expository essay about war on drugs

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The War on Drugs, Essay Example

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The “Drug War” should be waged even more vigorously and is a valid policy; government should tell adults what they can or cannot ingest. This paper argues for the position that the United States government should ramp up its efforts to fight the war on drugs.  Drug trafficking adversely affects the nation’s economy, and increases crime.  The increase in crime necessitates a need for more boots on the ground in preventing illegal drugs from entering this country.  Both police and border patrol agents are on the frontline on the battle against the war on drugs.  The war on drugs is a valid policy because it is the government’s responsibility to protect its citizens.  Citizens who are addicted to drugs are less likely to contribute to society in an economic manner, and many end up on government assistance programs and engage in crimes.

Introduction

This paper argues that The War on Drugs is a valid policy, and that government has a right, perhaps even a duty to protect citizens from hurting themselves and others.  Fighting drug use is an integral part of the criminal justice system.  Special taskforces have been created to combat the influx of illegal drugs into the United States. The cost of paying police and border control agents is just the beginning of the equation.  Obviously, the detriment to the US economy is tremendous.  But the emotional stress on the friends and family of the drug user represent the human cost of illegal drugs.  Families are literally torn apart by this phenomen.

(1). The cost of police resources to fight the drug war is exorbitant, but necessary .  In order for a war against drugs to be successful, federal, local and state authorities must make sure that there a plenty of drug enforcement officers to make the appropriate arrests.  This means that drug enforcement officers must be provided with the latest equipment, including technology to detect illegal drugs (Benson).  The cost of providing all the necessary equipment to border patrol agents and the policemen and policemen on the frontlines is well justified.  It is necessary to have a budget that will ensure that drug enforcers have everything they need to combat illegal drugs at their disposal.

(2). The government has the responsibility to protect its citizens.   If a substance is illegal, it should be hunted down by law enforcement authorities and destroyed.  The drug user is a victim of society who needs help turning his or her life around.  Without a proper drug policy in effect, the drug user will continue to purchase drugs without the fear of criminal punishment.  That is why the drug war is appropriate.  The government has a right to tell citizens what it cannot ingest, particularly substances that when ingested can cause severe harm to the individual.  This harm may take on the form of addiction.  Once a person is addicted to drugs, the government has treatment programs to help him or her get off drugs.  The economic cost of preventing illegal drugs from getting into the wrong hands, and the cost of drug treatment is worth the financial resources expended because people who are not addicted to drugs are more involved in society and in life in general (Belenko).

(3). Anti-drug policies tend to make citizens act responsibly .  Adult drug users must understand that what they are doing is negatively impacting society.  Purchasing illegal drugs drains the nation’s economy.  These users have probably been in and out of drug rehabilitation programs many times with little to no success.  These drug programs are run by either the federal, state, or local governments (Lynch).   Each failed incident of a patient going back to the world of drugs costs the taxpayers money.  Once the drug user is totally rehabbed, he or she will realize the drag that he or she has been on society.  Therefore, the drug treatment centers are a way to teach adults how to be more responsible.

(4). Drug regulation in the United States has an effect on the international community.  America’s image to the rest of the world is at stake.  If America cannot control its borders, rogue leaders of other countries will think that America is soft on drugs.  This in turn makes America’s leaders look weak (Daemmrich).  Border patrol agents on the United States-Mexican border represent the best that America has to offer in preventing illegal drugs from entering the United States.  It is imperative that part of the drug policy of the United States provides enough financial resources for the agents to do their job.  The international community must see a strong front from the United States against illegal drugs.  Anything less is a sign of weakness in the eyes of international leaders, including our allies.

(5). Women are disproportionately affected by illegal drug use and therefore neglect their children.   As emotional beings, women have to contend with many issues that evade men (Gaskins).  The woman’s primary responsibility is to her children.  If a woman is a drug user, her children will be neglected.  Most of the children end up becoming wards of the state.  Having to cloth and feed children places a major burden on organizations that take these children of addicts in.  A drug addict cannot take care of herself, and she certainly cannot take care of her children.  Both the woman and her children will become dependent on the government for food and shelter.  This person is not a productive member of society.  Increased prison sentences may seem harsh for women with children, but these sentences may serve as deterrence from using drugs.

(6 ). If students know that the criminal penalty is severe, it may serve as a deterrent to drug related crimes.   Educating students, while they are still in school about the harmful effects and consequences of using drugs is imperative in fighting the drug war.  However, many students may tune out the normal talk about how drugs affect them physically.  The key to effectively making the point to students that illegal drug use is wrong is to present them with the consequences of having a felony drug conviction on their record (Reynolds). In fact, having a criminal record is bad enough without the felony drug conviction.  Students should know that such a record can prevent them from obtaining employment in the future.  It should be stressed that many companies will not hire anyone with a criminal record, especially if the conviction was related to illegal drugs.  The threat of extensive incarceration should also deter students from using illegal drugs or participating in drug related activities.

(7). Parents who use drugs in front of their children are bad influences and contribute to the delinquency of the minor.    Children are extremely impressionable, and starting to use drugs at a young age can be devastating to their future.  The government fights the drug war to protect law abiding citizens, and to punish criminals.  People who use illicit drugs are criminals, and parents who influence their children by introducing and approving of their drug use need to suffer severe penalties under the law (Lynch).  It is more than likely that the parents that use drugs have been incarcerated at one time or the other.  This incarceration may be drug related.  Children see their parents go in and out of jail, so that becomes their “normal.” Thus you have generational incarcerations which are an expense to prison sector and taxpayers.  The government is right in ramping up the penalties on drug use in front of children.

(8). People who use drugs are likely to drive under the influence which has all sorts of possible negative outcomes. There are so many consequences resulting from illegal drug use that they are too numerous to list.  One of the “unspoken” consequences is driving under the influence.  The entire population has made a concerted effort to curtail drinking and driving, and the deaths from alcohol related traffic accidents gave gone down significantly since strict laws have been put in place.  The government needs to find a way to crack down on drivers who are under the influence of illegal drugs (Belenko).  Drivers must be clear headed and focused to driver responsibly.  The government should get harsher, and find a way to test (as in the breathalyzer for alcohol) for marijuana.  The government has been successful in keeping the number of drunken drivers down.  However, many drivers are still legally able to pass a breathalyzer test if they are smoking marijuana, or using other drugs.  Accidents can still happen regardless of what drug the driver is under the influence of.  The government must find a way to crack down on these drivers who think that they are beating the system.

If the United States wants to get serious on the war on drugs, it should wage the war more vigorously.  Although the war on drugs is a valid policy, it needs to receive more attention and financial resources from the Federal government.  Preventing illegal drugs from crossing our borders is costly, but highly effective if there are plenty of border patrol agents on the United States-Mexican border.  This is the main avenue by which illegal drugs make it into the United States.  The argument that the government has the right to tell citizens what they can ingest is correct.  This is because it is the government’s responsibility to protect its citizens.  Keeping people off of drugs makes for productive citizens who contribute to building a drug free society.

Works Cited

Belenko, Steven R., ed. Drugs and Drug Policy in America: A Documentary History. Westport, CT: Greenwood, 2000. Questia. Web. 2 Nov. 2012.

