drugs will not aid criminal businesses (Tharoor, 2013). The money will be going towards the government and they will be able to successfully track the amounts of substances being used in a safer manner. By having many drugs illegal the U.S. is not fully aware of the amount of substances that are being distributed and from where. There is no way to track, anything besides the number of deaths related to illegal drugs. New Zealand has also placed many programs to help those who have already been affected by drugs, and also have placed preventative measures to try to combat its problem. There have been many acts in place like the Smoke –Free Environment Act, Effective Drug Education Project, and Community Action on Youth and Drugs implemented to help aid the process of prevention and reduction in the use and demand of drugs (Ministerial Committee on Drug Policy, 2013). These programs recognized that there are many individuals and groups that are needed to take part in this cause for such programs to work. By implementing such strategies I do think that we can see huge changes in the drug use culture in the United States because by keeping everyone in mind such programs and laws can be effectively put in place.

References

Ministerial Committee on Drug Policy. (March, 2007). National Drug Policy 2007-2012. Wellington: Ministry of Health. Retrieved from http://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/documents/publications/national-drug-policy-2007-2012.pdf

New Zealand Police. (2013). Illicit Drugs-offences and penalties. Advice: New Zealand Police. Retrieved from http://www.police.govt.nz/advice/drugs-and-alcohol/illicit-drugs-offences-and-penalties

Tharoor, A. (2013). 5 Things we can learn from New Zealand’s Innovative Law to Regulate New Drugs. Huffington Post. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/avinash-tharoor/new-zealand-drug-laws_b_4019402.html

"U.S Spies on Millions of Drivers"

Drug Enforcement

            The article that I read was taken from the Wall Street Journal called, “U.S Spies on Millions of Drivers.” While reading this article I was very shocked about the information that I was being presented with. I had no idea that the Justice Department along with the DEA were going to such depths to combat the drug problem in the U.S. In 2008, the Justice Department initiated a program that collected vehicles whereabouts in real time and filed it in a national database. The program first used cameras on major highways along the U.S-Mexico border since most drugs were coming from there. It then, over the years expanded throughout the U.S. The main goal of the licensing-plate program was to gather cars, cash and other things related to crime in order to reduce our countries drug problem. The data base can be accessed by federal, state, and local government officials as a way to keep everyone on the same page to take/make necessary moves. The DEA said that “98 kilograms of cocaine have been gathered, 8,336 kilograms of marijuana and about 866,380 dollars in 2010. The program is no longer only used in combating drug trafficking but is also being used in other crimes like rape, kidnappings and murder.

            Another type of surveillance or drug enforcement method talked about in the article was the phone surveillance by the U.S Marshall's who used planes with devices like cell phone towers that scan and collected information about individuals calling foreign countries as potential suspects. These two methods used in the process of drug enforcement has been very controversial among many American’s and politicians regarding the abundance of information collected about innocent individuals while searching for criminals. I personally think that such precautions are needed and can be very helpful in combating the huge drug problem that is affecting many lives. In respect to the amount of lives lost to drugs in this country I think that we as citizens can give up certain freedoms like being on surveillance for the safety of others.

            In class we have learnt about the negative effects of marijuana, cocaine and other drugs that individuals are using and becoming addicted to. We have learned that individuals have certain physical and psychological dependence to these drugs and its use can lead to irrational thoughts and behaviors. Both marijuana and cocaine are the two most common drugs that are smuggled into the Unites States from Mexico according to the DEA. Most of the drugs are illegal, therefore are harder to find and use. This is important because our citizens are the individuals being negatively affected by the drugs harmful side-effects.  Drugs are a great concern in our country and as learned mandatory minimums are placed for those carrying certain amounts of drugs. By tracking large potential drug dealers by using this license – plate program the DEA along with other agencies can go out and arrest both the dealers and buyers in order to combat this drug epidemic. This program allows us to see the real time location and activities of the drug personnel that can also verify their identity and can ensure their arrest.

As learned in class, marijuana and other drugs become more potent as the years go on and higher potency means higher addiction and abuse rates. With marijuana being a schedule one drug, possessing it alone is dangerous more so is the distributions and production of it. I think that it is very important for our governmental enforcement agencies to do whatever they have to in order to keep our country safe. There are many illegal activities and involvement that comes with smuggling drugs into the country that our border patrol may not be able to find. I think that having a national data base that all levels of governmental agencies can access is very critical in finding and arresting massive drug dealers. Our drug problem is something that our country is trying to deal with from the inside and we do not need outsiders missing this positive change that can be seen.

