Bill Overview
Title: CAPTAGON Act
Description: This bill requires the Department of Defense, the Department of State, the Department of the Treasury, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and other appropriate federal agencies to report to Congress a strategy to disrupt and dismantle narcotics production and trafficking networks linked to the regime of Bashar al Asad in Syria.
Sponsors: Rep. Hill, J. French [R-AR-2]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals involved in narcotics networks linked to the Assad regime or affected by its disruption
Estimated Size: 2000
- The bill targets narcotics production and trafficking networks in Syria associated with the Assad regime.
- While the Assad regime is central, the networks likely extend beyond Syria into neighboring regions due to the transnational nature of drug trafficking.
- The crackdown on narcotics networks may impact individuals involved in those networks economically and legally.
- Families and communities in Syria and potentially bordering countries may be affected by changes in the local drug trade.
- Consumers of narcotics, particularly those using Captagon in the Middle East and broader regions, will be affected if supply diminishes.
- Efforts to dismantle networks may cause geopolitical tensions affecting neighboring countries and their populations.
Reasoning
- The CAPTAGON Act primarily targets networks associated with the Assad regime in Syria. Thus, direct impacts on US individuals may be limited to those involved in the implementation and oversight of the strategy (e.g., federal employees and contractors).
- Indirect impacts might occur if there is a reduction in narcotics availability in the US due to decreased international trafficking. However, this effect is speculative and indirect.
- Financial constraints mean the strategy will likely involve intelligence and international partnerships rather than direct, large-scale interventions, affecting the scale of impact.
- The well-being scores will vary minimally for those in the US, as the policy's primary locus is overseas.
Simulated Interviews
Federal Employee - Department of State (Washington D.C.)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe this policy is a crucial step in combating international narcotics trafficking networks, particularly those funding oppressive regimes.
- The success of this policy hinges on international cooperation and precise intelligence work.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Software Engineer - Defense Contractor (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Indirectly, this policy may offer more work in developing digital tools for intelligence collection.
- While my work isn't directly affected by overseas policies, broader security initiatives often translate to more projects for our team.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
High School Teacher (New York, NY)
Age: 51 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I use current events like the CAPTAGON Act to help students understand global issues and US foreign policy initiatives.
- Increased efforts to curb narcotics trafficking are necessary, though their implications for on-the-ground realities should be examined critically.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Journalist (Austin, TX)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This act provides a narrative focusing on drug trafficking within the international geopolitical sphere, which is significant for global public awareness.
- Policies like these can shift the dynamics in drug trade, though their efficacy depends on execution.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Drug Rehabilitation Counselor (Miami, FL)
Age: 46 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The reduction in narcotics could potentially decrease local availability, positively impacting recovery chances.
- However, the switch to alternative substances when supply is disrupted is a concern.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
International Relations Graduate Student (Salt Lake City, UT)
Age: 25 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The CAPTAGON Act offers a practical case study for international relations and policy enforcement discussions in class.
- Understanding the implications of such policies is crucial for future diplomats and policy makers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Logistics Coordinator - International Shipping (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 31 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- International policies like CAPTAGON could potentially affect global shipping routes and customs protocols, impacting my job.
- Efficiency in shipping often depends on stable international relations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Retired Military Officer (Chicago, IL)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I view this type of policy as essential to national and international security efforts, drawing on my experience with counter-drug strategies.
- However, the impact is contingent upon comprehensive inter-agency collaboration.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
University Student - Political Science (Columbus, OH)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The CAPTAGON Act is a breakthrough for policy students not only to learn theory but see practice in real time.
- Such policies help us analyze the effectiveness and parameters of international cooperation and market disruption.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Non-Profit Director - International Aid (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While drug trafficking networks are a scourge, the CAPTAGON Act must balance between intervention and respecting sovereignty.
- The policy could indirectly impact humanitarian operations if geopolitical tensions arise.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $100000000 (Low: $80000000, High: $120000000)
Year 2: $105000000 (Low: $85000000, High: $125000000)
Year 3: $110000000 (Low: $90000000, High: $130000000)
Year 5: $120000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $140000000)
Year 10: $-1 (Low: $-1, High: $-1)
Year 100: $-1 (Low: $-1, High: $-1)
Key Considerations
- Coordination with international allies and partners will be critical to the success of this policy.
- Potential geopolitical ramifications could arise from increased US involvement in Syrian affairs.
- Ensuring robust inter-agency collaboration and clear definitions of roles and responsibilities is essential to strategy implementation.
- The US should anticipate varying levels of cooperation from other nations given their regional interests and relationships with Syria.