Infamous ‘War on Drugs’ campaign dies

Whatever happened to the “this is your brain on drugs” girl? Her fatal frying pan has been missing on the airwaves lately. What about all those afterschool specials, and shows like “Saved By the Bell” that talked abut the dangers of drug use, and how drugs aren’t cool?

Both of these, and others, seem to have fallen by the wayside in mainstream society. They have been replaced by vague “your anti-drug” and disturbing “Zero Meth” commercials. Whatever happened to the infamous “War on Drugs?”

Since its conception by the Nixon administration in 1971, the “War on Drugs” has had a sensational following. With another massive push from Nancy Reagan’s “Just Say No” campaign in the ’80s, the “War” gained even more soldiers and became more expensive than ever before.

In May of 2010, Gil Kerlikowski, the director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, said that the Obama administration will not use the term “War on Drugs” as it is deemed “counter-productive.”

Where has the fire gone? In the militaristic time of the early ’70s, it’s no wonder that a “War” would achieve that kind of support.

Dr. Lawrence Nelson, professor of history and political science, agrees.

“I think that the use of these terms gives greater executive latitude in the public’s mind,” said Nelson. “We might allow various powers to a president engaged in a ‘war’ rather than merely power grabs in peacetime.”

Dr. Phil Bridgmon, chair of the Criminal Justice department, mentions issues about class. ” ‘The War on Drugs’ was intended as a cue, mainly to middle class whites, that the government was talking seriously of race, social rebellion and elements of a counterculture,” Bridgmon said.

With the relatively new and thriving middle class, the “The War on Drugs” found its reserve of troops.

But where has the war gone?

” ‘The War on Drugs’ still continues, but has taken a back seat to the economy and global war on terrorism,” Bridgmon said.

With the shift of presidential policies comes a trade off of one war for another.

Dr. Nelson attributes this exchange to another idea.

“The sad fact is that America has lost its consensus on some of the great issues facing the nation-issues that once commanded consensus and received it, but no longer do,” he said.

Despite this loss of consensus, the war wages on. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, an estimated $2.6 billion was spent just in the year 2009. The fact is that the “War” has been taken from public view.

Bridgmon said, “We have not gone soft on drugs. Our policy agenda can only emphasize a few policy concerns at a time, and right now the media and the government has their attention elsewhere.”