As of today, there are 934,754 people that have been arrested this year for drug law offenses, according to drugsense.org. I did not understand the importance of what the “war on drugs” actually meant, nor did I realize all of the people looking to end the war on drugs until today. It seems the government is quicker to put someone behind bars for illegal drug use than for murder or rape. Shouldn’t we be focusing the violent criminals and the “drug lords” who are making this possible in the first place? America wants be a “drug-free” country, but it seems to be almost impossible. Society needs to stop looking at the nonviolent drug users as deviant and think twice on their thoughts of the real criminals. As a result, coalitions have formed against the war on drugs focusing on the major issues of the war on drugs.
“Our supporters are individuals who believe the war on drugs is doing more harm than good” (dpf.org). The Drug Policy Alliance Network is devoted to promoting policy alternatives to the war on drugs. Not only does the DPA look for alternatives, they are focusing on teens. The Safety First Project is to inform teenagers with reality-based approaches of drug use. The coalition values the reduction of harm and a just society. One of the DPA’s envisions is that people should not be punished for what they put into their own bodies, but the ones who commit crimes are the ones we should be focusing on.
A woman who was personally affected by the mandatory minimum law started Families Against Mandatory Minimums in 1991. Her brother was sentenced five years in prison for a first-time offense. “Families Against Mandatory Minimums is the national voice for fair and proportionate sentencing laws” (famm.org). FAMM values sentence reductions of the mandatory minimum law. Educating the public and mobilizing the individuals and their families who have been affected by unjust sentences are also part of the organization’s focus.
High tuition costs is a main concern for most students attending college, especially if their parents are not helping. Scholarships are most valuable to those students. However, a first-time offender of drug use could take the scholarship away due to the Drug Provision of the Higher Education Act. Coalition for Higher Education Act Reform is a coalition dedicated to repealing the act. Denying financial aid to a student could be the end of their education if they cannot afford it. CHEAR values education. “Don’t let Congress hold education funding hostage to drug war politics” (raiseyourvoice.com).
In the future, it is difficult to say what will happen with the war on drugs. What I hope, as well as all the coalitions, is that the prohibition campaign will decline. There really is no telling where the war on drugs will be five years from now. The focus should be on putting criminals of rape and murder away, not the nonviolent offenders. If the coalitions continue to fight then there will be hope.