Plunder, Profit, & Punishment: Drug War Profiteers | S3: Privatization & Profit in the War on Drugs

The war on drugs is immensely profitable - for some entities - and in order to successfully end the drug war and its associated harms we have to follow the money to see who’s benefiting from systematically punitive responses. The accounting of the drug war typically focuses on the expenditures of systems and institutions in terms of enforcing drug prohibition. In this series, we will shift from tracing institutional funding and delve into a people-centered accounting of the drug war. We will explore how private and public companies, agencies, and organizations profit from the drug war, extract money and resources from people, and plunder entire communities - often targeting those who are already navigating financial precarity. We’ll expose malfeasance across different systems - including treatment and recovery, housing, healthcare, and family policing - to ultimately develop strategies to curb the influence of drug war profiteers.
Session 3 explored historical shifts towards privatization, the role of privatization in drug war profiteering, and public-private partnerships. We looked at how such trends undermine drug policy reform, channel resources away from public entities, and reshape the fundamental purposes and practices of service organizations.
Speakers:
Donald Cohen
Michael Fenne
Kassandra Frederique
Chelsea Higgs Wise
Moderator:
Aliza Cohen
Recorded: May 29, 2024
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The Drug Policy Alliance is building a world without the drug war where people who use drugs are supported, not punished. We’re building a world where drug policy is grounded in evidence, health, equity, and human rights. Join us: drugpolicy.org/ .
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