1. DPRC DRUG POLICY RESEARCH CENTER How Goes the War on Drugs? Martin Y. Iguchi, Ph.D. RAND DPRC & UCLA School of Public Health Picture source: LA Times

2. DPRC DRUG POLICY RESEARCH CENTER How Goes the War on Drugs? Martin Y. Iguchi, Ph.D. RAND DPRC & UCLA School of Public Health Picture source: LA Times

3. What are we trying to accomplish? A drug free society? User reduction? Use reduction? Harm reduction? Why the focus on “illicit” drugs?

4. What are we trying to accomplish? A drug free society? User reduction? Use reduction? Harm reduction? Why the focus on “illicit” drugs?

5. What are we trying to accomplish? A drug free society? User reduction? Use reduction? Harm reduction? Why the focus on “illicit” drugs?

6. What are we trying to accomplish? A drug free society? User reduction? Use reduction? Harm reduction? Why the focus on “illicit” drugs?

7. What are we trying to accomplish? A drug free society? User reduction? Use reduction? Harm reduction? Why the focus on “illicit” drugs?

8. What are we trying to accomplish? A drug free society? User reduction? Use reduction? Harm reduction? Why the focus on “illicit” drugs?

9. What are we trying to accomplish? A drug free society? User reduction? Use reduction? Harm reduction? Why the focus on “illicit” drugs?

10. What are we trying to accomplish? A drug free society? User reduction? Use reduction? Harm reduction? Why the focus on “illicit” drugs?

11. What are we trying to accomplish? A drug free society? User reduction? Use reduction? Harm reduction? Why the focus on “illicit” drugs?

12. What are we trying to accomplish? A drug free society? User reduction? Use reduction? Harm reduction? Why the focus on “illicit” drugs?

13. Is the “war” metaphor appropriate? What are the implications of “war”? Are we winning? How can you know? What are our benchmarks?

14. Is the “war” metaphor appropriate? What are the implications of “war”? Are we winning? How can you know? What are our benchmarks?

15. Is the “war” metaphor appropriate? What are the implications of “war”? Are we winning? How can you know? What are our benchmarks?

16. Is the “war” metaphor appropriate? What are the implications of “war”? Are we winning? How can you know? What are our benchmarks?

17. UNODC Andean Coca Surveys 2005 Est. Coca Cultivation20042005 Colombia158,000 ha159,600 ha Peru80,000 ha86,000 ha Bolivia27,700 ha25,400 ha Reported Eradication20042005 Colombia142,786 ha170,042 ha Peru10,399 ha12,232 ha Bolivia8,437 ha6,073 ha Comparison: In 2001 Colombian coffee farms covered 1 million ha Source: UNODC 2006

18. Are Interdiction Efforts Successful? Cocaine production20042005 Colombia640 mt Peru190 mt180 mt Bolivia107 mt90 mt Cocaine Seizures Colombia (main cities)188 mt177 mt Peru (producing regions)7.3 mt2.2 mt Bolivia (main cities)0.5 mt1.3 mt Europe79 mtna United States196 mtna Comparison: >170,000 mt of coffee shipped to US every year from Colombia Source: UNODC 2006

19. Cocaine Production Factoids Cocaine may be grown from cutting or seed - with harvest after 6-18 months –30+ year plant life 3-4 harvests per year UNODC and Colombian government survey: –6,300kg/ha/yr of fresh coca leaf –Translates to 2,700kg/ha/yr sun dried leaf –7.7 kg/ha/yr pure cocaine hydrochloride Source: UNODC 2006

20. Cocaine Profit in 1990 Farmer cost was $700/ha to grow cocaine Profit to farmer was $1,600/ha Sold on streets in US for $150,000 Source: Caulkins et al. 2005

21. Enforcement Affects Consumption Through Price Enforcement Risks & Costs Retail Price Consumption Eradication Grower Risks & Costs Leaf Price Retail Price Interdiction Smuggler Risks & Costs Smuggler Risks & Costs Retail Price Import -Export Price

