Crack Of Cocaine Essay

Prior to the 1980’s the drug heroin dominated the illicit drug scene. However, in the 1980’s a new drug emerged that became known as cocaine. Cocaine is a recreational drug that is commonly inhaled, snorted, or injected into a person’s veins. At the onset of cocaine it was very popular amongst the wealthy white collar workers of America. These groups of users were your renowned artists, athletes, and other well-known celebrity icons. In the eyes of many, cocaine was a symbol of success. This belief quickly faded away once the effects of cocaine took its toll on the users of the drug, at which point the drug began to make its way into the inner cities of American society.

Consequent to the decline of cocaine amongst white collar workers, a new form of cocaine referred to as “crack” emerged. Crack was a smokeable and cheap version of cocaine. It was during this time that the Government passed a series of anti-drug legislation that worked to eradicate the drug problem in America. In 1984, Congress passed the Comprehensive Crime Control Act which increased penalties for violating the Controlled Substance Act. The Act also allowed law enforcement agencies the right to retain the money from the

Before then, President Bill Clinton had placed little emphasis on drug abuse policies. However, to address the problem, he appointed a Drug Czar to begin combating the issue. He also signed into law the Comprehensive Methamphetamine Control Act of 1996, which was designed to reduce the use of methamphetamine in American society. Finally, with the attacks of September 2001, the Bush administration changed the policy on drugs and terrorism that were in place with the Clinton Administration. This policy change combined drugs and terrorism into one overarching policy. This would set the stage for the next decade and a half as the war on drugs and terrorism is still a major issue on our home front