spread of HIV, hepatitis, and other infectious diseases.

Human rights are violated, environmental assaults perpetrated

And prisons inundated with hundreds of thousands of

drug law violators." (Cockburn, 1998) '

Everyday, at least once, on TV, in the paper or on the radio we hear something about the drug war. The drug war is our government's attempt at stamping out our drug problem. For decades the United States government has tried, ineffectively, to stop the trafficking and usage of illegal substances. Thus far all efforts have seemingly been completely useless.

Drugs have been a part of human culture for centuries, and instead of trying to eliminate this so-called problem, it would be much more logical to try and regulate it. Forbidding the usage of certain substances could be seen as unconstitutional. Not allowing usage is not allowing an individual the right to contaminate

his or her own body. AS part of being free one should be allowed to harm their own body, as long as they are not harming or infringing on the right of others (Hornberger, 1999).

Our government and others are always putting forth some effort in bet

April 17). Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly, 7, 2.

A big concern of those who support the drug war is that if we legalize drugs they would be more readily available to our youth ("America's War on Drugs",

Today when an illegal drug addict is caught, instead if trying to help this "diseased" person we punish them. Incarceration of a drug addict does nothing to help our war on drugs. Whenever the user gets out he or she just

Hornberger, J. (1999, June). Is it Time to End the War on

tering their chances to gain victory in the drug war. Last June the UN met in New York, coming up with "new" ideas to help their cause. In reality they only revived the same old tired ideas, such as encouraging the peasants of poor nations to grow alternative crops such as corn or wheat. Another overplayed suggestion was to bribe nations, which grow plants such as coca and poppies, with economic schemes. The only problem is when this is used the growing just moves on to the next nation, never eliminating the problem, only moving it (Whitcomb, 1998).

Some common words found in the essay are:
June UN, Everyday TV, Consumers Committee, War Drugs, Drug War, Joe Schmoe, drug war, Drugs Reason, War Reason, Abuse Weekly, Canadian Dimension, war drugs, whitcomb 1998, drug war drug, illegal substances, war drug, hornberger 1999, tudge 1998, instead trying, cockburn 1998, nations grow,
Approximate Word count = 811
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)