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How Has The War On Drugs Changed

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How Has The War On Drugs Changed
More than 106,000 die yearly due to drugs. The War on Drugs started in the 1970s. It's the government's work to fight drug misuse and trafficking. Prez Nixon made this term popular. This has changed a lot over the past 50 years due to social and pull factors. This looks at how the War on Drugs began, its effects and if it works. Drugs go back to the 20th century. In the US, rules have been introduced for narcotics. The first drugs were herbs, plants, roots, vines, and fungi. Anyone could grow these? But, Nixon made the "War on Drugs" a big idea to get backing for stricter drug rules. Strict drug laws led to lots in prison, esp. African Americans and Latinos. War on Drugs hits marginalized groups hard, especially people of color. This makes …show more content…
It hurts ties with other countries and stops dealing with why people use drugs. Now, more want change in drug laws. They want new ways to control drugs, with no punishment and more treatment. Portugal did this and it cut drug harm and crime.

The inception of the Harrison Narcotics Tax Act in 1914 marked the onset of federal drug control efforts.This has perpetuated cycles of impoverishment and disenfranchisement, erecting systemic hurdles to education, employment, and social mobility. Critics argue that the War on Drugs has favored disciplinary measures over public health strategies. Instead of tackling the underlying causes of drug addiction, such as poverty, trauma, and lack of healthcare access, the focus has been on punishment and imprisonment. This has resulted in a punitive stance that labels drug users as recurring cycles of addiction and corruption. The War on Drugs has also taken a significant economic toll on society. Billions of dollars are expended annually on law enforcement, prosecution, and detention related to drug offenses. Moreover, the pledged consequences of mass custody, such as lost productivity and strained social services, have further strained public resources. About

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