ABOUT THIS SITE: OVERVIEW
As we define "the drug war," it does NOT include education, prevention or treatment.
The drug war has attempted to co-opt these important tools and made them less effective. [1]
Money is being spent in ways that are up to 23 times less effective than available alternatives. We are making remarkably bad investment decisions. [2]
For details, see: Drug War Defined
Introduction
The drug war has good intentions which we all share; everyone would like to minimize drug abuse and the devastation it can bring. But policy makers cannot continue to avoid accountability for miserable results simply by repeating their good intentions.
A well informed public is essential to a democracy. But the public has been more misinformed than well informed about drug policy. [3] A major goal of DPFT is to help promote the open debate and discussion that will help to correct that problem.
In 2002, DPFT helped the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy of Rice University to organize its international conference on drug policy, Moving Beyond the "War on Drugs."[4] For two days, experts and officials from around the world presented the facts and a variety of possible improvements.
This site draws on those insights and those of hundreds of other highly respected and well informed people who are severe critics of the drug war.
See: Voices For Reform and Public Letter
The scientific information and basic assumptions that drive the criticism often directly contradict "conventional wisdom" and political rhetoric that generate irrational fears of reasonable change. The facts about drugs, addicts and addiction are quite different from what the public has been led to believe.
See: Science Versus Mythology and Change
Analysts regularly warn that special interests who derive power, profits and employment from the continuation of the drug war are a major force against change. [5] Public awareness of the enormity of the problem is low.
See: Follow The Money
