A national call-in program that dissects the U.S. government’s faltering 30-Year, $19 Billion War on Drugs. The program includes the American premiere of “Coca Mama,” a Journeyman Pictures documentary on the effects of U.S. drug policies in four South American countries. Following the film, a panel of experts from the U.S. and Europe take viewer calls to debate the current U.S. strategy of eradication, interdiction and criminalization, and to discuss alternatives. The show is hosted by noted public radio journalist Holly Kernan.

Among the topics covered are:

• How European models for dealing with drug use and abuse compare with those used in our own "war on drugs."

• Proposals that have come before Congress to increase aid to Colombia; what are the ethics and efficacy of this approach, which includes increased U.S. involvement in Colombia¹s internal conflicts.
• Alternatives that can be offered to impoverished farmers who currently must grow the illicit crop in order to keep their families from starvation.
• How can the U.S. effectively aid the Colombian army, which until now, has proven to be ineffective in stemming the drug trade?
• The relationship between oil interests and Colombia’s internal Guerilla conflict.

Guests:
Sanho Tree, director of Drug Policy at the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington DC, who examined the impact in Columbia of increased aid and the current strategy of the U.S. War on Drugs.

Peter Nunez, former U.S. Attorney and official of the U.S. Treasury Department, where he was combating drug smuggling along the U.S./Mexico border. Mr. Nunez is based in San Diego.

Dr. Peter Cohen, Senior Drug Policy advisor to the Dutch government. Dr. Cohen discusses European models for dealing with drug use and abuse, including programs in his home city of Amsterdam.