Social Justice | Drug War Economics
Demand Reduction versus Supply Reduction Spending
America's Failed Drug War Economics
Estimated Federal Drug Control Spending By Fiscal Year, 2003-2017 | ||||||||||
Budget Authority in Millions of US Dollars. |
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All Figures Final Unless Otherwise Noted. |
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Source: ONDCP: February 2016 |
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Year | Treatment | Prevention | Total Demand Reduction | Pct / Total Budget | Domestic Enforcement | Interdiction | International | Total Supply Reduction | Pct / Total Budget |
Total Budget Column 3 +7 |
2003 | $5,229.90 | $2,006.80 | $7,236.70 | 42.44% | $6,678.70 | $1,694.70 | $1,443.30 | $9,816.70 | 57.56% | $17,053.40 |
2004 | 5,906.40 | $2,040.20 | $7,946.50 | 42.82% | $7,049.50 | $2,010.90 | $1,549.00 | $10,609.50 | 57.18% | $18,556.00 |
2005 | $6,151.70 | $2,040.00 | $8,191.70 | 41.20% | $7,383.10 | $2,433.60 | $1,873.70 | $11,690.40 | 58.80% | $19,882.10 |
2006 | $6,229.40 | $1,964.50 | $8,193.90 | 39.75% | $7,602.20 | $2,924.10 | $1,895.80 | $12,422.20 | 60.25% | $20,616.10 |
2007 | $6,493.90 | $1,934.20 | $8,428.10 | 38.87% | $8,018.20 | $3,045.90 | $2,191.40 | $13,255.50 | 61.13% | $21,683.60 |
2008 | $6,725.10 | $1,841.00 | $8,566.10 | 39.23% | $8,300.90 | $2,968.70 | $1,998.50 | $13,268.10 | 60.77% | $21,834.20 |
2009 | $7,208.70 | $1,954.00 | $9,162.70 | 36.85% | $9,470.00 | $3,699.20 | $2,532.60 | $15,701.90 | 63.15% | $24,864.60 |
2010 | $7,544.50 | $1,566.40 | $9,110.90 | 37.00% | $9,252.50 | $3,662.40 | $2,595.00 | $15,509.90 | 63.00% | $24,620.80 |
2011 | $7,659.70 | $1,478.10 | $9,137.70 | 37.50% | $9,223.00 | $3,977.10 | $2,027.60 | $15,227.70 | 62.50% | $24,365.40 |
2012 | $7,848.30 | $1,339.20 | $9,187.40 | 37.49% | $9,446.50 | $4,036.50 | $1,833.70 | $15,316.70 | 62.51% | $24,504.10 |
2013 | $7,888.60 | $1,274.90 | $9,157.00 | 38.47% | $8,850.00 | $3,940.60 | $1,846.30 | $14,643.40 | 61.53% | $23,800.40 |
2014 | $9,481.80 | $1,316.90 | $10,798.70 | 41.96% | $9,348.80 | $3,948.50 | $1,637.10 | $14,934.40 | 58.04% | $25,733.10 |
2015 | $12,543.10 | $1,341.50 | $13,884.60 | 48.07% | $9,394.50 | $3,960.90 | $1,643.00 | $14,998.30 | 51.93% | $28,882.90 |
2016 Enacted | $13,248.60 | $1,496.20 | $14,744.80 | 48.25% | $9,699.10 | $4,479.90 | $1,637.00 | $15,816.10 | 51.75% | $30,560.90 |
2017 Request | $14,281.60 | $1,544.70 | $15,826.30 | 50.94% | $9,525.50 | $4,138.50 | $1,581.10 | $15,245.10 | 49.06% | $31,071.40 |
Green: Supply Reduction | Blue = Demand Reduction | Polynomial Trendline with 2 year look ahead (cautiously optimistic)
The Graph below was compiled by Matt Groff. Although the original graph was challenged for the statistical methodology, the message is very clear. It was not clear as to which indicators and data sources were used during the illustrated time interval to measure incidence and prevalence as the government has changed its data collection methodology, data sources and indicators over the past thirty years. It is interesting to note that there exists no historical data repository utiilizing uniform practices and processes for a trillion dollar plus investment. A cynic might conclude that this is a deliberate attempt to obscure the data and preclude the possibility of producing an empirical assessment. Also, the evolution of addiction treatment has witnessed several iterations of the definition of addiction over the past several decades. However, the message is clear and the conclusion on point that there exists no basis for argument that increased spending on drug control policy impacts the incidence nor prevalence of substance use, substance abuse or addiction. The logical question then would be to ask why does the government persist in pursuing a policy that has consistently failed and left in its wake millions of lives ruined and over a trillion dollars of wasted taxpayer dollars. Who benefits? |
Click image for animation.