President’s words on addiction encouraging, but better drug policy needed BY TONY NEWMAN The Baltimore Sun Tony Newman is the director of media relations for the Drug Policy Alliance.
Visiting Baltimore last week, President Bush shared his struggles against alcohol addiction with former prisoners in recovery enrolled in Jericho, a program to help them re-enter productively into society. Bush recounted having given up alcohol the day after his 40th birthday, after a “particularly boozy night.” He often credits his Christian faith for giving him the strength to stay sober. Although his presidency is almost over, it’s not too late for Bush to do much good as a role model and advocate for people recovering from addiction. Bush, Al Gore III, Rush Limbaugh and Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy all remind us that anyone can be susceptible to drug problems; addiction does not discriminate. Unfortunately, our drug policies do. Despite similar rates of drug use, blacks go to jail at 13 times the rate of whites. In New York state, 91 percent of the people incarcerated under the Rockefeller drug laws are black or Hispanic — grossly disproportionate to their share of the population or involvement in illegal drug use and sales. Too often, treatment is reserved for the privileged, jail for the poor. Almost every family in America has had to deal with drug addiction or has experienced collateral damage from the drug war. George W. Bush is not the only Bush to fight addiction. His niece was arrested for trying to fill a fake prescription for Xanax, then busted for crack cocaine while in a treatment program. Fortunately, she was able to get help without being forced to spend years behind bars. Those without money or powerful connections are not as lucky. Millions nationwide have a loved one behind bars on drug charges, and millions more have struggled themselves with addiction to illegal or legal drugs. By declaring a war on drugs, we have declared a war on ourselves. ACTIONS NEEDED Bush’s words of encouragement to the men he encountered at Jericho were well-intentioned. But actions are better than words, and the government could do a few things that would make a huge difference in the lives of drug offenders. “Addiction is hard to overcome,” Bush told the ex-offenders, and that’s true. But maybe it would be a little easier if the government would support treatment over jail and punishment. According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, only 35 percent of the federal drug control budget is spent on education, prevention and treatment combined, with the remaining 65 percent devoted to law-enforcement efforts. Our drug policies have led to the United States’ becoming the world leader in incarceration. We have 5 percent of the world’s population but 25 percent of all the world’s prisoners, with more than 2.3 million in prisons and jails, more per capita than Russia, Belarus or China. Of that 2.3 million, about 500,000 are incarcerated on drug charges. I appreciate Bush’s opening up and sharing his struggles with addiction. It is helpful to remind people that addiction is an issue that spares no one. I just wish his personal experiences would give him the wisdom and courage to advocate generous and caring drug policies for everyone.
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