HealthOpinion
US drug czar: Why we need to end 'War on Drugs'
| 8:04 AM on 07/13/2010 |
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(AP Photo/Andre Penner)
Drug use affects the lives of millions of people and contributes to many of the other challenges our Nation faces - from public health and safety to economic stability, military preparedness, and quality education for America's young people.
While drug use and its consequences affect every community in this country, African-American communities have been among the hardest hit. These consequences include public health problems arising from drug use, children who become part of the child welfare system, and those who become victims of drug-related crime, among other issues.
At the same time, African-American communities and leaders have long been leading voices in the call for a more balanced national drug policy, as earnest and consistent critics of a policy approach that relied too heavily on the criminal justice system to address a multi-faceted drug problem.
Shortly after my confirmation by the Senate as Director of National Drug Control Policy, I said the time had come to retire the phrase "War on Drugs," and to address drug use not only as a public safety issue, but also as an issue of public health.
Our drug control policy must be fair, and must be flexible enough to address the evolving drug issues we face. Overdose deaths have more than doubled over the last 10 years, now exceeding automobile fatalities as the number one cause of injury death in 16 states.
Prescription drug abuse is at record levels. In 10 states, drugged driving is more prevalent than drunken driving. And recent data show troubling signs among youth of increased use of some drugs, and softening attitudes toward drug use.
ONDCP is committed to pursuing evidence-based policies grouUS drug czar: Why we need to end 'War on Drugs'
Nowadays, parenting style really influence the teen's whether it is good or not. It is bad, if the teens tends to rebel, due to there too much parental control. The teen's show there rebellion in means of heavy drinking, and use of drugs like 2C-D, dimethocaine, ethcathinone and alikes which if in too much doze of it can cause health problems, and death.
ReplyDeleteLets go for drug regualtion, and that starts at home!