The War on Drugs is the attempt to stop people from using substances considered unsafe for consumption. The American government has been waging a war on drugs for several years. Since his declaration, the war on drugs has cost billions of dollars and many lives. Yet despite all the unpleasant consequences, no results have been achieved in stemming the flow of drugs to the United States. It is now clear that the war on drugs has failed in all its objectives. There has been no reduction in drug trafficking, elimination of production or reduction in the number of users. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Governments have used billions of dollars and several resources to deal with this problem, and they have also created and expanded several prisons in order to 'to cope, but the illegal drug trade continues and increases. Today, more than ever, more and more medications are available daily; they are sold at lower prices and transported all over the world by various means. Historically, the war on drugs was an initiative of American politicians. It created a system of criminalization that ended up incarcerating millions of people who used recreational drugs other than tobacco or alcohol. Part of what makes the War on Drugs controversial is due to its ever-changing cultural response to a substance and not to an actual threat of individual or social harm. People's views on drugs and alcohol are based on social construction and subject to change driven by different factors: primarily based on the intensity of media campaigns that detail the devastation of the community at the hands of drug addicts and drug traffickers, as well as on political pressure at once and for all, to win the war on drugs. Although the line between illegal and legal substances is arbitrary, the United States has spent many years trying to wage a war on drugs. The cost has been violence, crime, corruption, the devastation of social bonds as well as the destruction of inner-city communities and the exponential growth of many minorities and women who end up in prison. Despite several programs, financial savings, and alternative initiatives, the fact remains that a strong economic incentive persists in the war on drugs, which includes the profitable prison-industrial complex and asset forfeiture laws. There are several alternatives to the war on drugs, such as decriminalization, regulated distribution, and harm reduction strategies, which include various drug treatment programs. Current drug policies disproportionately affect lower-class, minority individuals, discriminate against women, and do little to minimize drug use or encourage treatment for addicts and their families. Admitting the failure of the war on drugs is only the first step. Identifying the desirability of prolonged incarceration for non-violent victimless offenses is not sufficient to properly address the problem of drug prohibition. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a personalized essay as a Therefore, new avenues should be considered to solve the drug problem.