Amid Trump threats, what has the US’s ‘war on drugs’ achieved in 50 years?

Al JazeeraCenterEN 6 min read 100% complete by Farah NajjarDecember 4, 2025 at 10:09 AM

AI Summary

long article 6 min

In 1971, US President Richard Nixon declared a "war on drugs" aimed at eliminating narcotics, dismantling trafficking networks, and creating safer communities. However, after 50 years, the policy has resulted in record overdose deaths, high incarceration rates, and over $1 trillion in spending, with little impact on drug availability or demand. The "war on drugs" disproportionately affected Black communities in the US, contributing to mass incarceration. It also fueled conflict and corruption in Latin America through US-backed operations. As overdose deaths rise and cannabis legalization spreads, the Trump administration is considering military action against Venezuela over alleged drug trafficking, raising questions about the effectiveness and consequences of the ongoing "war on drugs."

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Latin America ×240% Venezuela 50% Donald Trump 60% United States ×470% Richard Nixon ×280%

Keywords

war on drugs 100% drug abuse 70% narcotics trafficking 60% punitive measures 60% latin america 50% overdose deaths 50% criminal justice 50% donald trump 40% drug policy 40% richard nixon 40%