Contrasting Crack Epidemic & Opioid Epidemic: A Socio-Political View

This essay provides a comparative analysis of the crack epidemic during the 1980s and 1990s and the current opioid crisis in the United States, emphasizing the stark differences in governmental and public responses. It highlights how the crack epidemic disproportionately affected Black communities, leading to stringent federal policies and mass incarceration, while the opioid crisis, primarily affecting White populations, has been met with a more empathetic approach focused on treatment and primary care services. The essay argues that racial prejudice and bias are evident in these contrasting responses, suggesting that a treatment-focused approach during the crack epidemic could have yielded more positive health outcomes and prevented the social degradation of the Black community. It concludes that addressing racial disparities and prioritizing treatment over punishment could lead to better mitigation strategies for current and future drug crises.

Running head: CRACK EPIDEMIC (1980S, 1990s) VS CURRENT OPIOID EPIDEMIC
CRACK EPIDEMIC (1980S, 1990s) VS CURRENT OPIOID EPIDEMIC
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1CRACK EPIDEMIC (1980S, 1990s) VS CURRENT OPIOID EPIDEMIC
Introduction
The following paragraphs aim to compare and contrast between the crack epidemic of the
1980s, 1990s and the current opioid epidemic.
Discussion
The United States is afflicted by an opioid crisis, as noted in the 52, 000 deaths caused by
the drug, in 2016. According to the Health Resources and Service Administration, opioid
overdoses are the causative factor behind 116 deaths every day, indicating an alarming epidemic
necessitating immediate mitigation (Hall & Farrell, 2018). However, the nation is not new to
such epidemics, as evident in the crack epidemic during the 1980s and 1990s, which decimated
Black communities through high rates of crime, violence and stringent federal policies to contain
the addicts (Richards, 2018).
Despite the repetition of a similar drug crisis, which contributed to 80% of the nation’s
deaths during 2016, stark contrasts can be observed upon comparison, especially concerning
racially discriminative public and federal responses (Dunne, 2017).
As examined by Wolfe (2017), Black communities were largely affected by the crack
epidemic whereas, the opioid ‘crisis’ disseminated majorly to Whites. When compared the first
contrast is evident in the names itself – while ‘crisis’ reflects the need for help and empathy,
‘epidemic’ embarks danger, emergency and a need to flee. Hence, the racial stereotypes
associated with Blacks can be detected in the naming of the concerns themselves, followed by
stark differences associated with governmental responses.

2CRACK EPIDEMIC (1980S, 1990s) VS CURRENT OPIOID EPIDEMIC
As researched by Anderson (2017), such racial stereotypes were reflected in the federal
imposition of Anti-Drug Abuse Act (1986) resulting in imprisoning of Black citizens despite
conviction of even minor drug offences. Whereas, the current opioid crisis, reflects White
favoritism in the prevalence of a more empathetic public and federal approach, evident through
the provision of enhanced primary care services aimed at addiction treatment.
Conclusion
To conclude, from the above comparison between the crack epidemic of the 1980s, 1990s
and the current opioid crisis, a strong contrast can be observed regarding governmental and
public responses which reflect the racial prejudice and bias in the United States. Emphasizing
treatment rather than punishment during the crack epidemic would have resulted in positive
health outcomes and recovery, instead of the social degradation of the Black community. The
same could have also led to decreased addicts, enhanced public awareness and better mitigation
of the current opioid crisis.

3CRACK EPIDEMIC (1980S, 1990s) VS CURRENT OPIOID EPIDEMIC
References
Anderson, J. F., Reinsmith-Jones, K., Dyson, L., & Langsam, A. H. (2017). Nothing Succeeds
Like Failure: Lessons Learned from Combating Crack Cocaine and Its Impact on
Fighting the Current Opioid Epidemic. Journal of Law and Criminal Justice, 5(2), 31-42.
Dunne, A. D. (2017). An Investigation of Print Media’s Portrayal of the Opioid Epidemic. ELON
JOURNAL, 27.
Hall, W. D., & Farrell, M. (2018). Reducing the opioid overdose death toll in North
America. PLoS medicine, 15(7), e1002626.
Richards, C. (2018). The Role of Race and Class in Local Media Coverage of Utah's Opioid
Epidemic. Hinckley Journal of Politics, 19.
Wolfe, N. K. (2017). Battling Crack: A Study of the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy
Coalition’s Tactics. Journal of Urban History, 43(1), 18-32.