The Tuesday, September 9th, 2008 edition of the Kansas City Star had yet another story on the failure of the drug war:
There was a decline in methamphetamine labs busted two years ago, but the number of labs busted has steadily increased since then.
The lessened number of busts was attributed to less labs being present due to increased restrictions on the sale of pseudo-ephedrine, one chemical that can be used in the manufacture of methamphetamine. The increase in labs is being blamed on the poor strategy used in the implementation of these restrictions - using paper logs, instead of instant electronic databases.
The solution suggested in the article, of course, is simply to move to electronic databases. Mainly because there lacks any analysis whatsoever of the fundamentals of methamphetamine production and consumption.
1) While there may be some truth to the decline in lab busts, imported methamphetamine of greater purity filled in the void created. Rather than helping the public in terms of drug dangers, the unintended consequence was that more dangerous methamphetamine became available in the illicit market. Good going there.
2) The labs are back because there is still a demand for methamphetamine. As long as demand is there, a supplier will be found. Where there is a dollar, there is a way.
3) We can't keep methamphetamine out of maximum security prisons, does anyone really think we can keep it out of the country?
So, the King has tried interdiction and enforcement. They have failed. Everyone knows they've failed. The solution being proposed? More interdiction and enforcement. Sorry folks, but Humpty-Dumpty can't be fixed like that. For the complex problem that drugs are in our society, it's high time (no pun intended) to try something new.
Posted by Malakkar Vohryzek