Harm Reduction or Prohibition: A Comparative Analysis of US and Swiss Drug Policy
Lafayette College
File access restricted to members of the Lafayette College community.
Abstract
In the USA, the infamous “War on Drugs” is reaching the 50th anniversary of its launch, with few, if any notable successes. Through supply side control, a form of policy that aims to eliminate drug use through minimizing the supply the US federal government has attempted to prevent drug use., However, the supply has continued in abundance due to high demand and the power of the black market to overcome any state-imposed hurdles. After similar trials of supply side controls in western Europe in 1985, the Swiss government decided to focus on “Harm Reduction” policy that focuses on helping people with addictions. However, opiate use and related deaths continue to rise in the US, while Swiss new heroin use has decreased by 80% since the implementation of the first harm reduction policies in 1991. Through analyzing the successes and failures of both the American and Swiss systems, as well as the differences in the drug cultures and feasibility of implementation, I will demonstrate that a Harm Reduction system is feasible and beneficial in the United States. The following essay analyzes the main historical, cultural, and political factors that hinder such a program, including currently existing small-scale programs, from taking off in the US even with its documented success in Europe.
Description
By analyzing the successes and failures of both the American and Swiss systems, as well as the differences in the drug cultures and feasibility of implementation, the author argues that a Harm Reduction system would be feasible and beneficial for the United States. This honors thesis analyzes the main historical, cultural, and political factors that hinder such a program, including currently existing small-scale programs, from taking off in the US even with its documented success in Europe.
Title
Harm Reduction or Prohibition: A Comparative Analysis of US and Swiss Drug Policy
Digital collection of student honors theses, beginning in academic year 2021-2022.
Past theses written by Lafayette students through academic year 2020-2021 are kept in Special Collections and College Archives. Information about the honors theses in Special Collections is available in the Library Catalog.