Benson, Bruce L., Ian Sebastian Leburn, and David W. Rasmussen. “The Impact of Drug Enforcement on Crime: An Investigation of the Opportunity Cost of Police Resources.” Journal of Drug Issues 31.4 (2001): 989+. Questia. Web. 2 Nov. 2012.

Daemmrich, Arthur A. Pharmacopolitics: Drug Regulation in the United States and Germany. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina, 2004. Questia. Web. 2 Nov. 2012.

Gaskins, Shimica. “”Women of Circumstance”-The Effects of Mandatory Minimum Sentencing on Women Minimally Involved in Drug Crimes.” American Criminal Law Review 41.4 (2004): 1533+. Questia. Web. 2 Nov. 2012.

Lynch, Timothy, ed. After Prohibition: An Adult Approach to Drug Policies in the 21st Century. Washington, DC: Cato Institute, 2000. Questia. Web. 2 Nov. 2012.

Reynolds, Marylee. “Educating Students about the War on Drugs: Criminal and Civil Consequences of a Felony Drug Conviction.” Women’s Studies Quarterly 32.3/4 (2004): 246+. Questia. Web. 2 Nov. 2012.

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The War On Drugs: 50 Years Later

After 50 years of the war on drugs, 'what good is it doing for us'.

During the War on Drugs, the Brownsville neighborhood in New York City saw some of the highest rates of incarceration in the U.S., as Black and Hispanic men were sent to prison for lengthy prison sentences, often for low-level, nonviolent drug crimes. Spencer Platt/Getty Images hide caption

During the War on Drugs, the Brownsville neighborhood in New York City saw some of the highest rates of incarceration in the U.S., as Black and Hispanic men were sent to prison for lengthy prison sentences, often for low-level, nonviolent drug crimes.

When Aaron Hinton walked through the housing project in Brownsville on a recent summer afternoon, he voiced love and pride for this tightknit, but troubled working-class neighborhood in New York City where he grew up.

He pointed to a community garden, the lush plots of vegetables and flowers tended by volunteers, and to the library where he has led after-school programs for kids.

But he also expressed deep rage and sorrow over the scars left by the nation's 50-year-long War on Drugs. "What good is it doing for us?" Hinton asked.

Revisiting Two Cities At The Front Line Of The War On Drugs

Critics Say Chauvin Defense 'Weaponized' Stigma For Black Americans With Addiction

As the United States' harsh approach to drug use and addiction hits the half-century milestone, this question is being asked by a growing number of lawmakers, public health experts and community leaders.

In many parts of the U.S., some of the most severe policies implemented during the drug war are being scaled back or scrapped altogether.

Hinton, a 37-year-old community organizer and activist, said the reckoning is long overdue. He described watching Black men like himself get caught up in drugs year after year and swept into the nation's burgeoning prison system.

"They're spending so much money on these prisons to keep kids locked up," Hinton said, shaking his head. "They don't even spend a fraction of that money sending them to college or some kind of school."

Aaron Hinton, a 37-year-old veteran activist and community organizer, said it's clear Brownsville needed help coping with the cocaine, heroin and other drug-related crime that took root here in the 1970s and 1980s. His own family was devastated by addiction. Brian Mann hide caption

Aaron Hinton, a 37-year-old veteran activist and community organizer, said it's clear Brownsville needed help coping with the cocaine, heroin and other drug-related crime that took root here in the 1970s and 1980s. His own family was devastated by addiction.

Hinton has lived his whole life under the drug war. He said Brownsville needed help coping with cocaine, heroin and drug-related crime that took root here in the 1970s and 1980s.

His own family was scarred by addiction.

"I've known my mom to be a drug user my whole entire life," Hinton said. "She chose to run the streets and left me with my great-grandmother."

Four years ago, his mom overdosed and died after taking prescription painkillers, part of the opioid epidemic that has killed hundreds of thousands of Americans.

Hinton said her death sealed his belief that tough drug war policies and aggressive police tactics would never make his family or his community safer.

The nation pivots (slowly) as evidence mounts against the drug war

During months of interviews for this project, NPR found a growing consensus across the political spectrum — including among some in law enforcement — that the drug war simply didn't work.

"We have been involved in the failed War on Drugs for so very long," said retired Maj. Neill Franklin, a veteran with the Baltimore City Police and the Maryland State Police who led drug task forces for years.

He now believes the response to drugs should be handled by doctors and therapists, not cops and prison guards. "It does not belong in our wheelhouse," Franklin said during a press conference this week.

Aaron Hinton has lived his whole life under the drug war. He has watched many Black men like himself get caught up in drugs year after year, swept into the nation's criminal justice system. Brian Mann/NPR hide caption

Aaron Hinton has lived his whole life under the drug war. He has watched many Black men like himself get caught up in drugs year after year, swept into the nation's criminal justice system.

Some prosecutors have also condemned the drug war model, describing it as ineffective and racially biased.

"Over the last 50 years, we've unfortunately seen the 'War on Drugs' be used as an excuse to declare war on people of color, on poor Americans and so many other marginalized groups," said New York Attorney General Letitia James in a statement sent to NPR.

On Tuesday, two House Democrats introduced legislation that would decriminalize all drugs in the U.S., shifting the national response to a public health model. The measure appears to have zero chance of passage.

But in much of the country, disillusionment with the drug war has already led to repeal of some of the most punitive policies, including mandatory lengthy prison sentences for nonviolent drug users.

In recent years, voters and politicians in 17 states — including red-leaning Alaska and Montana — and the District of Columbia have backed the legalization of recreational marijuana , the most popular illicit drug, a trend that once seemed impossible.

Last November, Oregon became the first state to decriminalize small quantities of all drugs , including heroin and methamphetamines.

Many critics say the course correction is too modest and too slow.

"The war on drugs was an absolute miscalculation of human behavior," said Kassandra Frederique, who heads the Drug Policy Alliance, a national group that advocates for total drug decriminalization.

She said the criminal justice model failed to address the underlying need for jobs, health care and safe housing that spur addiction.

Indeed, much of the drug war's architecture remains intact. Federal spending on drugs — much of it devoted to interdiction — is expected to top $37 billion this year.

The Coronavirus Crisis

Drug overdose deaths spiked to 88,000 during the pandemic, white house says.

The U.S. still incarcerates more people than any other nation, with nearly half of the inmates in federal prison held on drug charges .

But the nation has seen a significant decline in state and federal inmate populations, down by a quarter from the peak of 1.6 million in 2009 to roughly 1.2 million last year .

There has also been substantial growth in public funding for health care and treatment for people who use drugs, due in large part to passage of the Affordable Care Act .

"The best outcomes come when you treat the substance use disorder [as a medical condition] as opposed to criminalizing that person and putting them in jail or prison," said Dr. Nora Volkow, who has been head of the National Institute of Drug Abuse since 2003.

Volkow said data shows clearly that the decision half a century ago to punish Americans who struggle with addiction was "devastating ... not just to them but actually to their families."

From a bipartisan War on Drugs to Black Lives Matter

Wounds left by the drug war go far beyond the roughly 20.3 million people who have a substance use disorder .

