THE WAR ON DRUGS REDUX

So, what exactly is this 'war on drugs?'

The term itself is little more than an abstraction.

But the staggering collateral damage of this abstraction - this military metaphor for stamping out the thriving business in the sale, import and export of illegal drugs - is  visible throughout this nation.

This collateral damage has invaded every social, cultural, economic and ethnic strata in this nation.

This collateral damage is visible in every shattered family,  every ruined life, every heartbreaking death, every missed promise of a life's dream unfilfilled, which has been consumed by the fires of addiction.

And one need only to leave- or maybe enter - their own front door to visit the front lines of this 'war on drugs,' to witness this collateral damage.

Big city, small town, rural hamlet, have all been savaged by this thriving business of importing, exporting and selling illegal drugs.

President Richard Nixon was the first to use the term 'War On Drugs' when he officially declared  illeagal drug abuse to be "public enemy number one. in June of 1971.

And in July of 1073President Nixon created the Drug Enforcement Administration to coordinate the efforts of all other government agencies to interdict and destroy drugs, here in the U.S. and all over the world.

And every President of The United States since President Nixon has wrestled with this abstraction, this enigma, this blight on this nation, this 'war on drugs.'

So, here we are, decades later, and we're still fighting the' war on drugs.'

And it is still an abstraction; still an enigma, this blight on our nation, this 'war on drugs.'

A war without borders.  A war with no defined rules of engagement. 

And, as in every war ever fought, it is becoming increasingly difficult to know, where is sanity, and where is insanity?

We are at critical mass with the use and abuse of illegal and prescription drugs in this nation.

"Just say no",  just going isn't going to do it.

Maybe it is time for a look at the 'war on drugs redux.'

Time to lock and load, and put together a new mission statement.

And find a way to combat the stupefying damage done to our people in a way that reflects the realpolitik of the situation we are facing rather than  ideological notions or moralistic or ethical premises.

Then, maybe we can find a way to just....get 'er done.