Just like the coast guard on the waters, our license – plate program allows us to view and keep track of what is going on inside our borders. As learned in class, since the Nixon Era our country has been at war with drugs, I do not think that it is time to quit just yet because our country has a long way to recovery. There is obviously still a huge demand for all types of drugs but it we have to try to recover damaged lives that have been plagued by addiction. Now that we have such a system in place to enforce our drug policies, I think that we must pay more attention to those citizens that are already affected by the problem.

Our society is becoming more and more impacted by drugs every day. Each of us probably knows someone or have heard close stories of someone who either uses or has been affected in some way by drugs. Our prisons populations are becoming over bearing with drug arrests and I do not think that this should be the case. Yes drugs are bad and are impacting the lives of ever day individuals but there are more serious crimes that I think call for prison time. Drugs are substances that I know individuals can do without and because of this I think that it is important that over government fight for the elimination of the problem because I do not see it getting better. If left un-touch then, the country would soon have a problem that they are unable to recover from. I think that the license-plate program is a great idea and should be kept in place to combat drug problems in the United States.

Article Link: http://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-spies-on-millions-of-cars-1422314779

"The WAR on Drugs"

              Since President Richard Nixon declared a “war on drugs” in 1971, I think that the American public and government has come a long way. The war on drugs was originally in place to combat drug abuse. Instead the war now seems to be on the criminality of drug use itself. Yes people are becoming addicted and not themselves but most emphasis is being placed on the possession, production, and distribution and it is not having an effect on the abuse problem itself. Drugs have become a very important part of the everyday lives of individuals and by trying to take this right away over the past decades have only worsen the problem of drug abuse. I think this is because society that society placed demonizing views on the use of drugs and those who use any type are too ashamed to let others know when they become addicted experience problems with the drug. The drug problem overall has become widely known it does not seem like people themselves want to stop using drugs and by pressuring them through laws is not the right way to go about it.
 In my opinion it think that we are losing this war with very year that goes by. It seems to me that the public is leaning more towards their rightful freedoms to do as they please. Even though the federal government still uphold most of their standards, individual state governments have recently began supporting drug policies that enable drug use but not its production or distribution. Individuals used drugs before, during and after the Nixon administration and will continue to do so. The cost of losing the war are high prison population because of high incarceration rates for those involved with drugs. Lives have been thrown away because of the harsh laws that were in place. Another cost is the amount of individuals’ lives that have been lost due to overdose and addiction. Families have been broken up. Another cost is the illegal drug trade that has increase with the laws that are in place for drugs both illegal and prescribed. Millions of dollars are being spent every year on the enforcement of drug laws, but evidence shows that it is not effective. For instance the OxyContin Express movie depicts pain clinics giving out medication to whoever. There are more illegal activities taking place than were probably anticipated. The war on drugs has not been successful, if anything it has made the problem worst.                                 

The Current Debate...MARIJUANA?

                                              

The forum “Legalize Marijuana? A Conversation with the Experts,” was very interesting and listening to both sides has led me to take into consideration some important issues that I had no previously considered. With that being said my opinion on the legalization of marijuana remains the same. I am going to summarize the most profound arguments for both sides of the debate.

The best argument that I heard from the experts is that all drugs have the potential for abuse and comes with certain effects. A big topic for the legalization that the panel talked about was making marijuana a schedule 2 drug. Research has shown that there are medical effectiveness of marijuana for pain and increase in food intake for AIDS and cancer patients. To back the previous statement made by an expert, they went on to state that the medication does not have to be effective for everything. By trying to prove the findings for the legalization of marijuana, legal consequences came into play. The experts discussed the involvement of all levels of the government. First and foremost was at the federal level. Even though many states have legalized marijuana the federal government has not. Another topic brought up was the idea of producing and distributing products. Even though most states have legalized marijuana there are many restrictions that individuals have to follow. This was a great argument that was brought up and as an expert stated that there are many ways for which marijuana can be legal, it does not have to be on the extremes that is the four business model and prohibition.

