The Drug Enforcement Administration has frequently displayed reckless disregard for the lives of any person associated with drugs. The agency’s thoughtless behavior recently reached a new low.
According to reports released last week, a DEA agent created a fake Facebook profile and impersonated a young single mother who was awaiting sentencing for drug charges. In addition to posting personal photos of the woman, which he obtained from her cell phone, he also communicated with her friends and acquaintances, sent a friend request to a fugitive and created false status updates — all without her knowledge.
A U.S. attorney defended the agent’s actions as serving a “legitimate law enforcement purpose.”
These actions point to a disturbing cycle of dehumanization in the war on drugs, especially in our country. For decades, the U.S. government has treated nonviolent drug offenders as though they are less than human beings.
Instead of treatment and education, they receive aggressive and terrifying SWAT raids, indefinite seizures of property, and extremely harsh prison sentences. Their privacy is disrespected, their safety is compromised and the value of their lives is treated with indifference. What good has come out of it?
Treating drug abuse as a criminal justice issue instead of a public health issue has resulted in increased drug-related violence, the establishment of billion-dollar drug cartels and a staggering incarceration rate that continues to rise.
Even though American taxpayers have spent an overwhelming $1 trillion over the past four decades on the war on drugs, our prisons are bursting with nonviolent drug offenders. This isn’t surprising, considering that the DEA’s very existence relies upon the constant process of arrests and convictions.
Irrationally labeling drug abuse as a criminal problem is the reason why the U.S. makes up only 5 percent of the world’s population but holds almost 25 percent of the world’s prisoners. According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, about half of federal prisoners are serving drug-related sentences. U.S. policy makers desperately need to admit that the current drug policies are doing much more harm than good.
To truly curb drug abuse and help addicts, the U.S. government should follow a model that is proven to have positive effects.
Thirteen years ago, Portugal suffered from troubling drug abuse and addiction problems in its communities.Instead of pumping money into criminal investigations and prisons, Portugal’s government made the controversial decision to decriminalize all drugs and establish policies and programs for prevention, treatment and harm reduction.
Drug possession is still prohibited but treated as a civil offense, much like a parking violation. People found with small amounts of drugs are sent to appear in front of a special commission, which analyzes each case and makes recommendations for treatment or non-criminal penalties. Health practitioners are heavily involved in the decision.
The results are incredible. Youth drug use has decreased, overdose rates have fallen, and more addicts are seeking treatment than ever before. Without the fear of being thrown in prison, people struggling with drug abuse are coming forward to receive help.
The war on drugs has failed, but it does not have to stay a failure. As demonstrated by Portugal’s success, education and health programs will go a long way in effectively lowering rates of drug abuse and the crimes that come with it.
In order to see the improvements these new policies will bring to our society, the U.S. government must confront its own addiction to incarceration. Otherwise, the cycle of drug abuse, violence and imprisonment will continue indefinitely.
Moriah Camenker is a UF public relations senior. Her columns appear on Tuesdays.
[A version of this story ran on page 7 on 10/14/2014]