The campaign — which by some estimates cost more than $1 trillion — also exacerbated racial divisions and infringed on civil liberties in ways that transformed American society.

Frederique, with the Drug Policy Alliance, said the Black Lives Matter movement was inspired in part by cases that revealed a dangerous attitude toward drugs among police.

In Derek Chauvin's murder trial, the former officer's defense claimed aggressive police tactics were justified because of small amounts of fentanyl in George Floyd's body. Critics described the argument as an attempt to "weaponize" Floyd's substance use disorder and jurors found Chauvin guilty.

Breonna Taylor, meanwhile, was shot and killed by police in her home during a drug raid . She wasn't a suspect in the case.

"We need to end the drug war not just for our loved ones that are struggling with addiction, but we need to remove the excuse that that is why law enforcement gets to invade our space ... or kill us," Frederique said.

The United States has waged aggressive campaigns against substance use before, most notably during alcohol Prohibition in the 1920s and 1930s.

The modern drug war began with a symbolic address to the nation by President Richard Nixon on June 17, 1971.

Speaking from the White House, Nixon declared the federal government would now treat drug addiction as "public enemy No. 1," suggesting substance use might be vanquished once and for all.

"In order to fight and defeat this enemy," Nixon said, "it is necessary to wage a new all-out offensive."

President Richard Nixon's speech on June 17, 1971, marked the symbolic start of the modern drug war. In the decades that followed Democrats and Republicans embraced ever-tougher laws penalizing people with addiction.

Studies show from the outset drug laws were implemented with a stark racial bias , leading to unprecedented levels of mass incarceration for Black and brown men .

As recently as 2018, Black men were nearly six times more likely than white men to be locked up in state or federal correctional facilities, according to the U.S. Justice Department .

Researchers have long concluded the pattern has far-reaching impacts on Black families, making it harder to find employment and housing, while also preventing many people of color with drug records from voting .

In a 1994 interview published in Harper's Magazine , Nixon adviser John Ehrlichman suggested racial animus was among the motives shaping the drug war.

"We knew we couldn't make it illegal to be either against the [Vietnam] War or Black," Ehrlichman said. "But by getting the public to associate the hippies with marijuana and Blacks with heroin, and then criminalizing both heavily, we could disrupt those communities."

Despite those concerns, Democrats and Republicans partnered on the drug war decade after decade, approving ever-more-severe laws, creating new state and federal bureaucracies to interdict drugs, and funding new armies of police and federal agents.

At times, the fight on America's streets resembled an actual war, especially in poor communities and communities of color.

Police units carried out drug raids with military-style hardware that included body armor, assault weapons and tanks equipped with battering rams.

President Richard Nixon explaining aspects of the special message sent to the Congress on June 17, 1971, asking for an extra $155 million for a new program to combat the use of drugs. He labeled drug abuse "a national emergency." Harvey Georges/AP hide caption

President Richard Nixon explaining aspects of the special message sent to the Congress on June 17, 1971, asking for an extra $155 million for a new program to combat the use of drugs. He labeled drug abuse "a national emergency."

"What we need is another D-Day, not another Vietnam, not another limited war fought on the cheap," declared then-Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., in 1989.

Biden, who chaired the influential Senate Judiciary Committee, later co-authored the controversial 1994 crime bill that helped fund a vast new complex of state and federal prisons, which remains the largest in the world.

On the campaign trail in 2020, Biden stopped short of repudiating his past drug policy ideas but said he now believes no American should be incarcerated for addiction. He also endorsed national decriminalization of marijuana.

While few policy experts believe the drug war will come to a conclusive end any time soon, the end of bipartisan backing for punitive drug laws is a significant development.

More drugs bring more deaths and more doubts

Adding to pressure for change is the fact that despite a half-century of interdiction, America's streets are flooded with more potent and dangerous drugs than ever before — primarily methamphetamines and the synthetic opioid fentanyl.

"Back in the day, when we would see 5, 10 kilograms of meth, that would make you a hero if you made a seizure like that," said Matthew Donahue, the head of operations at the Drug Enforcement Administration.

As U.S. Corporations Face Reckoning Over Prescription Opioids, CEOs Keep Cashing In

"Now it's common for us to see 100-, 200- and 300-kilogram seizures of meth," he added. "It doesn't make a dent to the price."

Efforts to disrupt illegal drug supplies suffered yet another major blow last year after Mexican officials repudiated drug war tactics and began blocking most interdiction efforts south of the U.S.-Mexico border.

"It's a national health threat, it's a national safety threat," Donahue told NPR.

Last year, drug overdoses hit a devastating new record of 90,000 deaths , according to preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The drug war failed to stop the opioid epidemic

Critics say the effectiveness of the drug war model has been called into question for another reason: the nation's prescription opioid epidemic.

Beginning in the late 1990s, some of the nation's largest drug companies and pharmacy chains invested heavily in the opioid business.

State and federal regulators and law enforcement failed to intervene as communities were flooded with legally manufactured painkillers, including Oxycontin.

"They were utterly failing to take into account diversion," said West Virginia Republican Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, who sued the DEA for not curbing opioid production quotas sooner.

"It's as close to a criminal act as you can find," Morrisey said.

Courtney Hessler, a reporter for The (Huntington) Herald-Dispatch in West Virgina, has covered the opioid epidemic. As a child she wound up in foster care after her mother became addicted to opioids. "You know there's thousands of children that grew up the way that I did. These people want answers," Hessler told NPR. Brian Mann/NPR hide caption

Courtney Hessler, a reporter for The (Huntington) Herald-Dispatch in West Virgina, has covered the opioid epidemic. As a child she wound up in foster care after her mother became addicted to opioids. "You know there's thousands of children that grew up the way that I did. These people want answers," Hessler told NPR.

One of the epicenters of the prescription opioid epidemic was Huntington, a small city in West Virginia along the Ohio River hit hard by the loss of factory and coal jobs.

"It was pretty bad. Eighty-one million opioid pills over an eight-year period came into this area," said Courtney Hessler, a reporter with The (Huntington) Herald-Dispatch.

Public health officials say 1 in 10 residents in the area still battle addiction. Hessler herself wound up in foster care after her mother struggled with opioids.

In recent months, she has reported on a landmark opioid trial that will test who — if anyone — will be held accountable for drug policies that failed to keep families and communities safe.

"I think it's important. You know there's thousands of children that grew up the way that I did," Hessler said. "These people want answers."

A needle disposal box at the Cabell-Huntington Health Department sits in the front parking lot in 2019 in Huntington, W.Va. The city is experiencing a surge in HIV cases related to intravenous drug use following a recent opioid crisis in the state. Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post via Getty Images hide caption

A needle disposal box at the Cabell-Huntington Health Department sits in the front parking lot in 2019 in Huntington, W.Va. The city is experiencing a surge in HIV cases related to intravenous drug use following a recent opioid crisis in the state.

During dozens of interviews, community leaders told NPR that places like Huntington, W.Va., and Brownsville, N.Y., will recover from the drug war and rebuild.

They predicted many parts of the country will accelerate the shift toward a public health model for addiction: treating drug users more often like patients with a chronic illness and less often as criminals.

