Analysis of Drug History: Trends, Social Impact, and US Drug Policy

This essay provides an analysis of drug history, examining addiction trends and their social impact, comparing perspectives from the past and present. It references articles discussing teenage addiction in the suburbs, the myth of drug use among soldiers in Vietnam, and the evolution of concerns surrounding marijuana. The essay highlights the role of media in shaping public perception and debates around drug use, particularly during the Vietnam War era. It also touches on the influence of U.S. foreign policy on drug production and the long-term effects of drugs on mental health, advocating for government efforts to discourage drug use and address associated social problems, including the ongoing debate on drug legalization. Desklib offers a platform for students to access similar essays and study resources to enhance their understanding of complex topics.

Running head: DRUG HISTORY
Drug history
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

1DRUG HISTORY
Drug addiction is an expansive subject covering the range of facets. It is covered in huge
amount in the US international data. The aim is to analyse the drug history and the note the
insights 40 years ago and in current state.
In the post titled, “Dope invades the suburbs”, the author argued about the spread of the
teenage addiction varies rapidly in the best communities (Goldman, 1964). The post highlighted
the increasing concern about the substance abuse among the adolescents. However, it did not
well mention the sinister forced behind it, Further, it gave valuable insights into the involvement
of the parents into the matter in the phase of American history. The illicit drugs are called dope.
The strength of the post is the uncovering the use of habit forming drugs and failure of parents in
the process. The weakness of the article is the lack of insights into the spread of the scandal to
the large urban areas of restricted to nearby suburbs. There is also no nice neat answer on the
rationality of drug intake among the teenagers and mainly school students as also supported by
Goode (2017). It also highlighted the seeping of heroine epidemic. Further. Strength of the
article is the emphasis on the acceleration of the issue and less treatment facilities for the
children. This article is overall an eye opener for the then Americans on infiltration of the crime
in the society. How, in present society there is a greater awareness in this regard. It is also
evident from the study by Lassiter (2015) that focused the concern on “marijuana”, which is
central to the U.S. drug policy.
Similar issue was also covered by another article titled, “The Myth of the Addicted
Army: Drug use in Vietnam in Historical perspective” by Kuzmarov (2007). It was highlighted
by the author that the soldiers in the Vietnam were high to combat the effects of war. During this
time there was popular myth on use of drugs among soldiers. The author well tried to sum up the
arguments from various news articles and journals published during the war time. Stur (2012)

2DRUG HISTORY
supported that the above article highlighted the role of mass media in the rise of drug scare and
the debates on this issue in the sixties and seventies. The article has placed arguments and well
justified through intense research how the drug sensationalism seeped and pervaded the America.
It can be commented that author had complicated view of the far reaching yet transformative
events in the US history. The author had an eye that was critical of all sides. In chapter 8 on
“Who is using?” there is clear depiction of the drug use originating in US an its massive use in
Vitenam war. It gave details onto the contribution U.S. foreign policy on production of drugs in
other countries. Overall, it is a cumulative effect of social, economic, political and trading affairs
in US in war time. There should have Ben more highlight on marijuana legalisation in US and
further driving of debate.
Overall it can be concluded that there are long terms effects of drugs on mental health.
The aim of the government must be to surely discourage the use of the drugs and associated
social problems. There is need to sort the debate on drug legalisation.

3DRUG HISTORY
References
Goldman, R. P. (1964). Dope invades the suburbs. The Saturday Evening Post, 4.
Goode, E. (2017). : Marijuana in the Schools. In Marijuana(pp. 109-135). Routledge. Retrieved
from:
https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9780203786321/chapters/10.4324%2F9780203786
321-6
Kuzmarov, J. (2007). The myth of the'addicted army': drug use in Vietnam in historical
perspective. War & Society, 26(2), 121-141.
Lassiter, M. D. (2015). Impossible Criminals: The Suburban Imperatives of America's War on
Drugs. Journal of American History, 102(1), 126-140.
Stur, H. M. (2012). The Myth of the Addicted Army: Vietnam and the Modern War on Drugs.
By Jeremy Kuzmarov (Amherst, MA: University of Massachusetts Press, 2009. xii plus
303 pp.).