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A SOUND BASIS FOR A DRUG POLICY
By Ethan A. Nadelmann
What is it about this generation of Bushes? Last year both of President Bush's
daughters got themselves arrested for underage drinking. Now their older cousin,
Noelle, gets busted for fraud after forging a prescription for the anti-anxiety
drug Xanax.
My first thought was: Is this some sort of rebellion against their very
authority-figure dads? Or are they simply unlucky?
My second thought was: Maybe the tendency toward drug abuse problems simply
runs in the family. Noelle's uncle was pretty open about his struggles with
alcohol when he was in his 20s, and a lot less candid about whether he struggled
with other substances as well . But then again, so far all these reports involve
drug law problems, not clear drug-abuse problems.
My third thought was: It's not just the Bushes. Think of all the wives and
daughters of men who have occupied or sought to occupy the White House in
recent decades. Joan Kennedy, former wife of Sen. Edward Kennedy, has long
battled alcohol abuse, as did First Lady Betty Ford. Kitty Dukakis struggled for
decades with abuse of alcohol and prescription amphetamines. John McCain's wife,
Cindy, illegally obtained prescription painkillers to support her habit, and
Ronald Reagan's daughter, Patti Davis, eventually fessed up to her love affair
with cocaine.
It almost seems like there's no better predictor of getting in trouble with
drugs than being the wife or daughter (or son or brother) of a man who aspires
to the presidency.
My fourth thought was: I'm being unfair. There's nothing so special about those
Bush daughters, or about any of the other prominent wives and daughters who got
in trouble with drugs or the law. Tens of millions of Americans find themselves
in trouble with alcohol or other drugs at one point or another in their lives.
And tens of millions have been arrested on alcohol or other drug-related charges.
The only thing special about these women is their mixed blessing of being closely
related to a very famous man - which means their problems are known not just to
their families and friends and the arresting authorities but to many millions of
others who watch TV and read the papers.
My fifth thought was: None of these women has actually gone to prison or
suffered any other significant legal consequences for their criminal violations.
They suffer serious embarrassment on a public scale most of us will never know.
But they also come from families and social classes that afford much better
opportunities for keeping the criminal justice system at bay. I surely don't want
to see any of them behind bars for their troubles with drugs and the law - but
what about the millions of Americans who have lost their freedom for days, weeks,
months or years because of a drug problem? Weren't many of them guilty of
nothing more serious than these wives and daughters of our national politicians?
"This is a very serious problem," said Noelle's father, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, in
a statement issued Tuesday. "Unfortunately, substance abuse is an issue confronting
many families across our nation. We ask the public and media to respect our
family's privacy during this difficult time so that we can help our daughter."
Jeb Bush is right, of course. If his daughter has a drug problem, surely it's best
handled as a private family matter. But what about other people's sons and
daughters? The law that Noelle likely violated is punishable by up to five years
in prison and a $5,000 fine. Noelle won't go to prison, nor would most other first
offenders. But what about other young people whose families don't have the
resources of the Bushes? What about other young people whose parents aren't
able or even available to help them? Why exactly do we have such severe laws on
the books for punishing people whose only real offense, if it can be called that,
is related to putting a psychoactive substance into their body?
Maybe this unfortunate turn of events in the Bush family will serve as a wakeup
call for Jeb Bush. For the past 10 years more people have been admitted to Florida
state prisons for drug offenses than for any other charge. The state's voters will
likely have an opportunity to vote on a ballot initiative this November - modeled
on California's Proposition 36 - to provide treatment instead of incarceration for
people with substance abuse problems who get arrested on drug possession charges.
The governor has already spoken out against the initiative, just as the vast
majority of California's politicians opposed Prop 36 until 61 percent of their
constituents voted otherwise.
So here's my last thought, one I hope Jeb Bush will take to heart: Treat others
as you would want your own son or daughter treated. It's a good principle in life,
and a sound basis for drug policy.
Copyright 2002.