But ending wars is hard and stigma surrounding drug use, heightened by a half-century of punitive policies, remains deeply entrenched. Aaron Hinton, the activist in Brownsville, said it may take decades to unwind the harm done to his neighborhood.

"It's one step forward, two steps back," Hinton said. "But I remain hopeful. Why? Because what else am I going to do?"

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War on Drugs

By: History.com Editors

Updated: December 17, 2019 | Original: May 31, 2017

The War on Drugs is a phrase used to refer to a government-led initiative that aims to stop illegal drug use, distribution and trade by dramatically increasing prison sentences for both drug dealers and users. The movement started in the 1970s and is still evolving today. Over the years, people have had mixed reactions to the campaign, ranging from full-on support to claims that it has racist and political objectives.

The War on Drugs Begins

Drug use for medicinal and recreational purposes has been happening in the United States since the country’s inception. In the 1890s, the popular Sears and Roebuck catalogue included an offer for a syringe and small amount of cocaine for $1.50. (At that time, cocaine use had not yet been outlawed.)

In some states, laws to ban or regulate drugs were passed in the 1800s, and the first congressional act to levy taxes on morphine and opium took place in 1890.

The Smoking Opium Exclusion Act in 1909 banned the possession, importation and use of opium for smoking. However, opium could still be used as a medication. This was the first federal law to ban the non-medical use of a substance, although many states and counties had banned alcohol sales previously.

In 1914, Congress passed the Harrison Act, which regulated and taxed the production, importation, and distribution of opiates and cocaine.

Alcohol prohibition laws quickly followed. In 1919, the 18th Amendment was ratified, banning the manufacture, transportation or sale of intoxicating liquors, ushering in the Prohibition Era. The same year, Congress passed the National Prohibition Act (also known as the Volstead Act), which provided guidelines on how to federally enforce Prohibition.

Prohibition lasted until December, 1933, when the 21st Amendment was ratified, overturning the 18th.

Marijuana Tax Act of 1937

In 1937, the “Marihuana Tax Act” was passed. This federal law placed a tax on the sale of cannabis, hemp, or marijuana .

The Act was introduced by Rep. Robert L. Doughton of North Carolina and was drafted by Harry Anslinger. While the law didn’t criminalize the possession or use of marijuana, it included hefty penalties if taxes weren’t paid, including a fine of up to $2000 and five years in prison.

Controlled Substances Act

President Richard M. Nixon signed the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) into law in 1970. This statute calls for the regulation of certain drugs and substances.

The CSA outlines five “schedules” used to classify drugs based on their medical application and potential for abuse.

Schedule 1 drugs are considered the most dangerous, as they pose a very high risk for addiction with little evidence of medical benefits. Marijuana , LSD , heroin, MDMA (ecstasy) and other drugs are included on the list of Schedule 1 drugs.

The substances considered least likely to be addictive, such as cough medications with small amounts of codeine, fall into the Schedule 5 category.

Nixon and the War on Drugs

In June 1971, Nixon officially declared a “War on Drugs,” stating that drug abuse was “public enemy number one.”

A rise in recreational drug use in the 1960s likely led to President Nixon’s focus on targeting some types of substance abuse. As part of the War on Drugs initiative, Nixon increased federal funding for drug-control agencies and proposed strict measures, such as mandatory prison sentencing, for drug crimes. He also announced the creation of the Special Action Office for Drug Abuse Prevention (SAODAP), which was headed by Dr. Jerome Jaffe.

Nixon went on to create the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in 1973. This agency is a special police force committed to targeting illegal drug use and smuggling in the United States. 

At the start, the DEA was given 1,470 special agents and a budget of less than $75 million. Today, the agency has nearly 5,000 agents and a budget of $2.03 billion.

Ulterior Motives Behind War on Drugs?

During a 1994 interview, President Nixon’s domestic policy chief, John Ehrlichman, provided inside information suggesting that the War on Drugs campaign had ulterior motives, which mainly involved helping Nixon keep his job.

In the interview, conducted by journalist Dan Baum and published in Harper magazine, Ehrlichman explained that the Nixon campaign had two enemies: “the antiwar left and black people.” His comments led many to question Nixon’s intentions in advocating for drug reform and whether racism played a role.

Ehrlichman was quoted as saying: “We knew we couldn’t make it illegal to be either against the war or black, but by getting the public to associate the hippies with marijuana and blacks with heroin, and then criminalizing both heavily, we could disrupt those communities. We could arrest their leaders, raid their homes, break up their meetings, and vilify them night after night on the evening news. Did we know we were lying about the drugs? Of course, we did.”

The 1970s and The War on Drugs

In the mid-1970s, the War on Drugs took a slight hiatus. Between 1973 and 1977, eleven states decriminalized marijuana possession.

Jimmy Carter became president in 1977 after running on a political campaign to decriminalize marijuana. During his first year in office, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to decriminalize up to one ounce of marijuana.

Say No to Drugs

In the 1980s, President Ronald Reagan reinforced and expanded many of Nixon’s War on Drugs policies. In 1984, his wife Nancy Reagan launched the “ Just Say No ” campaign, which was intended to highlight the dangers of drug use.

President Reagan’s refocus on drugs and the passing of severe penalties for drug-related crimes in Congress and state legislatures led to a massive increase in incarcerations for nonviolent drug crimes. 

In 1986, Congress passed the Anti-Drug Abuse Act, which established mandatory minimum prison sentences for certain drug offenses. This law was later heavily criticized as having racist ramifications because it allocated longer prison sentences for offenses involving the same amount of crack cocaine (used more often by black Americans) as powder cocaine (used more often by white Americans). Five grams of crack triggered an automatic five-year sentence, while it took 500 grams of powder cocaine to merit the same sentence.

Critics also pointed to data showing that people of color were targeted and arrested on suspicion of drug use at higher rates than whites. Overall, the policies led to a rapid rise in incarcerations for nonviolent drug offenses, from 50,000 in 1980 to 400,000 in 1997. In 2014, nearly half of the 186,000 people serving time in federal prisons in the United States had been incarcerated on drug-related charges, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

A Gradual Dialing Back

Public support for the war on drugs has waned in recent decades. Some Americans and policymakers feel the campaign has been ineffective or has led to racial divide. Between 2009 and 2013, some 40 states took steps to soften their drug laws, lowering penalties and shortening mandatory minimum sentences, according to the Pew Research Center .

In 2010, Congress passed the Fair Sentencing Act (FSA), which reduced the discrepancy between crack and powder cocaine offenses from 100:1 to 18:1.

The recent legalization of marijuana in several states and the District of Columbia has also led to a more tolerant political view on recreational drug use.

Technically, the War on Drugs is still being fought, but with less intensity and publicity than in its early years.

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Positive Results of the War on Drugs Essay

The War on Drugs, over the course of its forty-year history, has gained widespread notoriety and sparked fierce criticism, with many going as far as to claim that this policy was a complete failure. Given the complex nature of the illicit drug trade phenomenon, this simplification and reduction of a project of such scale to a definite verdict is quite surprising. The present section argues that the War on Drugs yielded some significant results in the United States, mainly thanks to the country’s advantageous geographic position, in terms of reducing both production and consumption of drugs through price increases and public perception changes.

