War on Drugs Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

War on Drugs - Coursework ExampleThe major unintended consequences of the war on drugs include the criminalization of drug users, death penalty retributory sentencing practices such as mandatory sentencing excessive takes of imprisonment and the enforced drug detention centers. The drug policy directly affected the poor, vulnerable and the socially excluded groups, specially the women and ethnic minorities. Generally, a larger percentage of the small scale drug offenders exhibit no history of criminal acts such as high level drug selling activities or violence. However, illegal drug perpetrators make up a large percentage of arrests in the US, marihuana made up 40% of total drug arrest in 2005 (Penal Reform International, 2010).The US has been largely criticized for racially molding the War on Drugs. Even though the rate of marijuana use is evenly spread across the population, the Native American users seem to be favored by the law with Blacks and Latinos disfavored in the process . For instance, among the inmates incarcerated in prisons for drug associate offences, 37% were Blacks, 31% Hispanics and only 28% were Whites in 2007 (Pew Research Center, 2009).In conclusion, the War on Drug initiative has proven ineffective in exacting the production, trafficking and consumption of the illegal drugs. It is also associated with numerous other impacts such as criminal justice system overload, overwhelmed courts, and overcrowded prisons exacerbated health problems. This, therefore, would suggest the need for trial of pick measures such as legalization of drug use.Penal Reform International.(2010). The unintended negative consequences of the war on drugs mass criminalization and punitive sentencing. Retrieved