The widespread use of illicit drugs among D.C. residents means that law enforcement has to be smarter in the way they respond to the problem, said Paul Butler, a former federal prosecutor and professor at George Washington University.
“It suggests our lock-’em-up approach is not working as well,” Butler said.
John Walters, who was the Bush administration’s drug czar for eight years, said, “We need to know where drug hot spots are and put resources where the problem is.”
Walters said he believed the best solution was to begin drug education and testing earlier in schools. “When we find kids with a problem, we should help them find services, not a jail,” Walters said.
Peter Delany, director of the Office of Applied Studies for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, agreed. “If cocaine is a serious problem and it’s not going away, we do need to rethink how we look at prevention methods,” he said.
Changing demographics affect how cities should deal with drug problems, Will Williams, director of alcohol and drug services of Fairfax County, told The Examiner recently. Prevention programs must be directed at the most at-risk populations, he said.
