How Did The Prohibition Weakened American Society

Initially, the Prohibition weakened American society through initiating a rise in the consumption of unsafe substances; those substances being tainted liquors and hard drugs. The Prohibition first increased the use of unsafe substances through raising the availability of contaminated alcohol to the every day man. The Prohibition led to the increase in the consumption of unsafe alcohol through the inexperience of the people who prepared the alcohol during this time. This inexperience, caused by the average man making alcohol instead of professionals, proves itself true when author Jeff Hill writes, “In certain tragic instances, however, these attempts to remove the harmful elements failed. On certain occasions, the liquid retained poisons that

The Prohibition greatly contributed to the consumption of unsafe alcohol, which led to a decline in health, a spike in death rates and an overall deterioration of American society. The Prohibition also caused an increase in the consumption of unsafe substances through facilitating the trafficking and use of drugs. The Prohibition first led to an increase in the use of drugs by leading many common drinkers to switch to other substances to satisfy their needs. This switch from alcohol to hard drugs proves itself to be true when author Mark Thorton writes, “Prohibition removed a significant source of tax revenue and greatly increased government spending. It led many drinkers to switch to opium, marijuana, patent medicines, cocaine, and other dangerous substances that they would have been unlikely to encounter in the absence of Prohibition”(Web). Through this selection of Thorton’s work, it becomes apparent that the Prohibition’s banning of alcohol forced drinkers and alcoholics to turn to more abusive and dangerous substances such as cocaine and