cover image The Great Drug War, and Radical Proposals That Could Make America Safe Again

The Great Drug War, and Radical Proposals That Could Make America Safe Again

Arnold S. Trebach. MacMillan Publishing Company, $21.63 (401pp) ISBN 978-0-02-619830-1

In this arresting minority report, the author argues that a kind of hysteria has swept the U.S. about the use of marijuana, cocaine, heroin and other drugs. Trebach, a professor in the School of Justice at American University, characterizes as wild the claim that an ""entire generation is being destroyed by illegal chemicals,'' pointing out that far greater damage is being done to the nation by two legal drugs, alcohol and nicotine. Aided by the cheerleading of Nancy Reagan, many ``experts,'' he claims, provide false information about drugs to young people and their parents; programs such as Straight Inc. and CareUnits even deprive some youths of their constitutional rights. He details the deleterious effects of the current drug war on the sick, the police and others, concluding with ``a bundle of peaceful compromises'' to bring ``drugpeace.'' A good start, he states, could be made by admitting that the work of law enforcement agencies has had no significant impact on our citizenry's drug-taking habits. This controversial study is likely to be widely discussed. (July 23)