Time to declare truce in 'war on drugs': Thai editorial

[webfact]

EDITORIAL
Time to declare truce in 'war on drugs'
The Nation

We need a new approach to stem the damage being done by the narcotics trade

BANGKOK: -- At roughly the same time the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime released its annual report on the narcotics trade, the London School of Economics (LSE), backed by five Nobel Prize-winning economists, issued another, calling for a change in mindset on the way the trade is handled.

A global "war on drugs" was announced more than two decades ago, but to little apparent effect, with the trade even more lucrative and widespread now than it was back then. We are no closer to eradicating the problem, and that's mainly because the global community is fighting the wrong enemy. Governments policies have left the market in illicit drugs unregulated and users unprotected.

The LSE's 82-page report suggests that resources be redirected from "law enforcement and repressive policies toward proven public health policies of harm reduction and treatment".

The report, "Ending the Drug Wars", reveals the economics of current policy and shows why it hasn't worked. It looks at various factors that add to the cost, such as treatment of HIV/Aids cases that stem from drug use.

But for most governments, including Thailand's, tough talk and zero tolerance of narcotics continue to dominate the mindset of policymakers. This is mainly because they refuse to explore more sensible approaches out of fear that voters will view them as weak. Nevertheless, the LSE report's findings demonstrate the impracticality of prohibitionist policies.

Just about every government that comes into the office declares a "war on drugs". A decade ago that of Thaksin Shinawatra kicked off a controversial crackdown on dealers that saw nearly 3,000 people killed in the space of just three months.

Not only did it fail to achieve its objective, the short-lived and controversial policy greatly undermined the country's justice system.

Thaksin, however, had the audacity to call the "war" a victory against the narcotics trade.

Thailand's "war" enjoyed widespread support, illustrating the weakness of society. Opting for a quick and violent method to addressing any social problem is not a sign of strength. If anything, it reflected poorly on our society and culture.

Most of the illegal drugs flowing into Thailand are methamphetamines and heroin, produced in the Myanmar section of the Golden Triangle, where narcotics warlords are brutal and determined.

Myanmar's government has made it clear that other countries' drug habits are not its problem, and thus refuses to crack down on the warlords' narco-armies.

The situation is complicated by the fact that several of Myanmar's armed separatist groups trade in illicit drugs to finance their operations. In other words, narcotics and insurgency are inseparable in Myanmar. Trying to crack down on one while ignoring the other will achieve nothing.

The LSE report should spark serious debate. Civic groups should take the lead in this, but government officials and policymakers shouldn't wait for public endorsement before acting on the issue.

They need to be reminded that their cowardice has a price, and that price is not only the lives of the drug users but the innocent bystanders around them. The longer the world waits before ending its "war on drugs", the more people will suffer.


-- The Nation 2014-05-23

[angsta]

Is The Nation on drugs?

This is todays editorial?

[Tokay]

Drugs are bad for you. Have a smoke and eat some McDonalds.

[noitom]

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Is The Nation on drugs?

This is todays editorial?

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Indeed, what priorities!

[rijit]

yep, a timely face saver, now the powers that be ie the west are wanting to spend all their monies on the anti terrorist war,,, bless!!! so they cant afford to carry on the other futile war against drugs Wonder how many decades and lost lives it'll take 4 them to realise the first one cant be won either and that a diferent approach might be needed. We live in hope.

[BlueSkyCowboy]

There is just too much money made by the people in power etc to stop drugs. The US spent BILLIONS in the war on drugs and there are more drugs then ever before. Corruption is one problem. If we would legalize all drugs what would all the DEA agents do. How many lawyers, judges, police men and jailors would be out of work also. Small to mid size cities live of the income from a prison in their city? How many Psychologists who get paid about $150 and hour (actually 50 minute sessions) would starve? BTW we the taxpayer pay for this rehabilitation. In my old hometown in California a BMW dealer told me years ago that some people walk in and buy a new car for 40 to 70 K all paid in cash. So if layers and drug dealers would not buy BMW's, what would that do to the German economy? (now they build the cars in Tennessee, the great State of Al Gore.

