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The Politics of Narcotic Drugs Survey: A Historical and Global Perspective

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The Politics of Narcotic Drugs Survey is a comprehensive study of the history, global impact, and current challenges of drug laws and policies. The survey was conducted by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and involved over 100 countries. The findings of the survey provide a valuable overview of the current state of drug policy around the world, and offer insights into potential future developments.

The Politics of Narcotic Drugs: A Survey

by Julia Buxton

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
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Print length	:	344 pages

Historical Overview

The history of drug laws and policies is long and complex. The first drug laws were enacted in the early 19th century, and were primarily concerned with the control of opium and other narcotics. These laws were largely ineffective, however, and the drug trade continued to flourish. In the early 20th century, a number of international treaties were signed that sought to control the production and distribution of narcotic drugs. These treaties were somewhat more effective than the earlier national laws, but they still failed to stem the flow of drugs into the illicit market.

In the 1960s and 1970s, the United States launched a "war on drugs" that had a profound impact on global drug policy. The war on drugs led to a significant increase in drug arrests and incarcerations, and it also led to a number of new drug laws and policies. These policies were largely ineffective, however, and they did little to reduce drug use or drug trafficking. In recent years, there has been a growing movement to reform drug laws and policies. This movement is based on the recognition that the war on drugs has failed, and that a more humane and effective approach is needed.

Global Impact

The Politics of Narcotic Drugs Survey found that the illicit drug trade is a major global problem. The survey estimated that the value of the illicit drug trade is approximately $320 billion per year. This money fuels corruption, violence, and instability in many parts of the world. The survey also found that drug use is a major public health problem. The survey estimated that there are approximately 275 million drug users in the world, and that drug use is responsible for approximately 200,000 deaths per year.

Current Challenges

The Politics of Narcotic Drugs Survey identified a number of current challenges in drug policy. These challenges include:

The illicit drug trade is a major source of revenue for criminal organizations.
Drug use is a major public health problem.
Drug laws and policies are often ineffective and counterproductive.
There is a lack of international cooperation on drug policy.

Future Developments

The Politics of Narcotic Drugs Survey also offered insights into potential future developments in drug policy. The survey found that there is a growing movement to reform drug laws and policies. This movement is based on the recognition that the war on drugs has failed, and that a more humane and effective approach is needed. The survey also found that there is a growing interest in the decriminalization and legalization of drugs.

The Politics of Narcotic Drugs Survey is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the history, global impact, and current challenges of drug laws and policies. The survey provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of drug policy around the world, and it offers insights into potential future developments. The survey's findings should be used to inform drug policy decisions at the national and international levels.

References

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2019). World Drug Report 2019. Retrieved from https://www.unodc.org/wdr2019/
Global Commission on Drug Policy. (2018). The War on Drugs: A Global Failure. Retrieved from https://www.globalcommissionondrugs.org/report/
International Drug Policy Consortium. (2019). Drug Policy Reform: A Human Rights Approach. Retrieved from https://idpc.net/drug-policy-reform-a-human-rights-approach/

The Politics of Narcotic Drugs: A Survey

by Julia Buxton

4.7 out of 5