More Screening, More Monitoring: Does John Walters Think He's Running the NSA?

Jacob Sullum | February 8, 2006

The Bush administration's latest National Drug Control Strategy was unveiled today in Denver, possibly because voters there recently approved a (mainly symbolic) initiative to decriminalize marijuana, an effort reformers plan to take statewide this fall. Drug czar John Walters seems intent on getting almost every American tested for drugs, either as an employee or as a student. His office also continues to push prescription drug monitoring programs, which hold the promise of making doctors even more reluctant to treat pain.

Comments

|2.8.06 @ 2:31PM|#

Gee, I can hardly wait to read this. I'm sure it's a well-reasoned and sensiblt policy, just like the policies over the last 30 years or so.

*rolls eys*

|2.8.06 @ 2:35PM|#

They want to make society more legible.

|2.8.06 @ 3:26PM|#

Forget about reading this policy document, just put the movie "Traffic" in your Netflix queue, it has everything you need to know in a tidy little, and entertaining, package. There is even some nudity!

|2.8.06 @ 3:28PM|#

So when's the revolution?

|2.8.06 @ 3:34PM|#

Andy-never. This is what the people want.

|2.8.06 @ 3:42PM|#

Andy-never. This is what the people want.

you couldn't be more right. Consider this highly regarded private school in the st. louis area which has decided to institute drug screening for every student.

if the students don't actively support it, then most don't seem to even care.

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/E3C106312F8505A18625710F001F703E?OpenDocument

|2.8.06 @ 3:45PM|#

"This is what the people want."

Ugh! I know it.

|2.8.06 @ 3:47PM|#

We want information...and a urine sample.

|2.8.06 @ 3:52PM|#

BTW, I at first thought the headline ran "John Waters".

Warren|2.8.06 @ 4:47PM|#

Hooray for Denver! Keeping my fingers crossed for Colorado. One day soon I hope to see John Walters sleeping in a cardboard box.

|2.8.06 @ 5:30PM|#

Number 2-You won't get it.

Except, perhaps, by hook or by crook.

|2.8.06 @ 5:49PM|#

Perhaps the whole thing is starting to unravel and their measures will only grow more desperate. On the bright side the uglines might end up out in the light for everyone to see...finally. I just cannot reconcile personal experience with this being "what people want" but rather "we'll comply if that's how it has to be". People's public and private attitutes about taboos can be contradictory.

|2.8.06 @ 9:56PM|#

Drug czar John Walters seems intent on getting almost every American tested for drugs, either as an employee or as a student.

I'm glad that I'm self-employed!

amazingdrx|2.9.06 @ 1:34AM|#

Has Walters had a drug test? What was the result? You first meat head.

Then test the administration, then congress, then all the judges...randomly for a few years.

Get back to US when you have finished. Until then, shut your damn pie hole and prosecute drug limbaugh.

|2.9.06 @ 10:32AM|#

"Has Walters had a drug test? What was the result? You first meat head.

Then test the administration, then congress, then all the judges...randomly for a few years.

Get back to US when you have finished. Until then, shut your damn pie hole and prosecute drug limbaugh."

amazingdrx;

RIGHT ON!!! IIRC, the US Congress were given the opportunity to give their urine to the urine taster tester fetishists a few years ago. From what I remember, there was a very low participation by our high and mighty, holier than thou Congress.

I think the Georgia Supremes struck down a law that was going to require all those running for office to have a drug screen. What's good for the goose is sauce for the gander.

I also have read on many drug law reform websites that past drug czars are getting into the drug testing / rehab industrial complex after their terms of service. Coincidence? I think not.