War on Drugs

I've been thinking a lot about drugs, the failed "war" on drugs, the current violence in Mexico related to drug policy, drug education in America, and legalization as a policy solution. Last night I got in to a heated discussion on the matter with someone I respect. While we both agreed that legalization seems to be the best option at this point, we disagreed sharply on the issue as to who is responsible for educating American youth, effectively, on issues such as drugs, alcohol, sex, and tobacco. He argued that the government must provide this education as they are matters of public health and safety. I argued that us, as citizens, must be responsible for ensuring youth know how to appropriately deal with these matters. There are good arguments on either side, but what it really boils down to is that we have fundamentally different views on what the role of government should be in American society.

My stance on just about any issue is that the government's role must be limited to allowing American citizens to enjoy freedoms to the fullest extent, with as little involvement in daily life as possible. This means that the government must protect it's citizens from both external and internal threats to individual freedoms. However, I also strongly believe that in order to enjoy individual freedoms, people must take personal responsibility for the costs and consequences of their actions. I believe that the burden of responsibility has fallen too heavily to the government as citizens begin to demand that the government remand every social ill. What I fear will happen is that as we require the government to meet more and more social needs, it will invade and revoke more and more of our personal freedoms. For example, if citizens demand that the government develop and implement a comprehensive drug education curriculum, we are allowing the government (and all the special interests that influence it so heavily) decide what children are taught about drugs. As unsuccessful as the D.A.R.E. program was, I can't imagine what a nationwide (or even state-wide) curriculum would include.

My solution, instead, is to require companies that manufacture and/or distribute products related to a public health issue, should be responsible for informing the public as to the hazards of use. The Truth Campaign is one example of this already in effect - and having a greater, more positive affect than any former anti-smoking campaign in American history. American teenagers today have a much better informed opinion about the health hazards of cigarettes than any other point in time.

If we're concerned about social responsibility, and you're one of the many people who believe that the collective good has fallen by the wayside to an extremely individualistic mindset in American culture, what better way to create mutual concern for our fellow citizens than to shift the responsibility for each others' well-being back onto society? Government cannot legislate a sense of collective good in society. Businesses that profit from products that create or relate to a public health concern should take responsibility for their product and its consequences. Just like Big Tobacco has had to warn America as to the hazards of smoking cigarettes, and the alcohol industry must include a disclaimer in all advertising to "please consume responsibly," why shouldn't the contraceptive industry be responsible for informing the public about safe sex? Or, should drugs become legalized, why shouldn't that industry be responsible for informing society about the effects and hazards of drug use? It's a matter of personal/corporate responsibility. In the event that drugs are not legalized, why not allow the medical profession to take the lead on this discussion but permitting more and better research on the matter? If we remove the stigma and allow an open debate on the use, misuse, and general effects of drugs , there will finally be room for clear-headed thinking and open discussion.