Opinion polls suggest that the public's views on how to combat illegal drug use don't fall crisply into either a liberal or conservative ideology. Rather than take an "either-or" approach, the public seems to combine elements from both camps. Survey findings show majorities support criminal prosecution, but equally large numbers say providing treatment and education would also be effective measures for combating the problem. While half of Americans say drug use should be treated more like a disease than a crime, they are divided on whether states should do away with mandatory sentences for nonviolent offenders. Further, though nearly half of Americans say stopping the illegal importation of drugs into this country would be the most effective way to control drug use, few say we should spend more money to help other countries like Columbia and Peru fight drug trafficking. Similarly, a majority of Americans favor spending more on educational programs to prevent drug use among young people, but less than half say they would increase spending on treatment in general. The public's tendency to combine elements of both liberal and conservative approaches is reflected in other issues like crime and welfare. (See Crime, Red Flags and Welfare, Red Flags.)

Half of Americans say drug use should be treated more like a disease than a crime, but they are divided on whether states...