Sticking with the 'Drug War': A Viable and Feasible Course of Action

摘要

The National Drug Control Strategy has evolved over the past two decades to thepoint where a viable and feasible course of action has developed. The resulting strategy is focused primarily on demand reduction within the United States, combined with a secondary international effort to reduce the drug supply by concentrating on interdiction within the drug producing source countries. Recent counterdrug operations within the source countries have shown that interdiction efforts can have an impact on drug trafficking operations and that interruptions in the production and distribution systems in the source countries can lead to significant reductions in future coca leaf supply. Coordinated diplomatic and host country military efforts can further improve supply reduction operations in the source countries. Despite these actions, interdiction operations in the transit zones between the source countries and the United States are still required to hold the drug traffickers at risk throughout their production and distribution system. Continued interdiction operations will serve to assist in establishing an atmosphere within the United States that will support the focus of the overall demand reduction strategy. The drug 'war' will be won primarily through demand reduction but 'victory' will require a degree of perseverance significantly greater than that demonstrated to date.