The Economic Impact of Drug Control Strategies in the United States of America.

Abstract

Abstract:

The compelling stories of convicted felons and their communities, friends and families reflect the overbearing presence of the prison system. The justice system that was initially created to “protect and serve” equally under the constitution assumed the challenge of Nixon’s 1968 drug control policy “war on drugs”, whose goal was to eradicate the consumption and trade of habit forming drugs permanently in the United States. This “war on drugs,” which many presidents that followed Nixon embraced, has created a monstrosity of courts, jails, and prisons that have not done much to actually stop the drug use epidemic and has caused immense disarray for the communities affected by it. The criminalization of drugs is a tool to monetize drug control efforts and obtain free labor from prison industrial systems while simultaneously destroying black and brown communities. This study will analyze the economic impact of the drug control strategies under various United States administrations. It will further examine the monetization of the drug control strategies between government entities and the private sector including productivity lost by years spent in the prison system. Finally, the paper will recommend alternate strategies with more positive socioeconomic benefit to society. The study will borrow heavily from various economic literature, government and other web links.