22. Prohibition Does Increase the Price of Cocaine Farm-gate value ($US)20042005 Colombia$843 M Peru$304 M$307 M Bolivia$240 M$180 M Avg Wholesale Price ($US) Colombia (main cities)$1,710/kg$1,800 Peru (producing regions)$890/kg Bolivia (main cities)$1,800 Europe$45,830/kg$47,690/kg United States$22,070/kgn/a Source: UNODC 2006

23. Cocaine Prices Declining 1981-2000

24. Prohibition Does Increase the Price of Cocaine Farm-gate value ($US)20042005 Colombia$843 M Peru$304 M$307 M Bolivia$240 M$180 M Avg Wholesale Price ($US) Colombia (main cities)$1,710/kg$1,800 Peru (producing regions)$890/kg Bolivia (main cities)$1,800 Europe$45,830/kg$47,690/kg United States$22,070/kgn/a Source: UNODC 2006

25. A Brief Overview of the RAND “Controlling Cocaine” Model

26. Treatment is Most Cost Effective Option by Several Measures

27. Different Evaluation Time Horizons Favor Different Drug Control Strategies SOURCE: From Caulkins et al., Mandatory Minimum Drug Sentences, p. 36.

28. Alcohol and nicotine policies need to be part of a comprehensive illicit drug control strategy There is significant evidence that alcohol and marijuana are economic complements, not substitutes. There is additional evidence suggesting that alcohol and cocaine are economic complements. Cigarettes and marijuana also appear to be economic complements.

29. DPRC DRUG POLICY RESEARCH CENTER Examining the Impact of Criminalizing Drug Use on the Health of Minority Families Martin Y. Iguchi, Ph.D. RAND and UCLA School of Public Health

30. In 2005, 35 million Americans (age 12 or older) committed an illegal act.

31. They used an illicit drug

32. In 2005, 35 million Americans (age 12 or older) committed an illegal act. They used an illicit drug

33. Prison Admissions for a Drug Offense Per 100,000 Adults (Iguchi & Fain, 2006) Picture Source: NY Times

34. Prison Admissions for a Drug Offense Per 100,000 Adults (Iguchi & Fain, 2006) Picture Source: NY Times

35. The Increase in Drug Offender Prison Entries Has Disproportionately Affected Blacks

36. The Disproportion is Even More Dramatic When Viewed on a Per Capita Basis (per 100,000 Adults)

37. Comparison of Male Drug Offender Prison Entrants 1983 and 1999 In 1983, roughly 1 in 1,500 adult black males and 1 in 6,900 adult white males entered prison on a drug offense In 1999, roughly 1 in 130 adult black males and 1 in 1,800 adult white males entered prison on a drug offense

38. Drug Offender Prison Admissions also Increased Disproportionately Among Black Women (rate per 100,000 adult women)

39. Since 1989, Over 50 % of Prison Admissions for Hispanic Women Have Involved Drug Offenses

40. The Prevalence of Drug Use Is Similar Among Blacks, Whites, and Hispanics Percentage of population reporting drug use in the prior month (2005) Source: National Survey on Drug Use and Health BlackWhite Hispanic

41. Per Capita Violent Crime Arrests Did Not Change Much During the Same Time Period for any Racial/Ethnic Group

42. Many Cumulative Reasons for Disproportions Have Been Proposed Sentencing disparity - In 1988 Congress decided that 5g crack would be treated the same as 500g powder - resulting in a 5 year mandatory minimum prison sentence. –Even though 500g powder = 448g crack Enhancement laws (school zones, weapon possession) Socioeconomic factors (focus on low income populations) Uneven enforcement (profiling) Behavioral/environmental vulnerability (public purchase) Differences in consumption and offending Three Strike Laws exacerbate above effects

43. We Decided to Shift Focus from Numbers Incarcerated to Implications for Quality of Life, Access to Care, and Health Disparities –During the past decade, many laws were enacted in the name of public safety that specifically targeted drug offenders –A number of unintended consequences of these laws extends to family members and ultimately to their communities –We made a preliminary synthesis of the effects of these laws, particularly as they apply to women and children in minority communities

44. How Might a Felony Drug Conviction Affect Quality of Life and Access to Care for the Individual, Family, and Community? –Children and families –Health care benefits –Housing availability –Access to higher education –Immigration status –Employment opportunities –Political representation –Drug use and recidivism Source: Iguchi, London, Forge, Hickman, Fain, Riehman (2002). Elements of well-being affected by criminalizing the drug User. Public Health Reports, 117(1): S146-S150.

