Public Order Crimes

Definition and examples

Drug Use

• Early examples

had little impact with exception of two substances

• Extent of contemporary use

  Nearly half of young adults aged 21-25 have tried illicit drugs at least once in their lifetime; 12% are current users (National Household Survey on Drug Abuse)

After 1992, drug use started to increase slightly. Why?

Is there a drug-crime connection?

• Disinhibition effect
• Economic factors
• Drug markets

What's the evidence? Problems with determining a causal relationship.

Current U.S. Drug Policy

• Eradication: Crop Control; Seizure and destruction of drugs and drug labs
• Interdiction
• Street-level Drug Enforcement

How did Clinton change this "War on Drugs"?

Costs to this 'War on Drugs'

Alternative Policies:

Drug Legalization - arguments made by advocates and opponents