War on Drugs, in essence, is a public policy that extended beyond the United States borders as to eradicate production in the drugs’ countries of origin. Just like any other public policy, it has been often viewed in comparison with other countries with successful or failing drug policies, for instance, Portugal and the Netherlands. However, this approach is fundamentally flawed as it fails to take into account the unique geographic position of the United States which borders only on two countries: Canada and Mexico. The ever strict Transportation Security Administration’s regulations, especially in the aftermath of 9/11, make import of drugs by air nearly impossible.

Therefore, ground transportation through Mexico is the main import channel, with as much as 90% of cocaine coming from Mexico alone (“US Claims Success” par. 6). When enforcement efforts concern only two countries, the task becomes unprecedentedly manageable, especially since the Mexican authorities have been highly supportively of the US drug eradication program (“US Claims Success” par. 10-11). The United States government is also able to concentrate all of its efforts on the southern border, bringing the necessary “personnel, infrastructure and technology” to it and doubling the size of the US Border Patrol since 2009 (Kerlikowske par. 1). This strategy allows the US to curb drug trafficking in the country.

The second important achievement of the War on Drugs is that it forces drug cartels to reduce or even stop their production or, at the very least, it disintegrates them into smaller groups. Up until the 1980s, the southern Andean countries Peru and Bolivia were the major producers of cocaine, responsible for 65% and 25% of the total supply, respectively. Thanks to the US-funded crop eradication project in these two countries, supported by the local governments, cocaine production largely shifted to Colombia in the second half of the 1990s (Bagley 3).

While many have argued that this victory was insignificant as it merely chased drug cultivators to a different region, battling the problem of cocaine in Colombia presented an easier task. According to David Murray, the former chief scientist of the Office of National Drug Policy Control (NDPC), supply reduction programs combined with the efforts of local citizens yielded a 75% decrease in Colombia’s “productive capacity” (“Has the War on Drugs Been Lost?” par. 24). The program also dismantled two of Colombia’s largest drug cartels, and 300 smaller “cartelitos” appeared to take advantage of this drug trafficking opportunity (Bagley 4). This is significant because smaller organizations lack the resources and networks to engage successfully in the international drug trade.

The changing dynamics of cocaine cultivation and production resulting in supply shortages had an impact on the use of the drug in the United States. Cocaine became far less affordable – and consequently, far less attractive – to American citizens, with the nationwide average price going up by 24%, and almost doubling in some places (“US Claims Success” par. 9). According to John Walters, the head of the Office of NDPC, this change affected at least 37 major American cities (“US Claims Success” par. 2).

Thus, even though the War on Drugs primarily uses the supply-side approach, meaning that it targets production rather than consumption, its successful implementation also results in decreasing use of drugs, as buyers are highly sensitive to their price. As costs incurred by drug suppliers increase, they have no other choice but to drive the street price up, as well, thus reducing the prevalence of cocaine in the society (Kindle 66).

With supply going down and prices going up, the War on Drugs yielded some favorable consequences as far as drug consumption is concerned. Even though the overall illicit drug use has been slowly rising, this upward trend is explained by the increased consumption of such substances as marijuana and pain relievers – both obviously undesirable but nevertheless not as detrimental to human health. Far more important is that the policy succeeded to reduce the use of such dangerous drugs as methamphetamine and cocaine, including crack cocaine (Kerlikowske par. 2).

This decline in consumption brought about some visible social benefits, as fewer Americans had positive drug test results and the number of “cocaine-related hospital admissions” also went down (“US Claims Success” par. 14). David Murray estimates the decline in the cocaine consumption rate to be as high as 45% – meaning that the drug’s prevalence was cut nearly in half (“Has the War on Drugs Been Lost?” par. 25). A more relevant question is thus not whether the policy brings about positive results but rather how to successfully sustain these results over a longer term, which is the main challenge that the government is facing (“US Claims Success” par. 4, 15).

Finally, a less material and thus a more difficult to quantify result of the War on Drugs was the change in public opinion and attitudes, including the changing perception about the US drug trade by the drug dealers themselves. According to David Murray, drug cartels favor “ungoverned safe havens where they would like to be to carry out their business with maximum efficiency” (“Has the War on Drugs Been Lost?” par. 26). Obviously, this is a highly reasonable strategy, and the key to fighting it is letting the offenders know that the US soil is not one of those safe havens. This is precisely what the zero-tolerance policy aimed to achieve.

As Peter Reuter, professor of public policy at the University of Maryland, put it: “the war on drugs was partly defined by its rhetoric” where the government sent a clear “signal to the population that [being tough on drugs] was a priority” (“US Claims Success” par. 34-35).

Thus, the prohibitionist strategy yields the most effective results in limiting “prevalence and harmfulness” of illicit drugs (Kindle 69). Like any other policy, it has its drawbacks and shortfalls, which merely means that the policy needs to be revisited and reevaluated occasionally, so it can be expanded and supplemented with new or improved strategies. The next section will now provide an overview of the arguments that are frequently cited against the War on Drugs and its consequences.

Works Cited

Bagley, Bruce. Drug Trafficking and Organized Crimes in the Americas: Major Trends in the Twenty-First Century. 2012. Web.

“Has the War on Drugs Been Lost?” BBC News . 2015: n. pag. Web.

Kerlikowske, Gil. “Successfully Fighting the War on Drugs.” The Washington Post . 2012: n. pag. Web.

Kindle, Peter A. “Is the War on Drugs Effective? Yes.” Controversial Issues in Social Policy. Ed. Howard Jacob Karger. Boston: Pearson, 2007. 64-69. Print.

“US Claims Success in War on Drugs.” BBC News . 2007: n. pag. Web.

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Good Example Of Essay On Expository On Mexicos War On Drugs

Type of paper: Essay

Topic: Government , Commerce , Social Issues , Trade , Politics , Drugs , Crime , Mexico

