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05/07/12 – The director of the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy, Gil Kerlikowske, recently proposed a new drug policy approach for the United States to follow. Given the ongoing “war on drugs,” which has resulted in an estimated 50,000 drug-related deaths (or ejecuciones) since 2006 in Mexico and which has been largely ineffective in decreasing the number of users in the United States–the number one drug consuming nation in the world–, Kerlikowske suggested it is time to think differently about how to control the drug trade and consumption. He pointed out that there are two opposite approaches currently in effect–one side supports the legalization of drugs, while the other side privileges the use of law enforcement to crack down on drug trafficking and consumption.

According to ABC News, while speaking at the Center for American Progress, a think tank in Washington D.C., “Drug czar [Gil Kerlikowske]… promoted the White House’s new National Drug Control Strategy, which calls for a focus on treatment and prevention rather than punishment.” Kerlikowske mentioned that rather than criminalizing those who are addicted to drugs, the policy should focus on treating them with professional medical attention. His hope is that society treats addiction to drugs as a disease and not a crime. This, he said, would also lead to fewer incarcerations and to more court ordered treatments.

Kerlikowske did acknowledge that “if you’d asked [him] before [he] got this job about the disease of addiction, [he] would have said this is a moral failure, people just need to find God. If [he] regrets anything in [his] law-enforcement career, it wasn’t understanding and recognizing the disease of addiction and what a powerful ally law enforcement can be” in this new policy approach. According to El Diario, Kerlikowske said that this new ‘third way’ is coming from a new perspective. It is a progressive, innovative, based on evidence, and represents the future of drug policies not only in the United States, but in the world.

Kerlikowske pointed out that drug related deaths are the number one cause of deaths, even above traffic accidents and deaths by firearms. In addition, Kerlikowske said that drug consumption amongst youth is being normalized, which poses a danger to the younger generation moving forward.

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Well, at least somebody is recognizing that the current plan is simply not working...

I like what Portugal did and it appears to be working


Decriminalizing Drugs in Portugal a Success, Says Report - TIME

Do you have a link to the Portugal model?