America’s War on Drugs - 50 years later

History of the War on Drugs

• The War on Drugs was officially declared in 1971 by President Nixon.
• The War on Drugs was designed to target drug use and smuggling in the United States.
• The war was largely a response to public fears of a drug epidemic, particularly concerning high rates of drug use among American troops returning from Vietnam.
• The Nixon administration viewed the drug war as a means to control the “antiwar left and black people.”
• President Ronald Reagan reinforced and expanded Nixon’s anti-drug policies in the 1980s.
• The 1986 Anti-Drug Abuse Act granted $1.7 billion for law enforcement to fight the drug war and implemented harsher mandatory minimum sentences for drug-related crimes.
• The Anti-Drug Abuse Act led to racial disparities in sentencing, for example, possession of five grams of crack cocaine (largely consumed by African Americans) carried a five-year jail sentence, while possession of 500 grams of powder cocaine (mostly consumed by white demographics) merited the same punishment.
• The War on Drugs has led to an increase in the incarceration rate of drug offenders, with drug-related offenses making up almost half of the federal prison population.
• The War on Drugs has disproportionately impacted people of color, with Black people being more than 3.5 times more likely to be arrested for cannabis possession than their White counterparts, despite both groups using the drug at similar rates..

Consequences of the War on Drugs

• The War on Drugs has perpetuated cycles of poverty and unemployment in low-income communities.
• The job market routinely discriminates against people with prior drug offenses.
• The War on Drugs has not been effective in reducing drug use.
• Studies have found no statistically significant correlation between drug imprisonment rates and the rate of drug use across most states.
• Only 11 percent of incarcerated individuals receive treatment for drug addiction, despite approximately 65 percent meeting the medical criteria for addiction.

Recent Developments

• There has been a growing movement towards decriminalization of drugs in the United States.
• 15 states have legalized recreational cannabis, and Oregon has decriminalized possession of small amounts of illegal drugs.
• Public support for ending the War on Drugs is growing; recent surveys indicate that 83 percent of Americans think it has failed and 66 percent of voters support eliminating criminal charges for drug possession.

Alternatives to the War on Drugs

• Harm reduction: Focuses on mitigating the negative impacts of drug use rather than criminalizing it.
• Harm reduction policies include evidence-based practices like syringe exchange programs, increased access to methadone clinics, and safe, supervised drug consumption spaces.

Solutions for Moving Forward

• Treat drug use and abuse as a public health crisis rather than a criminal issue.
• Overhaul the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).
• Remove criminal penalties for drug possession.
• Invest in programs that support treatment and recovery.
• Expunge criminal records related to drug offenses.