American Drug War Failure

Mexico City - After 40 years, the U.S. war on drugs has cost the U.S. the $ 1 trillion and hundreds of thousands of lives, and for what? Rampant drug users and violence even more brutal and widespread.

Even the emperor of the United Gil Kerlikowske assess drug strategy was not working.

"In the grand scheme of things, have not succeeded," Kerlikowske said, The Associated Press. "Forty years later, concerns about drugs and drug problems grew, the more intensive."

Sunday, President Obama promised to "reduce drug use and extensive damage caused" by a new national policy which is said to treat drug use more as a public health problem and focuses on prevention and treatment.

Nevertheless, his government has increased spending on prohibition and law enforcement to a record in dollar and percentage. This year, spending reached U.S. $ 10 billion from $ 15.5 billion drug control budget.

Kerlikowske, who coordinates all federal antinarkoba policy, saying it takes time for spending to match the rhetoric.

"Nothing happens overnight," he said. "We do not handle the drug problem in a holistic manner. We capture the drug dealers, but we leave the problem of addiction."

His predecessor, John P. Walters, face the problem that way.

Walters confirmed today the community would be much worse if there is no war on the drug. National drug abuse peaked in 1979 and, although fluctuating, remain below those levels, he said. Assessing the drug war is complicated: Records show marijuana and prescription drug abuse increased, while use of cocaine. Catching up, but so is the availability of drugs.