Drugs The United States Of America Criminal Justice...

Drugs have played a part of the United States of America criminal justice fabric for generations. The scare tactics of the 1960s gave way to the contradictory messages of the late ’70s and early ’80s. In the 1970’s drugs became glamorous and recreational to many citizens. Prior to the 1970’s, citizens that abuse drugs was seen by policymakers as suffering from a social disease that could only be helped by treatment. Policymakers posture change drastically in the mid 70’s. In 1973, only twelve percent of the population reported to the Gallup poll that they had tried drugs. By 1977, that number was doubled. Notably, in 1978, 66 percent of Americans said Marijuana was becoming a serious issue in their respective communities (Riley, K.†¦show more content†¦The addition of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) was created and was a significant step in combating the growing drug use in America. The Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and C ontrol of 1970 was passed and the DEA became foot soldiers in the war against drugs. However, in the 1980’s drug dealers discovered how to create a cheaper version of cocaine by mixing baking soda and water with crack cocaine. Drug dealers figured out that there were less cocaine per dose of crack than there was per dose of cocaine. The process of making crack makes it more potent at a lower consumption rate. This allows the drug dealers to sell it for cheaper and eventually created a new market. By selling crack cocaine cheaper, it allowed cocaine to leave the noses of the elites and it was now made available for the low income community, where an impressionable population of poor minorities from coast to coast will prove to be perfect prey. In 1988, Reagan created the Office of National Drug Control Policy to coordinate drug-related legislative, security, diplomatic, research and health policy throughout the government. Agency directors were dubbed â€Å"drug czars† by the media. In 1993, President Bill Clinton raised the post to Cabinet-level status. Ronald Reagan prior, in 1982 deemed drug use â€Å"a threat to national security.† President Reagan is mostly known for the term â€Å"war on drugs† but it was actually President Richard M.