Source: Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA. 1998;279:827-832 ) Section: Abstracts Pubdate: 18 March 1998 Contact: note: Following the abstract is the JAMA Science News Update which is, I think, a kind of press release sent to news services. THE PUBLIC AND THE WAR ON ILLICIT DRUGS Robert J. Blendon, ScD; John T. Young, MPhil This article presents what Americans think about the policies subsumed under the label of the "War on Drugs." It is based on an analysis of 47 national surveys conducted between 1978 and 1997. The major results are that most Americans rely on the mass media for information about the scope of the drug abuse problem; Americans do not think that the Wars on Drugs have succeeded, but they do not want to quit on these efforts; weak support exists for increasing funding for drug treatment; support for preventive education has increased during the 1990s; criminal justice responses remain very popular; for many, illicit drug use is a moral rather than a public health issue; the public supports allowing physicians to prescribe marijuana for severe illness, but opposes the general legalization of marijuana and other illicit drugs; and needle exchange programs are supported by a bare majority, but only when they are told that the American Medical Association supports these programs. JAMA. 1998;279:827-832 - -------- DESPITE LITTLE SUCCESS, PUBLIC STILL SUPPORTS WAR ON DRUGS Surveys Find Opposition To Drug Legalization, Support For Medical Use Of Marijuana CHICAGO—Even though the majority of Americans do not feel the "War on Drugs" has succeeded, they are not willing to give up on drug-fighting efforts, according to an article in the March 18 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Robert J. Blendon, Sc.D., and John T. Young, M.Phil., of the Harvard School of Public Health, in Boston, Mass., reviewed 47 national surveys conducted between 1978 and 1997. They looked at four areas important to health professionals interested in America's drug policy: - - Where do Americans get their information about the extent of the nation's illegal drug problem, and what are their experiences with it? - - What worries Americans most about the country's illicit drug problems? - - Why do Americans think individuals use illegal drugs? - - What are the public's views on various policy proposals to respond to the nation's drug problems, and what are their implications for the future? On the final question, the researchers found a paradox: " Most Americans (58 percent) do not see the nation's illegal drug problem getting better after years of increases in national spending, and they see the War on Drugs as having failed thus far (78 percent). Yet, despite this assessment, they continue to support greater resources being expended in generally the same policy direction as has been followed in the past." They go on to write: "Not only do Americans say that more money should be spent dealing with addiction, they report that they are willing to pay more in taxes (66 percent) to support increased antidrug-related spending." When choosing among 19 options for reducing the use and effects of illegal drugs, the largest share of strong support is found for more severe penalties for drug sale and possession. The second choice is antidrug education in schools. The third choice is increased funding for police. A majority of Americans believe drugs are one of the most important causes of crime. Only 14 percent of the public supports legalization of illicit drugs. The researchers write: "The majority of the public (52 percent) believes that drug-related crime would actually increase if drugs were legalized." But a majority of Americans support legalized use of marijuana for medical purposes: "In early 1997, separate surveys reported that 62 percent and 60 percent of the American public supported a policy where physicians should be able to prescribe marijuana to their seriously and terminally ill patients." Among other findings of the study: - - Most people rely on mass media for information about the scope of drug abuse in America. - - Although 82 percent of the public thinks illegal drug use is a big problem for society, only 27 percent see it as a major problem in their local communities. Eighty-one percent say drug abuse has never caused problems in their own families. - - Seventy-two percent see drug use as changing the national character; 64 percent of adults describe it as morally wrong. - - Seventy-three percent of adults are very concerned about the possibility of themselves or a family member being the victim of a crime committed by a drug user. - - The majority of Americans believe individuals might begin using illegal drugs because of peer pressure, poor parenting, or because drug dealers are trying to expand their markets. Illicit drugs lead to approximately 11,000 deaths each year, according to information in the article. Over half a million drug-related episodes are reported in hospital emergency departments. Direct government expenditures linked to illicit drugs total $27 billion annually. (JAMA. 1998;279:827-832) Note: This work was supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. © 1995-1998 American Medical Association.