The so-called ‘War on Drugs’ dates back to the 1970s, when draconian laws were passed mandating lengthy prison sentences for people caught trafficking heroin and cocaine. Republicans and Democrats alike now question whether the Drug War is winnable — and whether the social benefits exceeds the social costs of waging the war. However, there is one neglected area of the drug war that most parties should agree is probably worth the effort — Medicare.

Medicare has a drug problem. A small minority of Medicare beneficiaries abuse prescription drugs for recreation — or for profit. Some acquire drugs they don’t need, intending to resell them. Medicare drug abuse jacks up costs for the Medicare program, for taxpayers and for their fellow Medicare drug plan enrollees who pay higher premiums as a result.