Some counties in Norther California get up to 85% of their taxes from drugs. Do we really expect the police to enforce drug laws? Seriously, the US might go "broker/more broke if that is possible" lol if people would quit drugs. I have a solution, but the cowardly and liberl lefties in the Western countries would not like it

Edited May 23, 2014 by BlueSkyCowboy

[belg]

drugs come in from myanmar... who checks the borders ? police ? army ? who transport those & controle the distribution you think ???

honest cops ?

[Canada]

Is The Nation on drugs?

This is todays editorial?

My guess s that they are being very careful about what they say right now. It does not make sense that they would ignore such an important issue as the COUP happening right now. The military is controlling media outlets...is it not?

[Canada]

Now, having said that....

Being a person who supports a different approach to the worldwide drug problem than the "war on drugs"approach, I expected an interesting read when I saw the headline for this "editorial".

Whoever wrote this "editorial" should be sent home for the day. What a lame piece of writing. It regurgitates a few old facts that we know already, refers to the report from the LSE, but does not provide any information from it or link to it for reference.

What a bunch of useless, boring drivel.

[Briggsy]

Funny time for the Nation to fail to see a military coup, anyway.

Thaksin's war on drugs was a lot more about destroying the existing multi-million dollar dealing and trafficking networks and replacing them with ones more preferable to the powers-that-be at the time. If one was able to x-ray the economy to see the income flows from the drug trade here (both trafficking and dealing) one would find some senior politicians, police and army officers getting very rich off it.

[Tchooptip]

Drugs are bad for you. Have a smoke and eat some McDonalds.

You forgot the booze

[realenglish1]

The key to this is decriminalizing drugs and setting up mandatory clinics with free rehad. This would take the dirty money out of the hands of the criminals and reduce crime by 80% and reduce the prison population. This would = big savings to the government and society. Whether drugs are illegal or legal people will still do them regardless So the logical choice is decriminalize them.

But society is not ready for this. Imagine what would happen to the Mexican drug lords if drugs where decriminalized . amazing benefit for society. But the bible thumpers will always block it out of stupid fear

[rijit]

There is just too much money made by the people in power etc to stop drugs. The US spent BILLIONS in the war on drugs and there are more drugs then ever before. Corruption is one problem. If we would legalize all drugs what would all the DEA agents do. How many lawyers, judges, police men and jailors would be out of work also. Small to mid size cities live of the income from a prison in their city? How many Psychologists who get paid about $150 and hour (actually 50 minute sessions) would starve? BTW we the taxpayer pay for this rehabilitation. In my old hometown in California a BMW dealer told me years ago that some people walk in and buy a new car for 40 to 70 K all paid in cash. So if layers and drug dealers would not buy BMW's, what would that do to the German economy? (now they build the cars in Tennessee, the great State of Al Gore.

Some counties in Norther California get up to 85% of their taxes from drugs. Do we really expect the police to enforce drug laws? Seriously, the US might go "broker/more broke if that is possible" lol if people would quit drugs. I have a solution, but the cowardly and liberl lefties in the Western countries would not like it

yep, The thing is there's far more money to be made in waging war against terrorism, fighting an unknown invisible enemy, destroying countries, then rebuilding them, it's perpetually rechargeable, it's such an unbelievable opened scenario, why bother with the drug war, small change.

Edited May 23, 2014 by rijit

[Robert2006]

Drug addiction is a disease like alcoholism I don’t think it should be a crime. These are victimless activities spawned by wish to have some fun or avoid boredom similar to drinking alcohol. The public may be better served helping problem users get their lives straightened out, helping them find a purpose, some direction, arrange for them some mentoring. Most people have no problem with drugs and use them casually just like they use alcohol. It would be interesting to see what would happen if they drugs were legalized the casual users left alone and the problem users counseled and medically assisted.

If it didn’t work we could always go back to what we have now.

[AleG]

The President of Uruguay is exactly right with what he says in this interview, even though he doesn't support drug use (and he very eloquently explains why starting at 24:00) he has both the courage as a politician and the intelectual honesty to see that a vastly different approach than that of the Drug Wars is needed: