The Crack Epidemic in Washington Dc
The Federal Government’s Impact on the Crack Epidemic in the District of Colombia
Cutler Fisher
AMST 3950W
April 15, 2012
The term epidemic is typically used in relation to the spread of a disease however; in the mid 1980’s this term was attached to crack cocaine. The crack cocaine epidemic described the impact of a newly created drug on most U.S. cities in the northeast and Mid Atlantic. Washington, D.C. provided the perfect setting for crack cocaine to flourish. Plenty of low-income inner city housing projects complete with open air drug markets labeled D.C. as a leading U.S. city with a major crack cocaine problem. As crack cocaine became a national talking point the federal government stepped in to curb its use. Congress along with other sections of the federal government pushed for a tough approach to crack cocaine. The crack cocaine “epidemic” in Washington, D.C. coincided with President’s Regan’s “War on Drugs”. The creation of a new cabinet position; “Drug Czar” coupled with extremely harsh penalties directed for use and distribution of crack cocaine characterized the War on Drugs. One of the most controversial new penalties was the disproportionate sentence for crack cocaine compared to powder cocaine. All wars have casualties and the unfair and harsh sentences for crack cocaine created by the federal government greatly impacted the D.C. area through a backlash of increased violence. Also, both Federal and local D.C. enforcement strategies such as undercover stings made Washington D.C. volatile. Violence and crack became synonymous.
Crack cocaine was on the heels of the popularity of cocaine, an illegal powder-like substance, that as a stimulant is snorted to produce a euphoric feeling or high. Cocaine hails from the high mountainous regions of South America from the leaves of the coco plant. In the United States cocaine was initially used for medicinal purposes by Sigmund Freud in the 1880’s as a “cure” for depression. In 1886, an exciting new
Cutler Fisher
AMST 3950W
April 15, 2012
The term epidemic is typically used in relation to the spread of a disease however; in the mid 1980’s this term was attached to crack cocaine. The crack cocaine epidemic described the impact of a newly created drug on most U.S. cities in the northeast and Mid Atlantic. Washington, D.C. provided the perfect setting for crack cocaine to flourish. Plenty of low-income inner city housing projects complete with open air drug markets labeled D.C. as a leading U.S. city with a major crack cocaine problem. As crack cocaine became a national talking point the federal government stepped in to curb its use. Congress along with other sections of the federal government pushed for a tough approach to crack cocaine. The crack cocaine “epidemic” in Washington, D.C. coincided with President’s Regan’s “War on Drugs”. The creation of a new cabinet position; “Drug Czar” coupled with extremely harsh penalties directed for use and distribution of crack cocaine characterized the War on Drugs. One of the most controversial new penalties was the disproportionate sentence for crack cocaine compared to powder cocaine. All wars have casualties and the unfair and harsh sentences for crack cocaine created by the federal government greatly impacted the D.C. area through a backlash of increased violence. Also, both Federal and local D.C. enforcement strategies such as undercover stings made Washington D.C. volatile. Violence and crack became synonymous.
Crack cocaine was on the heels of the popularity of cocaine, an illegal powder-like substance, that as a stimulant is snorted to produce a euphoric feeling or high. Cocaine hails from the high mountainous regions of South America from the leaves of the coco plant. In the United States cocaine was initially used for medicinal purposes by Sigmund Freud in the 1880’s as a “cure” for depression. In 1886, an exciting new
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