The Trump administration is purportedly moving grant programs once controlled by the Office of National Drug Control Policy into the Departments of Justice and Health & Human Services, which would result in a cut of $340 million. Politico reported, this budget cut "marks his administration’s second attempt to gut the top office responsible for coordinating the federal response to the opioid crisis." Politico also reports that the administration has not asked Congress for additional money to address the opiate epidemic. What do you think about this?
Source: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/18/trump-targets-drug-policy-office-297422
Trump's budget cuts into drug control programs in my opinion can lead to two things: 1)Increase in drug abuse and 2)erosion of social capital 1) It is very difficult to dismantle illegal manufacture, distribution and consumption of drugs because it is a transnational organized crime. It takes years and investment of much time, energy, and resources to effectively prevent drug trafficking and illegal substance abuse. Investments are also needed to create awareness of drug abuse, prevention programmes, and rehabilitation programmes. Budget cuts will not be helpful towards a national agenda on drug control. 2) Drug abuse and the resulting social stigma of drug addicts will disrupt positive relationships with family , relatives, friends and other individuals in societies. If investments are not made on rehabilitation programs addicted youth may not get employed leading to further complications such as a declining economy. Trump administration should continue to invest in these areas instead of mobilizing national resources to building a wall in Mexico Border [professing to prevent drug trafficking from Mexico to USA]. Building a wall will not prevent drug trafficking because drugs maybe trafficked into country via alternative means/ or even domestically made and distributed. Trump's priorities are flawed.