Signs prohibiting drugs are found in schools and parks in the author's community to inform students and others that drugs are not allowed. However, the author believes drugs are still being used by youth and are easily accessible due to the community's proximity to the U.S.-Mexico border and operating within a supply and demand economy, which is why efforts to stop drug use and sale will continue to have limited effect. This helps explain why drug sentences are harsh and the U.S. has high incarceration rates for non-violent drug offenses.

1. Signs such as these are found
throughout the schools, and the park
in my community. Signs like this I
think are important because it lets
not only students, but everyone for
that matter know that drugs are not
allowed. I think that although there
are signs such as this one drugs are
still being used by our youth, and
they are easily accessible. I think is
mainly due to the fact that we are so
close to the U.S.-Mexico border, and
that we are a supply and demand
economy, which is why no matter
how much effort is being done to
stop the use/sale of illegal drugs, it
will continue to happen. I think that
this is why drug sentences are harsh,
and as mentioned in the text the
reason why the United States has the
highest incarceration rates for non-
violent drug offenses.