The War on Drugs

Paper Summary:

This argumentative research paper argues that the modern war on drugs is ineffective in curbing drug use among Americans of all age groups. The government tried to outlaw opium, heroin, and marijuana more than half a century ago yet all three drugs are still prevalent in American society today. It examines the history of drug use in the U.S. and contends that the war on drugs was founded upon racist policies and continues to use fear tactics to promote itself. The paper does not contain a source page - only MLA style footnotes.

From the Paper:

"Government efforts led by Henry Anslinger, the unofficial first "drug czar" of the United States, propagated fear mongering with anti-drug propaganda in films like Reefer Madness (originally titled Tell Your Children) by depicting marijuana as a deadly and evil drug whose usage ruined lives and sometimes resulted death. One classic scene from the film shows a young man buying marijuana from a darker-skinned individual on the streets and taking this "reefer" back to a friend's apartment where they proceed to smoke it. They suffer the consequences of their marijuana use; one man kills someone while driving under the influence of "reefer", another woman, crazed from the "reefer" and suffering from apparent psychosis, jumps out of a window and dies, and yet another woman is committed to a mental institution for life because one puff of "reefer" made her clinically insane. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• "A Social History of America's Most Popular Drugs," Frontline (Oct. 9th 2000) <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/drugs/buyers/socialhistory.html>
• "America's Youth: A Population at Risk," Mediacampaign.org (August 23rd 2002). <http://www.mediacampaign.org/publications/strat_statement/problem.html>
• "Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986" A Tradition of Excellence: History of the DEA from 1973-1998 (April 1999) <http://www.dea.gov/pubs/history/ >
• "Deaths of G.I.'s Laid to Drug in Vietnam," New York Times (November 20th 1970).
• "Dope Ring Specialized in Mexican Marijuana," New York Times (December 3, 1933).

More papers on The War on Drugs:

• Essay # 72050 : "Pablo Escobar and the War on Drugs"
• Research Paper # 3000 : "The War on Drugs: Fighting a Losing Battle"
• Essay # 5276 : "The War On Drugs"
• Comparison Essay # 6627 : "The War on Terrorism and the War on Drugs"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: