War On Drugs Research Paper

For many years, drugs have been the center of crime and the criminal justice system in the United States. Due to this widespread epidemic, President Richard Nixon declared the “War on Drugs” in 1971 with a campaign that promoted the prohibition of illicit substances and implemented policies to discourage the overall production, distribution, and consumption. The War on Drugs and the U.S. drug policy has experienced the most significant and complex challenges between criminal law and the values of today’s society. With implemented drug polices becoming much harsher over the years in order to reduce the overall misuse and abuse of drugs and a expanded federal budget, it has sparked a nation wide debate whether or not they have created more harm than good. When looking at the negative consequences of these policies not only has billions of dollars gone to waste, but the United States has also seen public health issues, mass incarceration, and violent drug related crime within the black market in which feeds our global demands and economy. With this failed approach for drug prohibition, there continues to be an increase in the overall production of illicit substances, high rate of violence, and an unfavorable impact to our nation.

Today the number are in the war on drug is a huge failure with devastated unintended consequences, it lead to mass incarceration in the us, to corruption, to political destabilization, and violence in latin america, asia, and africa. To systemic human right abuse across the world.”-Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell

In the past forty years, the United States has spent over $2.5 trillion dollars funding enforcement and prevention in the fight against drug use in America (Suddath). Despite the efforts made towards cracking down on drug smugglers, growers, and suppliers, statistics show that addiction rates have remained unchanged and the number of people using illegal drugs is increasing daily (Sledge). Regardless of attempts to stem the supply of drugs, the measure and quality of drugs goes up while the price goes down (Koebler). Now with the world’s highest incarceration rates and greatest illegal drug consumption (Sledge), the United States proves that the “war on drugs” is a war that is not being won.

Today the number are in the war on drug is a huge failure with devastated unintended consequences, it lead to mass incarceration in the us, to corruption, to political destabilization, and violence in latin america, asia, and africa. To systemic human right abuse across the world.”-Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell

Before we begin our tour of the drug war, it is worthwhile to get a couple of myths out of the way. The first is that the war is aimed at ridding the nation of drug "kingpins" or big-time dealers. Nothing could be further from the truth. The vast majority of those arrested are not charged with serious offenses. In 2005, for example, four out of five drug arrests were for possession, and only one out of five was for sales. Moreover, most people in state prison for drug offenses have no history of violence or significant selling activity.5

The war on drugs brought the United States the highest incarceration rate in the world, mandatory minimum sentences, and racial disparity in our criminal justice system. The war on drugs greatly affected the way policing works in America. Policing and racism have always intertwined in America but the war on drugs fueled it. As a result minorities were the most affected by policing. During the war on drugs funding for police departments rose to support it, Cooper (2015) reports that a 2012 study done by lynch states that “between 1992 and 2008 state and local departments expenditures on police doubled from $131 per capita to $260 per capita” (p. 1189) This increase in law enforcement

Through my research I have found our involvement in the drug world follows the same theme that seems to recur with our government and their policies. We talk a good game that formulates a structure and a well-worded policy that appears to be in the best interest of American citizens and foreigners alike. However we also aid these countries. The problem doesn’t lie within our policies or the simple compassion from our government that drugs hurt our society. The problems occur with those that implement and enforce these policies. Cocaine and its market cannot be eradicated. The efforts of many of our political leaders have been futile because of the supply and demand of the product. In 1989, President Bush had a plan that he called, “The cheapest and safest way to eradicate narcotics” (Menzel pg.43). The result was the following,

She also mentions how 4th amendment and one act, Posse Comitatus Act that seem to set the basics of two War on drugs controlling procedures such as stop and frisk and special weapons and tactics (SWAT) teams. In this she talks about how these two main weapons have been very helpful to prevent the police violence against black people, these two weapons tends to protect the innocent black people which seems like one of the biggest achievement for many of us. In conclusion, it explains how War on Drugs policing is affecting black people which made the controlling methods of drugs to increase the police violence on black people. Even though the police has been very strict with black people on drugs, they still have not made a big difference in reducing the street-level drug activity which leads to that black people are the not main one who has been using drugs, but also other people who have been targeted yet. At the end, it talks while these changes occur, they should stop using the SWAT

The war on drugs in our culture is a continuous action that is swiftly lessening our society. This has been going on for roughly 10-15 years and has yet to slow down in any way. Drugs continue to be a problem for the obvious reason that certain people abuse them in a way that can lead to ultimate harm on such a person. These drugs do not just consist of street drugs (marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy), but prescription medications as well. Although there are some instances where drugs are being used by subjects excessively, there has been medical research to prove that some of these drugs have made a successful impact on certain disorders and diseases.

The War on Drugs, like the war on Terrorism, is a war that America may not be able to afford to win. For over forty years the United States has been fighting the War on Drugs and there is no end in sight. It has turned into a war that is about politics and economics rather than about drugs and criminals. The victims of this war are numerous; but perhaps they are not as numerous as those who benefit from the war itself.

Another reason to way the war on drugs has failed is because of the amount of street crime that the war has caused. the war on drugs created illegal drug trade, and this caused more crime then it was before the war on drug was created. The article “The War On Drugs: Creatin Crime, Enriching criminals” claimed that “Gangs or cartels that are primarily financed by the sale of illicit drugs on streets have been implicated in a substantial proportion of street violence and homicides(8). For example 1,365 homicides took place between 1994 and 1995. 43% of those homicides were were from ganges in Los Angeles who were in charge of drug distribution(The War On Drugs: Creatin Crime, Enriching criminals 8). All the crime produced on Los Angeles street

The war on drugs is a campaign that was adopted by the U.S. government and other countries to end importation, manufacturing, and the sale of illegal drugs. The United States government has always been concerned with the illegal amount of drug distribution, and consumption over the years. Drug distribution, and consumption did not become a major topic of concern until the late 1960s. Over the years the government has tried to stop the war. Laws, new policies, and drug agencies have been put into effect. But these techniques have seemed to have no impact on the war. Illegal drug distribution, and consumption has skyrocketed and the U.S. government is fighting a war that can't be won.

The drug problem in the U.S. and around the world is an important issue and seems to be a difficult problem to tackle across the board. The inflow of drugs has become one of the largest growths in transnational crime operations; illicit drug use in the United States makes it very difficult for nation states police and customs forces to get a handle on the issues. War on drugs, drug trafficking has long been an issue for the United States. There has been a proclamation of “war on drugs” for the past 44 years.

According to Michelle Alexander, why and how has the “war on drugs” developed over the last 40 years? What are the main political and economic factors that led to the war on drugs, and what are the main political and economic factors that shaped it as it developed over the last four decades? Draw on material from the Foner textbook chapters 25 through 28 to supplement Alexander’s discussion of the political and economic context.

The War on Drugs is a current conflict that has been going on for many decades. It is a movement organized by the United States Government in attempts to reduce the amount of illegal drug trafficking in the country. The War on Drugs enforced strict drug policies that are intended to reduce both the production, distribution, and consumption of illegal drugs. The term was first used by President Richard Nixon, during a press conference concerning the nationwide drug abuse issue, in which Nixon announces to the Congress that drug abuse was, “public enemy number one”. Illegal drugs are certainly dangerous; addiction and death are two but many factors as a result of drugs. However, even though the War on Drugs might sounds justifiable, in truth, it is actually making the drug issue worst in the country.