There were two public meetings Thursday evening in Columbus, both touching a common topic but from far different perspectives.
At the Municipal Complex, the local NAACP chapter met before a packed house to discuss, among other things, how the “War on Drugs” has led to mass incarceration that has been particularly devastating in black communities.
It is a narrative that has been gaining traction in recent years.
Books such as “The New Jim Crow” and “Chasing the Scream” tell the story of how the nation’s drug policies have done far more harm than good.
The latter book draws a direct parallel to the country’s epic failure during Prohibition in the 1920s and 1930s.
When the alcohol industry was controlled and operated by the criminal class, it gave rise to an unprecedented increase in violence. When prohibition ended, crime rates fell dramatically. The same holds true for the drug industry, many argue.
In either case, prohibition did not reduce the use of drugs or alcohol; it simply turned over an enormously profitable industry to the criminal element.
Meanwhile, a mile or so west at the Trotter Center, another meeting was going on — The Southside/Downtown Neighborhood Watch meeting, which attracted about 20 residents.
It should be noted that there are two “Southsides.” One — which encompasses the area between Second Avenue North and Eight Avenue South from the river to MUW — is predominantly middle and upper-middle class and white. The other “Southside” — south of Eighth Avenue and west of MUW — is largely black and poor.
Thursday’s meeting was held by the former group and they, too, had drugs on their mind.
On a table in the front of the room, the Columbus Police Department had a display that featured a poster that showed the most common illegal drugs and how they are classified — depressants, hallucinogenics, opiates, etc.
Residents wanted to know if the recent crimes that have spilled over in their neighborhood were drug-related.
Brent Swan of the CPD’s Criminal Investigation Division, said the answer was a qualified “yes.” The crimes he said, had an element of drugs — the suspects were drug users, but their crimes were neither a part of drug transactions nor tied to gang-related drug enterprises.
What comfort this gave to the residents is unclear, but the difference between how the question of drugs was viewed at these two meeting is interesting.
The Neighborhood Watch group is seeing the issue from the point of view of how things are. The NAACP group viewed it from the perspective of how things should be.
Someday, those two perspectives may converge.
When that happens, it will likely signal the beginning of the end for the “War on Drugs” and usher in a new approach to the question, for better or worse.
Until then, how we look at the drug question will depend largely on demographics and personal experience.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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