Words: 1300

Published: 03/03/2020

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This paper analyzes the current situation in the fifty year war on drugs that has raged within Mexican boarders because of US policy towards drug trafficking. Mexico is not a production center of drugs, but a transit point from Colombian cocaine to reach an illegal US drug demand. As much as ninety percent of all cocaine that ends up in the US is trafficked through Mexico. Since Pablo Escobar began the first one, the drug trade in Mexico has been controlled by powerful entities known as cartels. This, mixed with lack of opportunity and poverty in Mexico, has led to a destabilization of security throughout the country. While there are a number of solutions on the table, even many of these are contradictory. During the last 50 years Mexico, due to pressure from the United States, has been in a war with the motive of stopping the illegal transport of cocaine from South America into the US. The death toll from this war has been significant, with not just drug traffickers, but also innocent Mexican civilians suffering from the war. It is a war where while all parties believe that a change must occur, there are various theories as to how that change can occur. Traffickers in Mexico are known as narcotrafficante, or the more abbreviated version, narco. Both of these terms refer drug smugglers within the country that are overseeing operations, and those from other countries who are either crossing border with drugs, or receiving them. Mexicans from all walks of life are familiar with these terms since the effects of narcotrafficking affects their everyday life. Though estimates vary, the figure of annual revenues that comes to Mexico from the drug trade is set at between fourteen and fifty billion dollars (Longmire, 2011). According to the US State Department, as much as ninety percent of all cocaine that comes to the US through Colombia comes through drug routes in Mexico. All of the revenues from cocaine goes to enable the narcos with vast financial means. This allows them to be powerful, militant entities and leads to corruption, crime, and what is known as parallel power structures. In any country, the most powerful entity of the country is the government. But one groups other than the government, non-elected groups, obtains political power that rivals the legitimate government, these are known as parallel power structures. Many in Mexico believe that the narco traffickers are parallel power structures that rival the power of the states (BBC News, 2008). The current President of Mexico, Enrique Piñera Nieto, was elected because many citizens thought that he would bring about a better way of handling an issue that is currently out of control. Drug trafficking was one of the most important issues of the campaign. This is not just a current issue in Mexico, but one that has a far reach into the history and geographical location of the country. Because Mexico is just south of the US, the country that consumes more cocaine per capita than any other country in the world, it makes sense that these problems would erupt in Mexico, which stands geographically between the US and Mexico (Vulliamy, 2011). Also, Mexico already has long established trafficking routes that immigrants have used to get illicit products and other contraband across the border. These routes go back far into the history of the relations between the countries. During the time that alcohol was illegal in the US, Mexico smuggled more alcohol into the US than any other country. As a drug cultured emerged in the US during the 1960s, drug trafficking began to reach the scale that we see between the countries today (Vulliamy, 2011). Historically the most prominent figure in the Mexican drug trafficking trade is a Colombian named Pablo Escobar, who is often called the father of the drug trade. (DEA History, 2011). Connecting the supply of drugs in his power in Colombia between the US, he set up the first cartels in Mexico. During the eighties and the nineties he was the kingpin of the illegal trade, and managed the production operations in Colombia and the transport routes in Mexico. Before his time, these drug routes were generally operated between the Colombia and the US via South Florida and the Caribbean. As cracking down in those areas increased, Escobar shifted the trade to through Mexico, many of which still exist today.

With time Escobar’s cartel split into various factions which formalized into the large entities that exist today.

New York Times has said that there, there is currently a power vacuum that exists since the breakup of a single cartel and so today many cartels not only fight the Mexican government in their efforts to shut them down, but also fight amongst each other (Buscalgia, 2013). Since after fifty years, neither Mexico nor the US can claim much victory in the wars on drugs, other options have emerged as solutions. One is being furthered by Otto Perez, the president of Guatemala who is open to looking at all options, including across the board legalization of all drugs, which will leave the problems in the US which consumes the drugs that go through Mexico (Buscalgia, 2013). The New York Times points out that while organized crime is the problem, Mexico is a unique case when it comes to the violence that results from the organized crime that runs the drug trade. He writes that other places such as China and Russia have organized crime elements that are even more powerful than Mexico with vastly lower body counts. The heart of Mexico’s problem Buscalgia believes is the rife poverty and lack of opportunities for everyday Mexicans. Plenty of disenfranchised youth see drugs as their only way out of the poverty traps that they were born into. While China and Russia are not necessarily model countries for educational opportunities, Mexico by comparison invests much less to the GDP. Mexico also has a powerful teacher union which often is an obstacle to reforms that aim to target the unequal distribution of education resources. As the World Economic Forum has it, Mexico does put a significant part of its GDP in education. In 2009 they spent 5.3% of their GDP in education. However, the same report also shows that plenty of people still receive subpar education partly because Mexico has a powerful teachers union that blocks needed reforms which democracy through the elimination would allow for an equitable distribution of educational opportunities (Longmire, 2011). The criminal justice system prevents the government from taking necessary action due to it being filled with corruption. Buscalgia believes that nothing will help the countries security without the country first completing a “transition to democracy through the elimination of state power vacuums and the establishment of the rule of law” (Buscalgia, 2011). As this essay indicates, the problem of the drug trafficking in Mexico is a complicated one. It involves multiple countries and historical and geographical realities. Poverty, and a weak government, and a strong parallel power structure of narco traffickers compound the issue. The solutions proposed are sometimes contradictory. Some believe there is more military might is needed. Others believe that legalization needs to solve it. It is an issue though that will continue to affect the Mexican government, it’s people, and most notably the border states in the US in which elements of the conflict have crossed over.

Analysis: Mexico’s drug wars continue. BBC News. 2002-03-12. Buscalgia, Edgardo. Mexico’s Deadly Power Vacuum. The New York Time. Mary, 30 2013 “History of DEA Opperations” DEA History. US DEA. Retrieved 2008-09-21. http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/pubs/history/history_part2.pdf Longmire, Sylvia Cartel: The Coming Invasion of Mexico's Drug Wars. Macmillan. pp. 103–104. 2011. “

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Expository Essay on Drug Abuse 100, 150, 200, 300, 350 & 500 Words

Table of Contents

Expository Essay on Drug Abuse 100 words

Drug abuse is a critical issue that affects not only individuals but also society as a whole. In this expository essay, we will explore the root causes, effects, and potential solutions to drug abuse. Firstly, peer pressure, stress, and a need for escape are common factors that contribute to drug abuse. Secondly, the negative effects of drug abuse can manifest in various forms, including health problems, strained relationships, and financial instability. Lastly, addressing the issue requires a multifaceted approach, involving education, awareness campaigns, and support systems. By understanding the causes and consequences of drug abuse, we can develop strategies to prevent and combat this pervasive problem.

Expository Essay on Drug Abuse 150 words

Drug abuse is a serious societal issue that affects individuals from all walks of life. This essay aims to explain the causes and consequences of drug abuse in an expository manner.

First and foremost, drug abuse can be attributed to various factors. One of the primary causes is peer pressure, as individuals may succumb to the influence of their friends and seek solace in drugs. Additionally, some individuals turn to drugs as a means of escapism, trying to cope with emotional or psychological pain. Another contributing factor is the availability and accessibility of drugs, making it easier for people to engage in substance abuse.

The consequences of drug abuse are myriad and life-altering. Physically, drug abuse can lead to deteriorating health issues and even death. Furthermore, it often leads to strained relationships with family and friends. Drug addiction also has severe psychological effects, causing individuals to become isolated and trapped in a cycle of dependency. Additionally, drug abuse contributes to a rise in criminal activities, as individuals resort to illegal means to sustain their addiction.

Expository Essay on Drug Abuse 200 words

Drug abuse is a pervasive issue that affects individuals and communities worldwide. This expository essay aims to analyze the problem of drug abuse and provide factual information on its causes, consequences, and potential solutions.

To begin, it is important to understand the factors that contribute to drug abuse. Peer pressure, stress, and a lack of awareness about the dangers of drugs are common reasons for individuals to become involved in substance abuse. Furthermore, genetic, environmental, and psychological factors can also play a role in the development of drug addiction.

The consequences of drug abuse are far-reaching and devastating. Physically, drugs can harm vital organs, impair cognitive functioning, and even lead to death. Socioeconomically, drug abuse can strain relationships, hinder educational and professional opportunities, and burden healthcare systems. It can also contribute to crime rates and public safety concerns.

