What War on Drugs?

The World's favorite game, The Drug Game

Drugs continue to flow across borders and through communities around the world, despite decades of government efforts and billions of dollars spent on the so-called War on Drugs. From backdoor deals to selective media coverage, the full story is far more complex than what we see in news reports or flashy Hollywood movies.

With entertainment industries glamorizing drug culture and the news focusing primarily on specific communities, the real drivers of drug use and distribution often go unnoticed. If humans have always used substances to alter their minds, we must ask ourselves: are drugs inherently “bad,” and should dealers really go to jail when the demand for drugs will never disappear?

Let’s dig into the real story behind the War on Drugs, explore the backroom deals and the glamorization of drug culture, and consider whether our current approach needs a radical change.

The Global Drug Trade: A Historical Overview

The movement of drugs across borders is nothing new. Since ancient times, people have traded substances that alter the mind. The global drug trade has deep historical roots, from the Opium Wars of the 19th century, where the British Empire fought to maintain its opium trade with China, to today’s global narcotics market, which is valued at over $400 billion annually according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

In modern times, the U.S. has been one of the largest consumers of illicit drugs, with demand for substances like cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines, and synthetic opioids like fentanyl continuing to grow. Despite the best efforts of law enforcement, drug cartels and traffickers always find ways to meet this demand, taking advantage of weak regulations, corrupt governments, and underground networks.

Backdoor Deals and the Role of Corruption

While the public is told that governments are cracking down on drug trafficking, history shows that some governments have directly or indirectly supported the trade. One of the most famous examples of this is the Iran-Contra Affair in the 1980s. In this case, U.S. government officials secretly facilitated the sale of arms to Iran in order to fund anti-communist rebels in Nicaragua (the Contras), many of whom were involved in cocaine trafficking. Despite the U.S. government’s public stance on fighting the drug trade, officials turned a blind eye to drug-related activities when it suited their geopolitical interests.

Corruption also plays a significant role in keeping the drug trade alive. In countries like Mexico, powerful drug cartels often operate with the cooperation of local law enforcement and government officials. Police officers and politicians are frequently bribed to ensure the smooth flow of drugs across borders. As long as cartels can buy their way into power, the drug trade will continue to thrive.

The War on Drugs: Success or Failure?

The War on Drugs was declared by President Richard Nixon in 1971, and since then, the U.S. has spent over $1 trillion on drug enforcement, primarily through military-style crackdowns on drug dealers and traffickers. But the question remains: has the War on Drugs worked?

According to many experts, the answer is no. Michelle Alexander, author of The New Jim Crow, argues that the War on Drugs has led to the mass incarceration of Black and Latino communities, without reducing drug use or trafficking. Today, 1 in 5 incarcerated people in the U.S. is serving time for a drug-related offense, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. Yet, despite these harsh penalties, drugs remain as available as ever.

The U.S. government’s focus has been on punishing drug dealers, often with mandatory minimum sentences that can put individuals behind bars for decades. However, the buyers—those creating the demand for drugs—are rarely prosecuted with the same severity. This creates a skewed system where low-level dealers face harsh punishments, while the buyers, often from wealthier, more protected communities, go free.

Hollywood’s Role in Glamorizing Drug Culture

While the government has been fighting a losing battle against drugs, Hollywood and the entertainment industry have been busy glamorizing drug use. From classic films like Scarface to modern TV shows like Euphoria, drug use is often depicted as part of a luxurious, rebellious lifestyle. Party scenes in bikinis, twerking in nightclubs, and flashing lights are all designed to make drugs seem exciting and fun—while ignoring the darker realities of addiction and the criminal consequences of drug involvement.

Music videos are also guilty of promoting drug culture. Hip-hop, in particular, has long referenced drug dealing and use as symbols of success and power. While these portrayals may reflect real struggles within communities, they also serve to normalize drug use among younger audiences. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 19.6% of young adults (ages 18-25) used illicit drugs in the past year, with many citing music and media as influences on their behavior.

Selective News Coverage: Who’s Really Using Drugs?

While Hollywood makes drugs look glamorous, the news media takes a more selective approach to drug reporting. Drug busts and arrests in low-income neighborhoods are regularly broadcast, creating the narrative that drug use is a problem unique to marginalized communities. However, wealthy suburban families and affluent teens also use drugs—sometimes at even higher rates—but they rarely make the news.

When a wealthy teen in a suburban neighborhood is caught with drugs, they often face far fewer legal consequences than their low-income counterparts. In these cases, drug use is often treated as a “youthful mistake” rather than a criminal offense. This selective reporting creates the false impression that drug use is a problem for the poor, while ignoring the widespread issue across all socioeconomic levels.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), drug use is common across all income brackets, with opioid abuse being particularly prevalent in wealthy suburban areas. Yet, the narrative remains focused on the “drug problems” in urban communities, reinforcing harmful stereotypes.

The Moral Conflict: Are Drugs Always Bad?

The truth is, humans have always used drugs. From ancient civilizations chewing coca leaves to modern-day marijuana legalization, humans have consistently sought ways to alter their minds. If drugs have always been part of human culture, is it time to question whether we should continue to treat them as inherently bad?

Take alcohol as an example. During the Prohibition era (1920-1933), alcohol was banned in the U.S., but the demand didn’t disappear. Instead, the ban led to the rise of organized crime and bootlegging. When the government finally admitted that prohibition wasn’t working, alcohol was legalized again in 1933. Today, alcohol is a regulated industry that brings in billions of dollars in tax revenue.

Similarly, marijuana, once criminalized, is now legal in many U.S. states, with the industry projected to reach $43 billion in sales by 2025. This shift shows that society can change its perception of what constitutes a “bad” drug, especially when it becomes clear that prohibition doesn’t work.

The current approach of criminalizing drug dealers, while ignoring the demand, may not be the solution. As Dr. Carl Hart, a professor at Columbia University, argues in his book Drug Use for Grown-Ups, “Most people who use drugs do not become addicted or involved in crime. The harms associated with drugs are often exaggerated.” Hart believes that most people can use drugs responsibly and that criminalization does more harm than good.

What’s the Future of Drugs: Legalization or Regulation?

If humans are always going to use drugs, should we continue to criminalize them, or should we regulate them like we do with alcohol and tobacco? Countries like Portugal have decriminalized the possession of small amounts of drugs and instead focus on treatment rather than punishment. The result? Fewer overdoses, lower addiction rates, and a significant decrease in drug-related deaths.

In the U.S., the success of the legal cannabis industry shows that regulation works. States like Colorado and California have created thriving industries around legal cannabis, bringing in millions of dollars in tax revenue that’s used to fund education and healthcare programs. If we can legalize and regulate cannabis, why not apply the same logic to other drugs?

Perhaps it’s time to stop criminalizing drug dealers and start addressing the root causes of addiction. By shifting the conversation from punishment to harm reduction, we may be able to reduce the damage drugs cause to society while recognizing that drug use will always be a part of human culture.

A Call for Change: It’s Time to Rethink the War on Drugs

The War on Drugs has failed. It’s time to acknowledge that drugs aren’t going anywhere and that criminalizing dealers isn’t solving the problem. Instead, we need to focus on education, harm reduction, and public health solutions.

Drugs have always been part of human life, and they always will be. So, rather than continue a failed war, let’s start a new conversation—one that treats drug use with the nuance and care it deserves. It’s time to rethink what we call a “drug problem” and to stop vilifying those who are part of a system that society itself sustains.