1 The Balloon Effect: The Failure of Supply Side Strategies in the War on Drugs Author: Charles Laffiteau Abstract More Than 10 years ago Dr. Ernest Drucker wrote that “The current model of drug control relies primarily on law enforcement to seize drugs and imprison drug offenders. While these efforts have produced large numbers of arrests, incarcerations and seizures, drug overdose deaths have increased 540% since 1980 and drug-related problems have worsened.” This research paper will discuss the “Balloon Effect” as one of, if not the primary, reasons why supply side strategies have not decreased the availability and or use of illegal drugs. “The Balloon Effect” is an economic term that describes what happens when, given a fairly elastic supply function, temporary supply reductions lead to higher prices which in term stimulates greater supply production. In Part I, this paper reviews government attempts to reduce supplies of a wide range of different types of illegal drugs over the last 50 years in an attempt to ascertain if there is any evidence that supply reduction strategies have ever been successful. In Part II it examines misconceptions about drugs and harm reduction strategies, decriminalization and or legalization as more viable options going forward. The paper concludes in Part III with some suggestions and recommendations for a more effective national and international drug control strategy. Part I Dr. Ernest Drucker, a founding board member of the International Journal on Drug Policy, says that, “The current model of drug control relies primarily on law enforcement to seize drugs and imprison drug offenders. While these efforts have produced large numbers of arrests, incarcerations and seizures, drug overdose deaths have increased 540% since 1980 and drug-related problems have worsened.” 1 This research paper attempts to answer the research question, “Why have government efforts over the last fifty years to reduce illegal drug use and abuse not succeeded?” In an effort to answer this question this paper will examine the supply reduction efforts of the United States and discuss why the “Balloon Effect” is one of the primary reasons supply side strategies have not and will not work to decrease the availability or use of illegal drugs. 1 Dr. Ernest Drucker "Drug Prohibition and Public Health." Public Health Reports U.S. Public Health Service. Vol. 114 (Jan./Feb.1998):24