Addressing drug abuse requires a multifaceted approach. Prevention initiatives should focus on education about the risks associated with drug use, as well as promoting healthy coping mechanisms and positive peer influences. Additionally, accessible and effective treatment programs and support networks must be provided to individuals struggling with drug addiction.

In conclusion, drug abuse is a complex issue that poses serious threats to individuals and society as a whole. By understanding its causes and consequences, as well as implementing preventative and treatment measures, we can work towards a future free from the clutches of substance abuse.

Expository Essay on Drug Abuse 300 words

Drug abuse is a major global issue affecting individuals from all walks of life. It refers to the excessive and harmful use of substances such as alcohol, prescription drugs, and illegal drugs. This expository essay aims to shed light on the causes, effects, and potential solutions to drug abuse.

One of the primary causes of drug abuse is peer pressure. Many individuals succumb to the influence of their peers, wanting to fit in or to be seen as cool. This often leads to experimentation with drugs, which can quickly escalate to addiction. Additionally, stress and trauma can also drive people towards drugs as a means of escape.

The effects of drug abuse are wide-ranging and devastating. Physically, drug abuse can lead to health problems such as heart disease, liver damage, and even death due to an overdose. Psychologically, drug abuse can cause severe mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and psychosis. Moreover, drug abuse negatively impacts relationships, leading to broken families and a breakdown in societal bonds.

Addressing drug abuse requires a multi-faceted approach. Firstly, preventative measures such as education and awareness campaigns are crucial. By educating individuals about the dangers of drug abuse, especially the youth, we can reduce the number of people succumbing to addiction. Additionally, rehabilitation programs and support groups play a pivotal role in helping drug abusers break free from their addiction and reintegrate into society.

In conclusion, drug abuse is a pressing issue affecting individuals worldwide. It is essential to understand the causes and effects of drug abuse to develop effective solutions. By implementing prevention measures and promoting rehabilitation programs, we can combat drug abuse and provide a brighter future for those trapped in the vicious cycle of addiction.

Expository Essay on Drug Abuse 350 words

Drug abuse is a prevalent issue that continues to affect individuals and societies across the globe. This expository essay aims to shed light on the realities of drug abuse, including its causes, consequences, and potential solutions. By examining the facts and presenting a balanced view, we can better understand this complex issue and work towards effective prevention and intervention strategies.

The primary cause of drug abuse can vary from individual to individual. Peer influence, stress, curiosity, and a desire for escape or pleasure are common factors that contribute to drug abuse. When people are surrounded by others who engage in drug use, they may feel compelled to experiment, thus increasing the likelihood of abuse. Additionally, individuals facing high levels of stress or seeking an escape from their problems may turn to drugs as a means of coping. The addictive nature of certain substances further exacerbates the problem, making it difficult for individuals to stop using once they start.

The consequences of drug abuse are far-reaching and affect not only the individual but also their families and communities. Physically, drug abuse can lead to organ damage, impaired cognitive function, and even death. Emotionally, it can cause mood swings, depression, and anxiety. Socially, drug abuse can lead to estranged relationships, unemployment, homelessness, and criminal behavior. The economic burden of drug abuse is also significant, as it places a strain on healthcare systems and law enforcement agencies.

To address the issue of drug abuse, a multi-faceted approach is necessary. Prevention programs should be implemented in schools, educating students about the dangers of drug abuse and providing them with the necessary skills to resist peer pressure. Parents and guardians should also play an active role in educating their children about substance abuse and maintaining open lines of communication. Furthermore, increased access to treatment programs, counseling services, and rehabilitation centers can help individuals overcome their addiction and pursue a healthier, drug-free lifestyle.

In conclusion, drug abuse remains a pressing concern that impacts individuals and societies globally. By understanding the causes, consequences, and potential solutions, we can work towards effective prevention and intervention strategies. Through education, awareness, and a focus on providing support to those affected, we can work towards reducing drug abuse and its devastating effects.

Write an Expository Essay on Drug Abuse 500 Words?

Title: an expository essay on drug abuse, introduction.

Drug abuse is a prevalent and multifaceted issue that affects individuals, families, and communities worldwide. It is characterized by the habitual misuse of drugs, often resulting in physical and psychological harm. This expository essay aims to provide an in-depth exploration of drug abuse, its causes, consequences, and potential solutions.

Definition and Types of Drugs

Drug abuse refers to the excessive and continuous misuse of both legal and illegal substances. Various types of drugs can be abused, including narcotics, stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, and prescription medications. Understanding the diverse range of drugs abused is crucial to comprehending the scope and significance of the issue.

Causes of Drug Abuse

Drug abuse is often linked to a combination of genetic, environmental, and individual factors. Genetic predispositions to addictive behaviors can influence an individual’s susceptibility to drug abuse. Additionally, environmental influences such as dysfunctional families, poverty, peer pressure, and the availability of drugs contribute to the problem. Personal factors like low self-esteem, emotional distress, or mental health disorders can also increase the likelihood of drug abuse.

Consequences of Drug Abuse

Drug abuse has profound consequences on an individual’s health, relationships, and society as a whole. Physically, drug abuse can lead to addiction, overdose, and in some cases, death. Psychological effects include impaired cognitive function, an increased risk of mental health disorders, and diminished productivity. Social consequences encompass strained relationships, an economic burden on society, and an increase in crime rates.

Prevention and Intervention Strategies

Addressing drug abuse requires a multi-faceted approach that involves prevention, intervention, and treatment. Effective prevention strategies include education, raising awareness about the risks and consequences of drug abuse, and promoting healthy coping mechanisms. Early intervention programs that identify individuals at risk and provide appropriate support and counseling are crucial to curbing drug abuse. Treatment options such as detoxification, therapy, and support groups play a crucial role in helping individuals recover from addiction.

Governmental and Community Initiatives

Governments and communities have a crucial role to play in combating drug abuse. Public policies that focus on reducing drug availability, implementing stricter regulations, and offering rehabilitation programs are vital. Additionally, community-based initiatives like support groups, recreational activities, and counseling services can help create a supportive environment for recovery.

Drug abuse remains a significant challenge in contemporary society, affecting individuals of all ages and backgrounds. Understanding its causes, consequences, and potential solutions is essential to combating this harmful issue. By implementing prevention strategies, early intervention programs, and adequate treatment options, we can make progress in minimizing the devastating effects of drug abuse. It is the collective responsibility of governments, communities, and individuals to address drug abuse comprehensively and provide support to those impacted, in order to promote healthier societies for generations to come.

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Essay on Drug Abuse in 250 and 500 Words in English for Students

• Updated on  
• Apr 2, 2024

Drug abuse refers to the excessive and frequent consumption of drugs. Drug abuse can have several harmful effects on our mental and physical health. Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the USA, passed the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 and initiated the War on Drugs . He said, ‘Let us not forget who we are. Drug abuse is a repudiation of everything America is.’

Consuming drugs not only harms the individual himself but also affects society as a whole. Studies have shown that people who consume drugs become addicted to it. This addiction turns into substance abuse, resulting in self-damage, behaviour changes, mood swings, unnecessary weight loss, and several other health problems. Let’s understand what drug abuse is and how to fight it.