The best arguments for the prohibition of marijuana was based on the aspects we learned about in class. Some were that there is a high potential for abuse. There is no medical use and does not have a proven safety standard. These arguments are based on the fact the marijuana is a schedule 1 drug. Another argument that an expert pointed out that I found interesting and important was that most individuals do not think of are the neurological consequences that using marijuana. As pointed out in the forum, one may not act like a maniac but your mind while on marijuana does not function normally because of the intoxication. If marijuana is safe then it should be like any other vegetable and not on a ballot. There has not been any long term effects of marijuana on chronic diseases and research shows that id taken chronically individuals are about 50 percent at risk of becoming addicted. Experts believe that if many states were to legalize marijuana then adolescents would be affected more because studies have shown that those who use by the age of 15 are 5-6 times at higher risks for becoming addicted than those who use after 21 years.

It is difficult to tell the exact impact that legalizing marijuana may have on the overall public health. This could be better studied if the federal government had a role in the legalization also. The burden would not only be relieved from the states but there could be a common ground on laws that guide what state can and cannot do. With this regulation of marijuana I think that individuals will look at the drug like any other. With all drugs there are going to be complications and dangerous effects because not everyone react the same.

Florida: The Pill Popper's Paradise

OxyContin Express Film

Before watching the film OxyContin Express I knew that America had an illicit prescription drug problem but I was shocked to find out that Florida was the pill popper’s paradise and the main go-to state for prescribed drugs. Finding out that Broward County had one of the highest amount of pain clinics (100) in the nation where individuals from all over the country comes to get prescribed drugs was very shocking since it is so close to home. Florida, unlike most other states did not have a prescription drug management plan which makes it easier for pain clinics to give out pills to patients without any real cause. The film stated that about 11 people die in Florida a day from drug overdose. I, like many others think that not enough attention is being placed on the rising drug problem. This easy access of pills has people coming from all over the country to get pills that has become a huge problem in the state of Kentucky. A Kentucky sheriff also points out that Florida is making all the money while Kentucky is feeling the pain. People would come to Florida, buy pills and take it to another state where the pills are hard to find and sell it there for more. I think that Florida needs to take the initiative to cut down on the illicit prescription drug problem that are taking many lives and leaving families torn, either by death, addiction, or being placed in jail.

            Florida since then has implemented a drug management program which would reduce some of the problems like the pipeline that has been created. I think that Florida needs to have the DEA keep a close eye on all the clinics and hospitals that gave out prescription drugs. Those individuals that are writing the prescription need to make sure that there is a real reason that their patients are receiving the pills. They need to double check that they have not been given medication before, since this seems to be a huge problem. Right amounts also need to be given. I think in order for all of the above to work, each individual is going to have to be place on a data state/national data base which can be used to search a patient to see the prescription amount, if they have been given the pills already and for what reason the pill are being prescribed. This way certain individuals are held reliable under the law and this problem can be stopped. It is important for the state of Florida to do something about the mess that has gone untouched for a long time. More lives are at risk and the problem is known, so why not go after it. Cracking down on process of distributing prescribed drugs will decrease the pill pipeline by not giving more pills than needed to each individual. By having such a system, errors would be less likely so that real patients would be treated and not addicts.
              We have learned from class that drugs can be very addictive and it hurts to see individuals getting hooked on medication that is supposed to help make them feel better. In reality many are plagued by addiction and getting into further trouble with the law in numerous ways as seen in the film. We have learnt that drugs can be made from many different substances, and those on the streets are less potent than those that are made for pharmacies. These drugs are legal but they are being dispersed in illegal manners making prescription pills so dangerous especially when used without drugs.

An Interesting Read.... The Cocaine Kids!!

The book Cocaine Kids by Terry Williams gave me an insight into the drug culture of the 1980’s. It depicted the ups and downs of the lives of eight teens as they try to live a sustainable lifestyle for different reason. The author provided much details of the lives of these teens through an ethnography. The author acted as part of the drug culture, viewing the lives of the kids’ sometimes in real time and by having one on one conversations with them. He would gather information by taking note, quick sketches and also keeping things in his memory so that he doesn’t scare of clients and seem out of place. He would meet the teens for two hours a day, three days a week to discuss details about the drug world.

