Drug Use in the American Army in the Vietnam War - UK Essays.
Essay on The American Drug War a Conflict Theory Perspective 2680 Words 11 Pages In the mid to late 20th Century, the United States has experienced several states of Cultural Revolution.The law didn’t effect importation of the drug because opium was a common medical drug. This law was specifically targeted at the Chinese, for the smoking of opium was a Chinese custom. Cocaine was outlawed for fears that black men would go on a sexual rampage and rape white women.The war on drugs has been the longest, most costly, and destructive war in the US history as of today (Booth, 2007). The war on drugs focuses on the poor people, and not the bankers that launder the money. In 1973 Nixon created the DEA, which stands for Drug Enforcement Agency.
Drug use has been a staple in wars throughout history with the Napoleonic Wars, World War I, and World War II just to name a few (Sanders, 1973). The Vietnam War was no different than these other wars. In Vietnam the most common drugs used were alcohol, marijuana, heroin, and some amphetamines.The War on Drugs is an aggressive drug policy aimed at bringing the fight towards drug suppliers and cartels. It began during Nixon’s term when he escalated America’s problem with drugs as a moral equivalent of war (Ratliff). Presidents Ford and Carter expanded Nixon’s resolve when they focused the war by attacking the supply lines of drugs.
The first act of America’s anti-drug laws was in 1875. It outlawed the smoking of opium in opium dens. This was a San Francisco ordinance. The basis on passing this law was that Chinese men had a way of luring white women to their dens and causing their “ruin”, which was the association with Chinese men.
