screening of "10 Rules for Dealing with Police," NAACP national conference, July 2010
NAACP Calls for End to War on Drugs
In a historic step, the nation's largest and oldest black advocacy group has formally come out against the war on drugs.
Drug Prevention
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The 2011 National Drug Control Strategy: Drug Policy on Autopilot [FEATURE]
The drug czar has released the 2011 National Drug Control Strategy, and there's little new there but a renewed attack on medical marijuana and legalization. Otherwise, it's pretty much business as usual.
Richard Branson blogs about being invited onto the global commission, on virgin.com.
Big Name Panel Calls Global Drug War a "Failure" [FEATURE]
The Global Commission on Drug Policy, made up of former heads of state and other international dignitaries, is calling for fundamental reform of the international drug control system.
California Gov. Jerry Brown takes a tiny step toward corrections reform.
California Corrections "Realignment" Not Nearly Enough [FEATURE]
California Gov. Jerry Brown has signed a bill "realigning" corrections in the state, but that's just the tiniest of baby steps toward fixing an out of control prison system. How about some real sentencing reform?
Is DARE Program Worth It?
While participants remain enthusiastic, scientific reviews have been negative on the effectiveness of the DARE program, which started in Los Angeles in 1983. A 2006 report by the U.S. Surgeon General concluded that those who participate in DARE are just as likely to use drugs as those who donât. Khadija K. Swims, of Grand Valley State University, reviewed several studies on DARE and concluded the program is "ineffective" in preventing future drug, alcohol and tobacco use in adolescents. The results of such studies mean schools canât spend federal money on DARE. Under rules that went into effect in 1998, the Department of Education requires agencies that receive federal money to prove within two years that their programs reduce drug use among students.
Study Casts Doubts Over Canada's Strategy on Illicit Drug Use
Much like the American approach to drug policy, it's not clear Canadians are getting a whole lot of bang for all the bucks thrown at the illicit drug problem, a new report says. "In the case of the strategy, many programs do not have the means to demonstrate the incremental impact of their activities...Many programs report output information...but the validity of the information remains questionable from an impact measurement perspective," the document says.
Illinois Just Says No to Drug Treatment (Jails Will Remain Open for Business)
The idea that drug treatment is a more effective, more affordable alternative to putting drug offenders in prison is so popular these days that you can even find the President talking about it. Unfortunately, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn seems determined to prove everyone wrong:
Drug War Autopilot and Co-Autopilot: ONDCP Director Gil Kerlikowske with President Obama
The 2012 Federal Drug Budget: More of the Same [FEATURE]
The Obama administration has submitted its 2012 federal drug control budget proposal. There's not much new there, and little evidence the administration is putting its money where its mouth is.
Ex-World Leaders Form Global Drug Policy Commission
Some global heavyweights have taken on the international drug control system and how to come up with a better one.
Kids Will See Laughable Drug Video As 'not4me' (Letter to Editor)
Russell Barth of Educators for Sensible Drug Policy opines that Canada's new "drugsnot4me" campaign video is a total embarrassment due to the over-the-top rhetoric which generates fear rather than educates youth.