45. Children and Families of Drug Offenders Are Likely to Be Affected –In 1999, an estimated 1.5 million children under the age of 18 had one or both parents in state or federal prison –Black and Hispanic children are much more likely than white children to have a parent in prison

46. Children and Families of Drug Offenders Are Likely to Be Affected –Other relevant laws include those mandating rapid adoption, parental rights termination, or those that specify imprisonment as ground for divorce –Families are dismantled, greater economic and child care burdens fall to the mother, or if not to the mother, to relatives and the community at large

47. Both Felons and their Families Lose Health and Welfare Benefits –Drug felons are permanently barred from receiving food stamps or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) although 32 states have modified the ban - using state funds for drug felons –In some states (e.g., Missouri), a criminal conviction can be grounds for losing insurance coverage

48. Access to Public Housing is Seriously Restricted by New Laws –The “One Strike and You’re Out” legislation of 1996 revised screening and eviction procedures for public housing –The law allows housing authorities to consider substance abuse when making access and eviction decisions. In 2003, 5% denied housing and 6% evicted for drug-related reasons (GAO, 2005) –As written, the law encourages consideration of rehabilitation and drug treatment options –In practice, public safety is often the overriding consideration - leaving drug offenders and their families with few housing options

49. Higher Education is Less Accessible for Those With Drug Convictions –A conviction for drug possession revokes eligibility for federal education assistance for at least one year –A conviction for drug sales revokes eligibility for at least two years –Eligibility can be reinstated if student completes a rehabilitation program and passes two unannounced drug tests –In 2003-04 - 41,000 applicants denied loans (GAO, 2005)

50. Immigrants Convicted of Drug Felonies Can Be Deported Without Judicial Review –U.S. prisons currently house more than 84,000 foreign nationals –The 1996 Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act precluded judicial review of INS decisions –Since 1996, the INS has greatly increased the deportation of “aggravated felons” removing 61,093 in 2000 –Drug felonies make up 41 percent of those cases

51. Employment Options are Seriously Limited by Drug Conviction –Earnings potential of non- white-collar workers appears to be harmed for at least one year after convicted felons re-enter communities –Incarceration often occurs during career- building years –Felons are barred from employment in many areas, including the military and government jobs, and are barred from receiving many licenses and permits –Lack of employment can also mean a lack of health care benefits

52. A Felony Conviction Means the Loss of Political Power for Minority Communities –Approximately 3.9 million felons are ineligible to vote after leaving prison –More than a third of the disenfranchised are black –Approximately 13% of all adult black males in this country are ineligible to vote –This loss of political power often translates into a loss of access to services

53. Incarceration Does Not Prevent Further Drug Abuse –It is unclear how much crime is averted, and drug use deterred by aggressive policing policies –Incarceration does remove a portion of drug users and their related criminal activity from communities for an average of 2 years –Incarceration has little or no positive impact on illicit drug use after convicted individuals return to communities –Returns to prison related to drug use occur at high rates

54. We are Treating Drug Abuse as Moral Failure Requiring Eternal Punishment –While these policies are meant to benefit society, in practice many have a harmful impact on offenders and their families long after they serve their time in prison –These effects result in additional burdens for family members and the community, with minority communities disproportionately impacted –With hundreds of thousands returning to society from prison, these issues require close attention

55. A Better Approach Is to Treat Drug Use as a Public Health Problem –Increase the availability of drug treatment programs to users before they are arrested –Increase the availability of drug courts and related judicial mechanisms (Proposition 36) emphasizing treatment before incarceration - and rehabilitation over punishment –Facilitate the re-entry of drug offenders into our communities

56. Acknowledgements: Research Supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse www.burnsinstitute.org (James Bell Executive Director) RAND Colleagues: Jon Caulkins, Peter Reuter, Jim Chiesa, Andrew Morral, Jennifer London, Terry Fain, Rajeev Ramchand, Kara Riehman, Rosalie Pacula, Nell Forge, Dan McCaffrey, Susan Paddock and many others