Copyright © 2012 Vincent Del Castillo Chapter Three: Illegal Drugs Vincent Del Castillo

Copyright © 2012 Vincent Del Castillo Illegal Drugs Natural Sources: Opiates (heroin, morphine, opium), cocaine marijuana, etc. Opiates (heroin, morphine, opium), cocaine marijuana, etc. Synthesized Substances: Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD), PCP (Angel Dust), methamphetamine, etc. Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD), PCP (Angel Dust), methamphetamine, etc. Prescription only Drugs.

Copyright © 2012 Vincent Del Castillo Background Drugs used freely in most of America until the early 1900s. Doctors and pharmacists distributed medicines, elixirs and tonics with cocaine and heroin. Opiates were popular, mostly among women for menopausal and other conditions. Marijuana used during prohibition as an alternative to alcohol.

Copyright © 2012 Vincent Del Castillo National Drug Laws Harrison Act of Controlled import, manufacture and sale. Controlled import, manufacture and sale. Hague Treaty of 1912: international opium problems. Hague Treaty of 1912: international opium problems. Did not appear to prohibit drug use but doctors could not proscribe to addicted patients. Did not appear to prohibit drug use but doctors could not proscribe to addicted patients. Marijuana Tax Act of Same as Harrison Act. Did not prohibit marijuana but impossible to comply with. Same as Harrison Act. Did not prohibit marijuana but impossible to comply with.

Copyright © 2012 Vincent Del Castillo Public Reaction Doctors were arrested for proscribing drugs to addicted patients. Illegal drug dealers began to emerge. Law enforcement was against the laws. Not a police problem. Not a police problem. Creates crime. Creates crime. Addicts should be treated not arrested. Addicts should be treated not arrested. Medical profession opposition: Unwise and unenforceable. Unwise and unenforceable.

Copyright © 2012 Vincent Del Castillo Additional Drug Legislation Boggs Act (1951) and Narcotics Control Act (1956) increased sentences and imposed death penalty for sale to minors. Drug Abuse and Control Amendments of 1965 included amphetamines, LSD and barbiturates into existing drug laws. 1960s and 1970s new federal agencies were created including the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Copyright © 2012 Vincent Del Castillo War on Drugs Soon after Harrison Act; illegal drug use was almost equal to legitimate use especially in cities like NY and San Francisco. Criminal organizations were smuggling drugs, mainly from Mexico and Canada. Illegal Drug use began to spread across the country, particularly in depressed urban areas.

Copyright © 2012 Vincent Del Castillo War on Drugs (continued) Vietnam War era illegal drug use became mainstream. Anti-Vietnam war baby boomers. Anti-Vietnam war baby boomers. Hippy communes, college students. Hippy communes, college students. Mostly marijuana and LSD. Mostly marijuana and LSD – President Nixon, “Drug abuse … public enemy number one.” Increased funding to fight drugs.

Copyright © 2012 Vincent Del Castillo War on Drugs (continued) Rockefeller Drug laws; harshest in the nation. Mandatory minimum sentences. Mandatory minimum sentences. Led to similar laws across the country. Led to similar laws across the country. Antidrug Act (1986) mandatory minimum sentences for specific amounts of drugs. Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act of Property used for drugs could be seized. Property used for drugs could be seized.

Copyright © 2012 Vincent Del Castillo Drug Arrests  1970 – over 322 thousand arrests.  1980 – over 470 thousand arrests.  1990 – over one million arrests.  2000 – over 1.3 million arrests.  2007 – over 1.6 million arrests. Drug arrests are steadily increasing:

Copyright © 2012 Vincent Del Castillo The full set of PowerPoint slides is available upon adoption. for more information.