EXPLAINERNews|DrugsAmid Trump threats, what has the US’s ‘war on drugs’ achieved in 50 years?Al Jazeera looks at how years of punitive measures cost billions, filled prisons, and did little to curb violence — instead spreading it to Latin America, too.

Regulation: The Evolution of the War on Drugs

In the summer of 1971, US President Richard Nixon identified drug abuse as a primary public menace, initiating what became the nation's "war on drugs." This policy aimed to eradicate narcotic substances from American streets, dismantle trafficking networks, and create a safer environment.

However, the outcome over several decades has been record overdose deaths, one of the world's highest incarceration rates, and expenditures exceeding $1 trillion with minimal impact on drug availability, as noted by the Center for American Progress. The war on drugs has significantly influenced US policing and criminal justice, disproportionately affecting Black communities and contributing to conflicts in Latin America.

Nixon's administration established a punitive framework involving new federal agencies and stricter penalties, portraying drug use as a national threat. According to John Ehrlichman, a former Nixon aide, the strategy targeted the antiwar left and Black Americans by criminalizing their associations with marijuana and heroin, respectively.

In the 1980s, President Ronald Reagan intensified the campaign, instituting laws like the Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984 and the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986. These laws introduced minimum sentences and contributed to racial disparities in imprisonment. The imprisonment rate for Black Americans increased substantially after these policies were implemented.

Subsequent administrations maintained these approaches, with the 1994 crime bill under President Bill Clinton further expanding federal prison funding and enforcement measures. Despite these efforts, the opioid crisis and the legalization of cannabis in several states have prompted a shift in the national dialogue about drug use.

Drug criminalization has been a significant factor in mass incarceration in the US since the mid-1970s. Arrests for drug possession have substantially increased the prison population, disproportionately impacting Black communities. Despite similar levels of drug use across racial groups, Black Americans face higher arrest rates. Research indicates that policies like the 1986 Anti-Drug Abuse Act contributed to this disparity.

While efforts focused on drug-related crimes were intended to reduce overall crime rates, the strategy has not been effective. Homicide rates rose following Reagan's 1984 crime law, and the focus on punishment over treatment has not curbed addiction. In 2020, over 1.1 million drug-related arrests were made, primarily for possession, with approximately 360,000 individuals currently imprisoned on drug charges.

The US is experiencing its deadliest drug crisis, with over 100,000 overdose deaths annually, mainly due to synthetic opioids like fentanyl, as reported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Overdose is now the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18–44.

International Repercussions in Latin America

The war on drugs extended beyond US borders, with Washington funding and training military and police forces in Latin America to combat drug trafficking. In Colombia, significant investments under Plan Colombia targeted security forces and coca crop eradication, yet coca cultivation has rebounded, and civilian casualties have been significant.

In Mexico, a 2006 government offensive supported by US intelligence led to cartel fragmentation, increased violence, and widespread corruption. Trafficking routes have shifted to Central American countries, intensifying regional challenges.

Currently, the US continues military operations against alleged traffickers, conducting over 21 strikes since September 2 in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean.

Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.