Drug Watch International

From CHOICE . . . to LEGALIZATION
By: Arlene B. Seal, Ph.D., N.C.C., president, Positive Moves, Inc.

As we have been faced with the permeation of drugs in our society, we have taken various steps to address this problem, spent billions of dollars and a great deal of human effort.  The longer the problem has existed, the more we are able to assess the effectiveness of our approaches — from national policies to local communities — the picture is only partly encouraging and somewhat disturbing.

The advent of crack cocaine in 1985 led to a new stage in national drug policies and strategies.  Emphasis was placed on treatment and law enforcement to respond to the crises in emergency rooms and on the streets.  The culmination was the 1986 Drug-Free Act that set a national goal to achieve a drug-free society by the year 2000.

Current statistics and news reports indicate we have not been very successful toward accomplishing that goal.  Reviewing how and what we have been doing sheds light on some key factors that give direction and momentum to efforts for drug prevention, but are often no responsive to the national goal of achieving a drug-free society.

Following the 1986 Drug-Free Act, many people with the best of intentions but with limited understanding of the new direction required, implemented strategies, policies and programs within the initial context of treatment and law enforcement.  While treatment and law enforcement are essential parts of national policies, these approaches cannot accomplish the drug-free goal.  They are both REACTIVE approaches that begin only after the problem has occurred.  Critical to the long-term solution of preventing the problem before it occurs, is a PREVENTIVE approach that will change societal attitudes about the acceptance of drugs.  The key to a preventive approach is a national education strategy that includes 1) a clearly stated goal, 2) concise standards (and definitions) of prevention, and 3) policies for quality control, compliance, and accountability.

This raises one of the most significant problems in current US drug education strategies and policies.  Much of the continued use of drugs and some of the other major problems associated with drugs in the US, such as gangs and violence, can be attributed, in part, to the type of education implemented over the past two decades at all levels.  Today, about 95%-98% of drug "prevention" curricula and youth programs (including "drug-free" youth programs) are based on a "choice/decision-making" model.

Drug prevention education based on teaching children that "it is their choice or decision whether or not to use drugs" is actually COUNTERPRODUCTIVE TO THE GOALS OF A DRUG-FREE SOCIETY.  In fact, teaching children that drug use is their "choice" increases acceptance of drug prevalence and use by making both use and non-use viable options.  More simply, choice/decision models violate the accepted federal standard of no use that is the litmus test for receiving federal monies, including drug-free school dollars.

Furthermore, since all drugs are illegal for children, teaching a child that s/he is the only one who can decide on behavior that is best for her/himself, burdens a child with responsibility relinquished by adults and society while it undermines the child's respect for authority an any form - parent, teacher, school, religion, government.  Teaching children guided decision-making skills by responsible and caring adults is a process that takes place gradually over years (like an apprenticeship) while the child gains knowledge and a life perspective with which to make good choices and wise decisions — and to understand that there are NON-NEGOTIABLES in order to protect individuals and the well-being of society.

Promoting the concept that drug use is the choice of each individual is the premise promoted by drug advocacy groups such as NORML and the Drug Policy Foundation.  This concept is the pathway to an ultimate outcome of legalization drugs.  By teaching children that it is their choice whether or not to use drugs, children are learning that drugs are acceptable in society while they are being indoctrinated to eventually vote for drug legalization.

Lost in all the confusion about definitions of prevention and appropriate models, is the basic tenet of civilization:  only through consent of the populace can the welfare of society be protected.  If everyone comes to believe that it is a right to choose behaviors such as rape, murder or drug use regardless of the law, then we will have de facto legalization of crimes followed by chaos.  We should heed the warning signs — just turn on the television or read the printed headlines to see how close to the edge we really are.

ARLENE B. SEAL, Ph.D., N.C.C., is president of Positive Moves, Inc., a non-profit specializing in drug prevention education and national prevention strategies.  As an internationally recognized speaker, writer, trainer and consultant, her expertise has been called upon by the White House, US Departments of State, Health, Education and Housing & Urban Development, Foreign governments, and organizations around the world.  Dr. Seal is a member of the International Drug Strategy Institute and was a 1993-94 Fulbright Senior Scholar working with the government of Panama on national drug prevention strategies.  This essay originally appeared as a guest editorial in I.D.E.A. Newsletter, April 1993 and as a stand-alone piece from CWD International, the parent organization of Positive Moves, Inc.

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