The “war on drugs” has taken the nation by storm. Strict regulation of drugs and harsh punishments meted out to dealers and manufacturers appear to have created nationwide panic; the story is confirmed by television polls asking viewers what they think is the nation's number one problem. (Bruce Bullington, Alan A. Block) Drugs can be very dangerous, and America has had a rather difficult relationship with the psychoactive properties of some substances. It was alcohol in the 1920s, marijuana in the 1930s, and then cocaine and heroin in the 1970s and 1980s. In 1971, President Richard Nixon declared that: “Public enemy number one is drug abuse. Since then, the United States has launched military action against the drug and its use, both domestically and in other countries. The “war on drugs,” as coined by Nixon, was intended to stop America's drug problem, but with the huge increase in opioid deaths, this raises the question of whether this campaign was flawed and harming society or whether he just didn't do it. go far enough in stopping drug abuse and trade. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay This is a very complex issue, as every substance is different and affects everyone differently, but despite this, it is commonly reduced to a black and white moral question: “Are drugs good or bad for the company?”, and both sides have a convincing argument. The most common reason given for the war on drugs is that drugs are dangerous. Drugs, whether illicit, prescription, or even over-the-counter, can be extremely dangerous and in some cases even fatal. “In 2016, opioids were involved in 42,249 overdose deaths. "(CENTER FOR DISEASE PREVENTION AND CONTROL). Illegal opioids, like heroin, and legal opioids, like oxycodone, are causing death in America, and a lot of them. No matter how the look, drugs can be extremely dangerous and responsible for many deaths in the United States. The second most common reason for the war on drugs is that drugs incite violence and crime declared that he had used illegal drugs at the time of the crime” (Bureau of Justice Statistics) It must be assumed that the number of crimes committed under the influence of some substance is higher than this, since only those convicted who do so are counted. they admitted. It also does not take into account prescription drugs or legal drugs, such as alcohol. Taking all this into account, the percentage of crimes committed under the influence would certainly be much higher correlation with harm to others, but also with the fact that those who use it harm 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 affect the risk of suicide, especially in people between the ages of 10 and 25. Drug use can affect judgment and this can lead to making poor decisions. For people with mental illnesses, medications can make them worse. Finally, drugs can have serious social consequences. Drug use can affect decision making, and drug addiction can lead to poor decision making, even when sober. Drug addiction costs more and can put you in dangerous situations. It can affect romantic and family relationships, as well as make it more difficult to hold a job or.