1. Drug Prohibition Part 1 of 3 David Zokaites August 1, 2017

2. Terminology
“War on drugs” politically popular term – radical, emotional, energizing
“Drug prohibition” more accurate, scientific
Accurate terminology encourages reasonable discussions

3. Me personally Lead athletic, healthy, meditative life
Physical body is home for my spirit
I don't pollute my body with legal/illegal drugs
Promote evidence-based policies

4. Popular rhetoric Drug abuse is growing
Destroys people, families, society
Causes crime
Methamphetamine especially nasty
How much of this is true?

5. Drug usage statistics From US Department of Health 2013
"Use of most drugs ... has stabilized over the past decade or has declined."
"Methamphetamine use was higher in 2013"
Meth only 2% of illicit drug users
"Marijuana use has increased since 2007"
7.5% of Americans currently use marijuana
Over 50% of young adults have used marijuana

6. More statistics
"an estimated percent of the population had used an illicit drug in the past month."
“Nearly one quarter (22.9 percent) of persons aged 12 or older in 2013 were binge alcohol users"
25.5% of population current tobacco users
From /drugfacts/nationwide-trends and samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUHresults PDFWHTML2013/Web/NSDUHresults2013.htm

7. Drug use trends

8. Some observations Drug use and abuse is amazingly popular
Can't possibly jail every drug user/abuser
Jail-based prohibition has not prevented drug use/abuse

9. Purported prohibition goals
Reduce destructive addictions
Keep people safe, healthy
Minimal social cost
High effectiveness
Sounds great! Does it work?

10. Actual results Marijuana use large and increasing Increase in crime
World's 2nd highest incarceration rate
Broken families
Loss of civil rights
Racist enforcement
Mexico drug cartel wars
Subsidize terrorism

11. End of part 1 – Enjoy life