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The US State Department's Narcotics Control Policy in the Americas

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

James M. van Wert
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Extract

Governments, Like People, Function in ways that enhance their perceived self-interest. Effective narcotics control is in the best interest of the United States for at least three reasons.

First, reducing the available supply of illicit narcotics (potentially) can reduce the incidence and prevalence of abuse by US citizens. For example, by making drugs relatively hard to find and expensive to use, supply-reduction efforts might successfully discourage potential users from experimenting with drugs and risking future chronic, intensive involvement. Moreover, it can be argued that control measures may be an important deterrent in motivating current drug users to seek treatment and find gainful employment (Moore, 1988).

Second, reducing the supply of illicit narcotics may reduce the level of organized crime and lawlessness in the United States. An effective supply reduction program presumably can bring success in stopping trafficking organizations from supplying illegal goods and services; seizing their ill-gotten wealth; punishing their acts; prosecuting them for corrupt practices; and weakening or eliminating these groups as threatening criminal enterprises.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Interamerican Studies and World Affairs , Volume 30 , Issue 2-3: Special Issue: Assessing the Americas' War on Drugs , Summer 1988 , pp. 1 - 18
Copyright
Copyright © University of Miami 1988

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References

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