Demo Dozen

 

FIGHTING THE COCAINE WAR (1996)

When we first built this model in 1996, we observed that the American government was spending more than $7 billion a year fighting a “war” on illegal powdered cocaine and “crack” use in America. Of that figure, the vast majority ($4.5 billion) went to “domestic enforcement,” including police, courts, and prisons.  Less ($2.6 billion) went to drug interdiction and source-country control; much less went for treatment and prevention efforts.

 

These policies resulted in a significant number of arrests and imprisonment of drug dealers in addition to sizeable quantities of drugs seized at the borders. Yet, in 1996 (as, indeed is true today), the number of “hard” users and the amount of cocaine consumed seemed little impacted.

 

Can You Stop the Flow of Cocaine To the U.S.?

 

In this simulation, we provide you with an opportunity to reallocate existing funds, or add more federal funds, for (1) drug interdiction and source-country controls and (2) domestic enforcement. Based on 1996 “efficiencies,” the model calculates likely amounts of cocaine that will be seized and drug dealers imprisoned. In addition, the model indicates the amount of cocaine consumed weekly.

 

The output from this model may surprise you. Ideally, as we explain what’s happening in the “debriefing” portion of the simulation (see illustration below), you will begin to recognize powerful albeit overlooked “feedback loops” that may be driving “the system.”