Drug Demand and Supply

Whatever the demand, someone will provide a supply.

As long as there is a demand for drugs, there will be suppliers.

   Smugglers ship drugs to the U.S. because "that's where the addicts are," said one dealer. Any attempt to deal with a widespread drug abuse problem by shutting down supply is doomed to failure, unless equal measures are taken to reduce demand.
   This was proven on a national level during Prohibition. Nearly 100 years ago, a constitutional amendment banned the sale of liquor in America, but that attempt to eliminate supply only led to a soaring crime rate and a waste of law enforcement resources.
   Labeling the distribution and sale of narcotics as a criminal enterprise without at the same time discouraging the misuse and abuse of such drugs will also fail, just as the prohibition of alcoholic beverages failed during the 1920s and 1930s.
   Economics 101 emphasizes the Law of Demand and Supply, but it's important to remember that neither dominates. Together, they operate to establish supplies of any product to fill a demand and establish a price.
   Any effort, therefore, to destroy the narcotics trade in America by shutting down suppliers in other countries cannot succeed on its own. People grow and sell opium-based narcotics and other drugs because there is an economic incentive to do so. Opportunities are few in many agricultural and poor areas of the world. One opportunity that is available, however, where initial investment is low and financial return is high, is in the growing and harvesting of opium poppies. Examples include countries like Colombia, Afghanistan and Mexico.
   This is not to say that prolonged use of narcotic drugs is a good thing. Such painkillers can be very helpful to those who need them, and when used under medical supervision. 
But as the name implies, a narcotic induces sleep, and in this case the drug puts nerves to sleep so that pain signals are not sent to the brain. However, other bodily functions, such as breathing and heartbeat, can also be put to sleep, and that sleep can be permanent.
   So instead of attempting to shut down growers and suppliers in other countries, at least equal emphasis should be on reducing demand in America by discouraging misuse and abuse.
   Any student of Economics 101 knows that once you understand the Law of Demand and Supply, you've got it knocked.