Nixon also thought that by seizing drugs at the borders it would also automatically reduce the supply of drugs available to the people of the United States. However, Nixon soon realized that even though they were able to seize a significant amount, it was not enough to discourage the drug cartels from smuggling it in. Since their profit margins are so high, they would need to seize more than two thirds of their supply to affect them (Nutt, p. 270). Additionally, drug traffickers would rather cut their profits than pass on any extra costs to their dealers and wholesalers. However, even if they did, dealers would reduce the purity to make up for the extra costs rather than increase their prices as it may result in losing customers (Nutt, p. 270).
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However, that was not the case as it increased the spread of infectious diseases, decreased the number of people reaching out for help, and it diverted the attention from the dangers of alcohol and tobacco. Since some drug users inject drugs into their system, it creates a higher vulnerability to blood borne viruses causing them to be a public health risk to not only themselves but to those around them (Nutt, p. 274). One way to decrease the risk of such viruses are to provide needle exchange programs; however, the War on Drugs saw this as encouraging drug use as they provided clean needles to users when users shouldn’t have been doing drugs (Nutt, p. 274). We can see clearly how the harms of blood borne viruses affect drug users and those around them in Russia as two thirds of those with HIV caught it through intravenous drug use and the remaining caught it through sexual relations with drug users (Nutt, p. 274). As well, many cities refuse to give treatment for AIDS and HIV if they are drug users (Nutt, p. 274), or will only treat them for one thing forcing them to choose between treating their HIV problem or their addiction problem (Nutt, p.
However, that was not the case as it increased the spread of infectious diseases, decreased the number of people reaching out for help, and it diverted the attention from the dangers of alcohol and tobacco. Since some drug users inject drugs into their system, it creates a higher vulnerability to blood borne viruses causing them to be a public health risk to not only themselves but to those around them (Nutt, p. 274). One way to decrease the risk of such viruses are to provide needle exchange programs; however, the War on Drugs saw this as encouraging drug use as they provided clean needles to users when users shouldn’t have been doing drugs (Nutt, p. 274). We can see clearly how the harms of blood borne viruses affect drug users and those around them in Russia as two thirds of those with HIV caught it through intravenous drug use and the remaining caught it through sexual relations with drug users (Nutt, p. 274). As well, many cities refuse to give treatment for AIDS and HIV if they are drug users (Nutt, p. 274), or will only treat them for one thing forcing them to choose between treating their HIV problem or their addiction problem (Nutt, p.