A new plan proposed by President Bush seeks to reduce the use of illegal drugs by 10 percent over the next two years and 25 percent over the next five years.
The plan, which is being called the National Drug Control Strategy, has three main goals: to stop drug use before it starts, heal America's drug users and to disrupt the market for illegal drugs.
According to the plan, the strategy is hoping to unite national leadership with community level action in an attempt to "re-create the formula that helped America succeed against drugs in the past." In addition, there is a $10 million increase in the funding for expanding the Drug-Free Communities Support Program, as well as providing $5 million for a new Parents Drug Corps.
In addition, the plan allocates $3.8 billion for drug treatment in an attempt to help America's drug users. The goal is to get users into programs by creating a new climate of "compassionate coercion." The coercion would utilize family, friends, employers, the community and the criminal justice system to place people into treatment.
Finally, the plan aims to disrupt the market for illegal drugs. Domestically, the plan employs the use of state, federal and local law enforcement officials to interrupt the trade of narcotics.
The plan includes a budget of $2.3 billion to secure the nation's borders. Internationally, the plan would continue to target the illegal supply of drugs from source nations.
In total, $19.2 billion of the 2003 budget is allocated for drug control.
Local congressman John Peterson (R-Pa.) is extremely happy with the president's plan.
"President Bush should be applauded for having the courage to set clear and specific goals for reducing drug use in America," Peterson said in a press release. "As the president stated, illegal drugs undermine the health of our citizens and destroy the souls of our children."
"What has been done in the past has not worked well," said Mike Gallo, Penn State College Republicans chairman. "This is a good place to start."
Peterson said illegal drug trade serves as a source of income for terrorist organizations.
"When people purchase drugs, they are putting money directly into the hands of terrorists," he said in the press release.
However, some people disagree with the statement that drugs are connected with terrorism.
Julian Heicklen, a Penn State professor emeritus, who has caused controversy in the past with his views about illegal drugs, generally agrees with the plan. Heicklen was arrested for possession of a small amount of marijuana during a 30-hour marijuana smoke-out on university property in 1998.
"In principle, I have nothing against it," he said. "But how can you be against getting kids off drugs? No one is. But if that means sending them to prison for 20 years, I do not agree."
Heicklen concurs with trying to stop drug use, but he worries about where funding for the plan will come from. In addition, Heicklen believes there is only one way to prevent the influx of drugs into our country and the use of drug money to fund terrorist organizations.
"If they really wanted to get drug use under control, they would just legalize it," he said.
Heicklen said by legalizing drugs, a market could be created, allowing for legal trade. Heicklen also believes that to control the cost of drugs, legalization is necessary.
