The United States has a profound responsibility for the impact of illicit drug production and distribution worldwide. It is one of the world's largest marketplaces for drugs, and because of the liberties Americans enjoy, policing that marketplace is very difficult.

The US Government has attempted to interrupt the supply of illicit drugs by cooperating with the governments of drug-producing countries and by physically policing its borders and communities. It is necessary to continue these steps, but they clearly are not effective tools for eliminating drug trafficking without a more robust program to decrease domestic demand.

US cooperation with foreign governments is often viewed skeptically by the citizens of those nations, which can lead to political problems for those governments. US views on what steps the supply-side nations should take often vary widely from what those nations' leaders want to do, or even what they are politically capable of getting done. If we take Evo Morales' Coca Si, Cocaina No initiative as an example, we have a program that recognizes and encourages continued coca leaf production for legal purposes.

The US favors the complete eradication of the coca plant, and its replacement with various other crops. Even should President Morales, a former coca farmer, want to help achieve that end, it would be literally impossible. The ubiquity of coca in Bolivia and its integral place in the culture and economy of that nation make such a policy asinine and counter-productive.

Likewise, the US favors eradication of poppy in Afghanistan, and likewise, this position is not only impossible, but also counterproductive. These policies lessen the credibility of US diplomats and limit their ability to negotiate concessions with these drug-producing nations.

This leaves the US with a responsibility to aid in the restriction of illicit drugs, but without the tools necessary to effectively satisfy that responsibility. Where the US government should be focusing its efforts instead is with reducing the demand within its own borders.

By switching its focus to the problem of demand, the US can more effectively impact not only the production of drugs, but also the social and economic damage the drug trade brings. Effective treatment for drug users would be a sound investment, and not just for its economic impact on the drug trade. It would raise awareness of the true nature of narcotics addiction by bringing increased public

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