Table of Contents

• 1 Essay on Drug Abuse in 250 Words
• 2.1 Why Do People Consume Drugs?
• 2.2 Why Is Drug Abuse Bad?
• 2.3 Laws in India Against Drug Consumption
• 2.4 Steps to Prevent Drug Addiction
• 2.5 Conclusion
• 3 10 Lines Essay on Drug Abuse

Quick Read: Essay on CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act)

Essay on Drug Abuse in 250 Words

‘When people consume drugs regularly and become addicted to it, it is known as drug abuse. In medical terminology, drugs means medicines. However, the consumption of drugs is for non-medical purposes. It involves the consumption of substances in illegal and harmful ways, such as swallowing, inhaling, or injecting. When drugs are consumed, they are mixed into our bloodstream, affecting our neural system and brain functioning.

The Indian government has taken significant steps to help reduce the consumption of drugs. In 1985, the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act came into force. This act replaced the Opium Act of 1857, the Opium Act of 1878, and the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1930. 

Drug abuse can lead to addiction, where a person becomes physically or psychologically dependent on the substance and experiences withdrawal symptoms when attempting to stop using it. 

Drug abuse can have serious consequences for the individual and society as a whole. On an individual level, drugs can damage physical health, including organ damage, infectious diseases, and overdose fatalities. Not only this, a person already suffering from mental health disorders will face more harmful aftereffects. Addiction disrupts our cognitive functioning and impairs our decision-making abilities.

To fight drug abuse, we need collective action from all sections of society. Medical professionals say that early intervention and screening programmes can identify individuals at risk of substance misuse and provide them with the necessary support services. Educating people, especially those who are at-risk, about drug abuse and its harmful effects can significantly help reduce their consumption.

Drug abuse is serious and it must be addressed. Drug abuse is killing youth and society. Therefore, it is an urgent topic to address, and only through sustainable and collective efforts can we address this problem.

Quick Read: Success in Life Speech

Essay on Drug Abuse in 500 Words

Drug abuse is known as frequent consumption. In time, these people become dependent on drugs for several reasons. Curiosity drives adolescents and teenagers, who are among the most susceptible groups in our society. Cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine, heroin, etc. are some of the popular drugs consumed. 

Why Do People Consume Drugs?

The very first question about drugs is: why do people consume drugs? Studies have shown that more than 50% of drug addicts consider drugs as a coping mechanism to alleviate emotional or psychological distress. In the beginning, drugs temporarily relieve feelings of anxiety, depression, or trauma, providing a temporary escape from difficult emotions or life circumstances. 

Some consume drugs out of curiosity, some under peer pressure, and some want to escape the painful experiences. Some people enjoy the effects drugs produce, such as euphoria, relaxation, and altered perceptions. Recreational drug use may occur in social settings or as a form of self-medication for stress relief or relaxation.

Why Is Drug Abuse Bad?

The National Institute on Drug Abuse states that drugs can worsen our eyesight and body movement, our physical growth, etc. Marijuana, one of the most popular drugs, can slow down our reaction time, affecting our time and distance judgement and decreasing coordination. Cocaine and Methamphetamine can make the consumer aggressive and careless.

Our brain is the first victim of drugs. Drugs can disorder our body in several ways, from damaging organs to messing with our brains. Drugs easily get mixed into our bloodstream, and affect our neural system. Prolonged and excessive consumption of drugs significantly harms our brain functioning.

The next target of drug abuse is our physical health and relationships. Drugs can damage our vital organs, such as the liver, heart, lungs, and brain. For example, heavy alcohol use can lead to cirrhosis of the liver, while cocaine use can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Laws in India Against Drug Consumption

Here is an interesting thing; the USA has the highest number of drug addicts and also has strict laws against drug consumption. According to a report by the Narcotics Control Bureau, around 9 million people in India consume different types of drugs. The Indian government has implemented certain laws against drug consumption and production.

The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS), prohibits the production, sale, purchase, and consumption of narcotics and other illegal substances, except for scientific and medical purposes.

Also, Article 47 of the Indian Constitution states that ‘ The State shall endeavour to bring about prohibition of the consumption, except for medicinal purposes, of intoxicating drinks and drugs which are injurious to health.’

Quick Read: Essay on Indian Festivals in 500 Words

Steps to Prevent Drug Addiction

Several steps can be taken to prevent drug addiction. But before we start our ‘War on Drugs’ , it is crucial to understand the trigger point. Our social environment, mental health issues and sometimes genetic factors can play a role in drug abuse.

• Education and awareness are the primary weapons in the fight against drugs. 
• Keeping distance from people and places addicted to drugs.
• Encourage a healthy and active lifestyle and indulge in physical workouts.
• Watch motivating videos and listen to sound music.
• Self-motivate yourself to stop consuming drugs.
• Talk to a medical professional or a psychiatrist, who will guide you to the right path.

Drug abuse is a serious problem. The excessive and frequent consumption of drugs not only harms the individual but also affects society as a whole. Only a collective approach from lawmakers, healthcare professionals, educators, community leaders, and individuals themselves can combat drug abuse effectively. 

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10 Lines Essay on Drug Abuse

Here is a 10-line essay on drug abuse.

• Drug abuse can significantly affect our physical growth
• Drug abuse can affect our mental functioning.
• Drug abuse may provide instant pleasure, but inside, it weakens our willpower and physical strength.
• Educating people, especially those who are at-risk, about drug abuse and its harmful effects can significantly help reduce their consumption.
•  Drugs easily get mixed into our bloodstream, and affect our neural system. 
• Prolonged and excessive consumption of drugs significantly harms our brain functioning.
• In 1985, the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act came into force.
• The USA has the highest number of drug addicts and also has strict laws against drug consumption.
• Drug addicts consider drugs as a coping mechanism to alleviate emotional or psychological distress.
•  Adolescents and teenagers are the most vulnerable section of our society and are driven by curiosity.

Ans: Drug abuse refers to the excessive and frequent consumption of drugs. Drug abuse can have several harmful effects on our mental and physical health.

Ans: ‘When people consume drugs regularly and become addicted to it, it is known as drug abuse. In medical terminology, drugs means medicines. However, the consumption of drugs is for non-medical purposes. It involves the consumption of substances in illegal and harmful ways, such as swallowing, inhaling, or injecting. When drugs are consumed, they are mixed into our bloodstream, affecting our neural system and brain functioning.

Ans: Drug abuse is known as frequent consumption. In time, these people become dependent on drugs for several reasons. Adolescents and teenagers are the most vulnerable section of our society who are driven by curiosity. Cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine, heroin, etc. are some of the popular drugs consumed.  The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS), prohibits the production, sale, purchase, and consumption of narcotics and other illegal substances, except for scientific and medical purposes.

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Shiva Tyagi

With an experience of over a year, I've developed a passion for writing blogs on wide range of topics. I am mostly inspired from topics related to social and environmental fields, where you come up with a positive outcome.

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Home — Essay Samples — Law, Crime & Punishment — War on Drugs — My Views On The War On Drugs In The Philippines

My Views on The War on Drugs in The Philippines

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Published: Sep 1, 2020

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