The “war on drugs” has taken the nation by storm. Strict drug regulations and harsh penalties for drug traffickers and manufacturers appear to have created a national panic; This story is backed up by television polls asking viewers what they think the nation's number one problem is. (Bruce Bullington, Alan A. Block) Drugs can be very dangerous, and the United States has had a rather difficult relationship with the psychoactive properties of certain substances. It was alcohol in the 1920s, marijuana in the 1930s, then cocaine and heroin in the 1970s and 1980s. In 1971, President Richard Nixon declared: "Public enemy number one is drug addiction. » Since then, the United States has launched military action against drugs and their use, both domestically and in other countries. The "war on drugs", coined by Nixon, was intended to end the drug problem in the United States, but with the huge increase in opioid-related deaths, it raises the question of whether this campaign was flawed and harmed society or just didn't. go far enough in the fight against drug abuse and the drug trade. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”? Get an original essay This is a very complex question, because each substance is different and affects everyone differently, but despite this, it is usually boiled down to a black-and-white moral question: “Are drugs good or bad for society?” ”, and both sides have compelling reasoning. The most common reason given to justify the war on drugs is that they are dangerous substances. Drugs, whether illicit, prescription, or even over-the-counter, can be extremely dangerous, even fatal in some cases. “In 2016, opioids were involved in 42,249 overdose deaths. "(CDC). Illegal opioids, like heroin, and legal opioids, like oxycodone, are causing deaths in America, and a lot of them. No matter how you look at it, drugs can be extremely dangerous and are responsible for many deaths in the United States. The second most common reason for justifying the war on drugs is that drugs incite violence and crime. Convicts reported using illegal drugs at the time of the offense” (Bureau of Justice Statistics It must be assumed that the number of crimes committed while under the influence of a substance is higher than this, as this does not take into account). This also does not take into account prescription medications or legal drugs, such as alcohol. Taking all of this into account, the percentage of crimes committed under the influence would certainly be a lot. higher. Not only is there a correlation between drugs and harming others, but also the user harming themselves. “Drugs were present in 62.4% of suicide deaths” (SAMHSA, 2014). Not only were drugs used during the crimes, but drug and alcohol use significantly affects suicide risk, especially among people aged 10 to 25. Drug use can affect judgment, which can lead to making poor decisions. In the case of people suffering from mental illnesses, drugs can make the situation worse. Finally, drugs can have serious social consequences. Drug use can affect taking.