Anti Drug Use And Abuse

In 1971 on June 17, President Richard Nixon delivered a special message to the Congress on drug abuse prevention and control. During the presentation, Nixon made it clear that the United States was at war with this idea of drug abuse. What baffled Americans then, and still baffles Americans today, is that we are at war with our own nation with drugs; it is not some foreign affair like the media tends to focus on with Mexico. Nixon stated that at the time of his speech, what was implemented to control drug abuse was not working…“The problem has assumed the dimensions of a national emergency. I intend to take every step necessary to deal with this emergency, including asking the Congress for an amendment to my 1972 budget to provide an

The War on Drugs began in increments, first with President Nixon and secondly with President Reagan (Hill, Oliver, Marion, 2012). While under the Nixon administration, the Drug Enforcement Administration was developed due to the thought of how drugs can affect an individual as well as a community. Drugs did not only affect the user and the community, but also the families as well as children. Out of all the presidents, it is documented that President Nixon was one who had discussions about drugs more than any other president (Hill, et al., 2012).

In the late 1960's and early 1970's, the federal government began to increasingly tighten drug laws. In 1972, President Richard Nixon formally declared a "War on Drugs", which continues

The War on Drugs had hopes of ending drug possession and usage in the 1971 when president Nixon signed the Drug Prevention and Control Act. Through the years, many people have criticized the war for its failures, and others have commended it for its success. Some people want harsher penalties for drug usage and possession, while others want all drugs to become legal. Although the War on Drugs seems to be a solution to a hot button issue, it has many negative effects, including its ineffectiveness, increase in prison population, and high cost.

1971 - U.S. President Richard Nixon declares war on drugs and says drug abuse is the country’s biggest threat.

Drugs during the 1860's to 1960's weren't exposed or widely used in our society, it was also not seen as "getting out-of-hand". The War on Drugs was declared in 1971 by President Nixon, this allowed political bias to increase the size and presence of federal drug control agencies, and pushed through measures such as mandatory sentencing and no-knock warrants. With this intention, many of members of society that were discriminated against (e.g. African American and Anti-War community) began to rebel even more, which includes an indulgence of abusing

Many currently illegal drugs such as marijuana and cocaine have been used for years for both medical and personal uses. The first cocaine laws were directed towards black men in the South. The first marijuana laws were passed in the 1910s were directed toward Mexican Americans as well as Mexican Immigrants. Since the beginning of the 1900s, the illegal smuggling of drugs has been a prevalent problem in America. It was not until June 1971 that President Richard Nixon declared a war on drugs, because he believed America’s number one enemy was drug abuse. As an effect of the drug wars of Colombia, taking place throughout the 1900s, the American culture changed drastically economically and in the areas of drug and gang mentality as well as violence,

The War on Drugs is a term that is commonly applied to the campaign of prohibition of drugs. The goal of this campaign is to reduce the illegal drug trade across America. This term “ War on Drugs” was used during Nixon’s campaign in which he declared War on Drugs during a press conference in 1971. Following this declaration many organizations were created to stop the spread of drugs, like the DEA and Office of Drug Abuse Law Enforcement. Note that Nixon’s approach to this problem was to fund treatment rather than law enforcement. After Nixon’s retirement from office, most of the funding went from going into treatment to the law enforcement. Which militarized the police force giving the officer’s military weapons and gear. With this, the sentencing for possessing drugs was changed as well, resulting incarcerations rates to increase overtime. The increase of incarceration rates started to create many patterns that were soon noticeable. The funding’s that go into the law enforcement has shown to greatly have an affect on the incarceration rates.

What started this so called “War on Drugs,” and why was it started? Drugs were first known to be used recreationally in the early nineteenth century. The drug most widely used then was marijuana, which before the Civil War was a major source of income for farmers in America (Casa Palmera). It wasn’t until 1971 that a “war” against drugs was started by President Nixon (DPA), when he stated that drugs were, “public enemy number one in America” (WBGU PBS). He held the belief that in order to stop the increase in use of drugs, it was, as he stated, “necessary to wage a new, all-out offensive” (Stanford University). This seemed like a great idea at the time, but since then, new drugs have been developing every day, while the old laws stay in place.

In 1970, the 91st Congress passed an anti-drug law called The Controlled Substances Act of 1970. The law was signed by President Richard Nixon the Narcotics Control Act, however it replace it with the most comprehensive drug control policy in the U.S. at the time.

Throughout history, there have been coalitions that have assisted in the creation of the legal regimes that have attempted to regulate sex, drugs and rock and roll. The regulation of drugs in this country is said by many to have begun in the year of 1971 when the 37th president of the United States, Richard Nixon, formally declared a war on drugs. However, the Harrison Narcotics Act was one of the first federal laws approved to regulate the use a number of drugs that were once available to purchase locally such as heroin and cocaine. Following the end of prohibition, the US Treasury department appointed Harry Anslinger as the first commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics. He sought out to imprison the users and addicts of the drugs

In the years of the 60s and 70s, drugs became one of the country’s biggest issues, people were drying, becoming addicts, and were not receiving help or education until Nixon took action. He began educating our country on drugs, created anti-drug administration programs and tried to support rehabilitation by testing ways on how to get people there and maintain them sober and healthy. Not only that but he also thoughts about how drugs would be if action was not taken. Even today, the United States is still at war with drugs but not as bad, thanks to the help of President Nixon. With the initiation of the Drug War, explored by President Nixon, changes were made to the United States such as educating society, creating new anti-drug programs and

The War on Drugs, although not officially not named so until around 1971, began in the 1880s with the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act. The main focus on this act was the immigration of Chinese people, but it was also attempting to curb the flow of opium and opiates into the United States. This act was renewed for the next 80 years or so until in the Immigration Act of 1965 was passed. The Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 required all physicians to accurately label medicines, but opium and coca where not outlawed. It was estimated that the passage of this law decreased the sale of medications with opiates by almost 33%.

“It is sold in limited quantities and in order to purchase it the buyer must be 18 years old and show a photo ID.” (Redmond1)

The War on Drugs first coined by Richard Nixon in a press conference (1971) with the Congress on Drug Abuse Prevention and Control where he publicly declared drug abuse as “public enemy number one” and requested federal funds for “an all-out campaign of