IDSD 146 : History of the War on Drugs

Focuses on the United States’ response to the large-scale distribution and illicit use of narcotics. By the 1980s, Federal and state agencies lead a campaign to rid the nation of the scourge of drugs and crime. Politicians passed laws and used mass incarceration as a solution to punish drug dealers and substance abusers indiscriminately. Explores this multi-layered and complex issue and provides students with a practical understanding of race, crime, law, and popular culture.