Two-thirds of respondents in the United States believe the “war on drugs” has been a failure.

While people in the United States are worried about the country’s drug abuse problem, they are evidently disappointed with the “War on Drugs”, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.

In a nationally representative sample of 1,004 American adults, 70 per cent of respondents believe we have a drug abuse problem in the United States that affects the entire country.

A considerably smaller proportion of Americans (17%) believe the country’s drug abuse problem is confined to specific areas and people.

Just six per cent of respondents believe America does not have a serious drug abuse problem.

The legalization of marijuana, which has been discussed by lawmakers in California and Washington State over the past few weeks, is supported by 53 per cent of respondents.

Less than one-in-ten Americans would consent to the legalization of other drugs, such as ecstasy, powder cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine or “crystal meth”, and crack cocaine.

Two-thirds of respondents (68%) believe the “War on Drugs”—the efforts of the U.S. government to reduce the illegal drug trade—has been a failure. Just eight per cent of Americans believe this policy has been a success.

Earlier this year, R. Gil Kerlikowske, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, declared that the Obama Administration would discontinue the use of the term “war on drugs” because the term implied that the government was waging a battle against its citizens.

Analysis

It is important to note that Democrats, Republicans and Independents all share the same level of concern about drug abuse, and the failure of the “War on Drugs”. However, a proposal to legalize marijuana would hold the support of a majority of Democrats (61%) and Independents (55%), but a smaller proportion of GOP voters (43%).

The survey shows that, while the preoccupation with drug abuse in America is widespread, the level of satisfaction with the “War on Drugs” is minuscule.

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

Full Dataset (PDF)

CONTACT:

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Public Affairs
+604 647 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com