###########
By Ethan A. Nadelmann
What is it about this generation of Bushes? Last year both of President Bush's
daughters got themselves arrested for underage drinking. Now their older cousin,
Noelle, gets busted for fraud after forging a prescription for the anti-anxiety
drug Xanax.
My first thought was: Is this some sort of rebellion against their very
authority-figure dads? Or are they simply unlucky?
My second thought was: Maybe the tendency toward drug abuse problems simply
runs in the family. Noelle's uncle was pretty open about his struggles with
alcohol when he was in his 20s, and a lot less candid about whether he struggled
with other substances as well . But then again, so far all these reports involve
drug law problems, not clear drug-abuse problems.
My third thought was: It's not just the Bushes. Think of all the wives and
daughters of men who have occupied or sought to occupy the White House in
recent decades. Joan Kennedy, former wife of Sen. Edward Kennedy, has long
battled alcohol abuse, as did First Lady Betty Ford. Kitty Dukakis struggled for
decades with abuse of alcohol and prescription amphetamines. John McCain's wife,
Cindy, illegally obtained prescription painkillers to support her habit, and
Ronald Reagan's daughter, Patti Davis, eventually fessed up to her love affair
with cocaine.
It almost seems like there's no better predictor of getting in trouble with
drugs than being the wife or daughter (or son or brother) of a man who aspires
to the presidency.
My fourth thought was: I'm being unfair. There's nothing so special about those
Bush daughters, or about any of the other prominent wives and daughters who got
in trouble with drugs or the law. Tens of millions of Americans find themselves
in trouble with alcohol or other drugs at one point or another in their lives.
And tens of millions have been arrested on alcohol or other drug-related charges.
The only thing special about these women is their mixed blessing of being closely
related to a very famous man - which means their problems are known not just to
their families and friends and the arresting authorities but to many millions of
others who watch TV and read the papers.
My fifth thought was: None of these women has actually gone to prison or
suffered any other significant legal consequences for their criminal violations.
They suffer serious embarrassment on a public scale most of us will never know.
But they also come from families and social classes that afford much better
opportunities for keeping the criminal justice system at bay. I surely don't want
to see any of them behind bars for their troubles with drugs and the law - but
what about the millions of Americans who have lost their freedom for days, weeks,
months or years because of a drug problem? Weren't many of them guilty of
nothing more serious than these wives and daughters of our national politicians?
"This is a very serious problem," said Noelle's father, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, in
a statement issued Tuesday. "Unfortunately, substance abuse is an issue confronting
many families across our nation. We ask the public and media to respect our
family's privacy during this difficult time so that we can help our daughter."
Jeb Bush is right, of course. If his daughter has a drug problem, surely it's best
handled as a private family matter. But what about other people's sons and
daughters? The law that Noelle likely violated is punishable by up to five years
in prison and a $5,000 fine. Noelle won't go to prison, nor would most other first
offenders. But what about other young people whose families don't have the
resources of the Bushes? What about other young people whose parents aren't
able or even available to help them? Why exactly do we have such severe laws on
the books for punishing people whose only real offense, if it can be called that,
is related to putting a psychoactive substance into their body?
Maybe this unfortunate turn of events in the Bush family will serve as a wakeup
call for Jeb Bush. For the past 10 years more people have been admitted to Florida
state prisons for drug offenses than for any other charge. The state's voters will
likely have an opportunity to vote on a ballot initiative this November - modeled
on California's Proposition 36 - to provide treatment instead of incarceration for
people with substance abuse problems who get arrested on drug possession charges.
The governor has already spoken out against the initiative, just as the vast
majority of California's politicians opposed Prop 36 until 61 percent of their
constituents voted otherwise.
So here's my last thought, one I hope Jeb Bush will take to heart: Treat others
as you would want your own son or daughter treated. It's a good principle in life,
and a sound basis for drug policy.
Copyright 2002.
###########
Associated
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The Denver Post, All Rights Reserved
February 10, 2002.
February 10, 2002.