Three aspects of the drug culture that was interesting to me was the starting of a crew, the slangs used in the drug culture, and the importance of being powerful and strong in this culture. The first aspect that caught my attention was the process starting a crew and keeping business intact. The main character, Max had to find reliable individuals who was a good supplier and could hustle. I thought that the way Max treated his fresh starters was very interesting. He would “request money at the middle of the week before it was due, he would go collect the money himself”. This way there was less room for failure and room for messing up.

The second aspect of the book that I thought was interesting was the slang/ drug language. Throughout the book there were a number of words that confused me while I was reading. There were many words related to cocaine that I had no idea what it meant. For example, shake is the term for a mixture of cocaine powder with adulterant, recompressed cocaine is when you cut cocaine to make rocks so the buyer thinks that it is pure. Chalking is a chemical procedure that makes cocaine white. There were many words used to describe the different jobs of the main eight teens in the book for example, a steerer was someone who directed people to the drug house. I really enjoyed having the glossary at the end of the book to help me understand the slang spoken throughout the book.

What I found the most interesting was length that some of the dealers would go to while trying to prove themselves as powerful, strong and independent. Towards the end of the book depicted a great example with Chillie. Chillie tried to take over McQueen’s drug spot and her customers. He kept trying to split from Max, and would lie about his dealing with McQueen to make others think that he was powerful. Kitty also wanted to show her strength by being independent. She started feeling powerful when she had a limo pick her up from her place. By as shown in the book, the drug business is very dangerous can has many draws backs such as death.

This relates to class because the author talks about the many different types of cocaine as we have learned about in class such as freebase and crack. The book has shown that different people react differently to drugs, some are more addicted and cannot resist the urge and therefore do badly at selling the drug. We also learned about the different routes of administration, as the author points out in her book. Some individuals sniffed, snorted and smoked cocaine. The author also pointed out that the color of the cocaine mattered.  I enjoyed the book overall and learnt a lot about cocaine and the drug culture.

"Go Pills and no-Go-Pills"

 

Reading the three articles about the use of “go pills” or Dexedrine I instantly thought that such use of amphetamines in the military can be unethical. I personally do not think that the military should be allowing combat pilots to use amphetamines to increase alertness or performance. I do not believe that the military is being ethical by providing/allowing the use of amphetamines to its people. There are so many possible side effects that are pointed out by the three articles which include: depression, addiction, elevated blood pressure/heart rate and even paranoia. Yes, the military is giving the individuals the choice of if they want to use the drug or not but it will place them in jeopardy if something happens and they haven’t taken the drug. The article also points out that the FDA has approved the drug to reduce/manage fatigue.

I honestly do not think that pilots’ career will suffer without the use of “go pills.” I think that the military needs to come up with a plan to make sure that their pilots are getting enough rest and that they are not being over worked in the process. I believe that the amphetamines that the pilots are taking right now are not the best solution to the problem. The human body is unique and will react in different ways, and some consequences of using amphetamines are that they can actually impair a pilot’s perspective. For example, Canadian civilians were bombed by the U.S. planes because the pilots confused them as enemies, causing innocent lives. Another consequence is that the pilot can become addicted and over the drug, thus leading to other work related injuries or mishaps. The U.S. does not let regular civilian pilots use this drug and sometimes their fights are just as long. I do not think that anyone should be using drugs to keep them alert. I think that there are more natural strategies that the military can employ to reduce the use and effects of amphetamines, such as having different shifts, and ready substitutes to take over if and when a pilot is feeling fatigue. This way no one will necessarily be sleep deprived or feel the need to take amphetamines to keep then awake or to fall asleep. With the proper treatment (enough rest), the body will be able to properly function on its own, without the use of such possibly harmful drugs that can end someone’s career or life.

As learned in class this amphetamine is listed as a schedule 2 drug which means that it is legal, but the FDA has not stated that the drug can manage fatigue which it is mostly used for. I have learned that drugs can effect individuals differently which means that some may have positive reactions while others may not. Just being on the drug can make someone feel more awake, which may not be entirely attributed to the drug itself. Another drug is being used to make the pilots rest/sleep if they are having trouble also. If the U.S continues to use such drugs then they can become more common in other parts of the job soon, which can be a big problem in the future.