Responding to the Drug Problem: Promoting Deterrence in the United States

            The issue of illegal drugs is a big problem that the United States is facing today. The issue brings forward not only challenges in the ability to exercise enforcement and policing but also causes detrimental effects to the community. Recognizing the potential implications it can create, it is crucial that stakeholders establish the commitment to become responsive and highlight valuable solutions. In seeking to promote deterrence, there must be a collective approach in engaging various stakeholders. The strategies should come from the establishment of a supportive and efficient information/educational campaign, redefining implementation objectives of law enforcement agencies, and the U.S. government creating a support structure that can serve to prevent dependence to the illegal drug business.

            Critical in the promotion of deterrence in the drug problem in the United States comes from establishing supportive and efficient information/education of its citizens. This approach brings forward educating communities about the hazards of drug abuse and the potential consequences it can create to authorities. This approach remains to be a collective undertaking that should be supported by concerned groups, law enforcement agencies and the government. Specifically, the information given to people must be coherent and relevant to ensure that the facts given to them are significant and can contribute towards effective drug educational programs (Fellner, 2009). Creating ways to incorporate this information within classrooms or any educational establishment strengthens the ability to mold participants into becoming active citizens who are eager to participate in the call to end drug abuse. Moreover, the government must also bring forward the allocation of resources to augment and help agencies to operate effectively. Specifically, attention must be given towards agencies related to education, enforcement and rehabilitation.

            Another essential concept in advancing deterrence comes from redefining implementation objectives of law enforcement agencies. This means that local and federal agencies need to align its commitment in ensuring that critical areas related to drug enforcement and policing remains to be efficient. A good way to approach this would be cracking down cases that influence multiple jurisdictions or boundaries. Resources must be focused on countering problems such as international drug trafficking. Having sufficient resources to address huge drug operations can clearly improve how domestic enforcement can be applied since it can cripple the illegal drug business (Jenner, 2011). Of course, the initiative must start from local authorities to highlight critical priorities and also collaborate with federal jurisdictions to ensure that coherence of policies and appropriate determination of priorities are highlighted.

            Lastly, there must also be a response from the government as far as the economics of illegal drug trade is concerned. Under this part, emphasis should be given on how the government can create programs to people who have been subjected as victims of the illegal drug trade. The idea of simply apprehending and not providing ways for them to recover economically would only result to these people coming back to illegal drug trade. In order to make law enforcement effective, there must be constant follow-up or supportive initiatives that can allow these victims or convicted people to recover from their previous mistakes (Fellner, 2009).

            Overall, deterring illegal drugs in the United States remains to be a cumbersome process. It involves numerous responses from various stakeholders such as the community, educational sector, law enforcement agencies and the government. Each one has their own respective role in helping shape favorable responses to the problem. The highlighted initiatives are just some examples of the potential solutions that can bring forward changes. There must be a renewed commitment to collaborate and seek out favorable and responsive resolutions to the issue of illegal drugs. 

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References

Fellner, J. (2009). Race, Drugs and Law Enforcement in the United States. Stanford Law and

Policy Review 20(2), 257-291. Journal

Jenner, M.S. (2011). International Drug Trafficking: A Global Problem with a Domestic

Solution. Indiana Journal of Global Legal Studies 18(2), 901-927. Journal