by Michael Penner

Created on: February 15, 2009

"The War on Drugs" is not a war, it is a loosely defined set of policies to restrict the flow of illegal drugs across American borders. At least, that's how it started out.

The government has only two main functions; protect us from invasion, and protect me from you. Protecting me for me goes too far. The justification used to extend this undefined "war" is well intentioned, but lacks clarity and vision. It is that, in order to protect minors and citizens from the violence statistically associated with illicit drug use, and to protect me from becoming addicted to prescription drugs (controlled substances or schedule IV narcotics as they are also known), we must commit government resources to a permeating and totalitarian approach to subduing these damaging influences by cutting off the supply. I am all for totalitarian approaches on some issues. There are some things in which brutal, uncompromising enforcement is a requirement, but again they relate to border security, or dealing with gangs, or wife beaters and so on; not to the unrelenting oppression of our own citizens.

What about reducing the demand? This is handled in such way that makes it difficult for those with chronic and sometimes severe pain from getting the relief they need; either through Vicodin, Oxycontin, Darvocet, or Marijuana. Our government's attitude toward this last drug (and it is a drug, as is alcohol and tobacco) is perplexing.

In California, there are situations in which it is easier to get a prescription for Marijuana than for Vicodin or other schedule IV drugs. In these situations, no blood draws or psychiatric evaluations are used to match the best breed of Marijuana with the person involved. Unlike "one size fits all" drugs such as Vicodin, Marijuana is a more complex proposition. This is where problems start. It is why many Americans that don't "do Marijuana" or had an extremely bad experience with it (quite possibly fitting into the realm of an adverse drug reaction...a problem which happens with my prescription medications) fail to understand the medical community's duplicity in the problem.Thus, the "war" continues on self-righteous grounds. Self-righteousness and war is never a good combination.

Yes, some people abuse these drugs. But healthcare in this country is confusing and expensive enough without the scorning glare of a physician that resents having to write a pain med prescription because of the scrutiny it invariable brings to his office if he writes more than a set number of such prescriptions in a given time period. If government is going to participate in the affairs of individuals it should be required to state clear, unambiguous, plain English policies that don't harm its citizens. The confusion alone can translate into suffering for those with chronic pain.

It is this inconsistent policy which is a dead give away. A "war" that is not actually a "war", a set of misnamed policies that are largely inconsistent and poorly implemented, and conflicting enforcement codes at the State vs. Federal level makes the entire endeavor a waste of tax payer dollars and a mess that will not soon be sorted out. Meanwhile, those who need access to these drugs the most often become the victims of the very policy meant to enhance our way of life.

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