ABSTRACT
The relationship between drug use and crime is a persistent concern in society. Since the mid-1970s, violent crime stemming from the drug trade has been a regular feature on the evening news and in the print media. Graphic depictions
of drug crimes pique the interest of both the public and the criminal justice system. The federal government responds to this concern by continuing its “war” on drugs. Efforts to reduce the supply of drugs are the primary means of attack in this war. This emphasis on supply reduction targets the drugs at various points-arrests of the street-level dealer, identifying and prosecuting the drug “kingpin,” and drug interdiction at the borders to the country. Less emphasis is placed (at least at the federal level) on the treatment of substance abusers or the prevention of initial use.
