comprehensive drug abuse prevention and control act

Americans have been experimenting with drugs since the 19th century, it wasn’t until the 20th century that addiction and dependence started to become a problem that the country continues to try to deal with it today. Asian immigrants were associated smoking opium; crack/cocaine and heroin was associated with blacks; latinos and hispanics were associated with marijuana; methamphetamine in the 1990s was associated with homosexuals and poor white people. Racial tension against these unwanted groups and wanting them out of society has been what stirred up a major push for trying to get rid of these drugs. There is no denying that many of the laws that lead to the creation of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act were racially motivated. These drug laws have greatly decreased the use of drugs like crack/cocaine and heroin but prescription drugs are still an ever increasing problem.

Marijuana, acid, and heroin were being used liberally in the 1960s by a generation that embraced drugs as part of a new cultural movement. Later in 1969, studies would link drug use with crime. People looked to the government to aid the situation. In 1970, the Narcotics Treatment Administration was founded to try to control drug use. That same year President Richard Nixon established the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act, he coined it “the war on drugs”. Title II of this act, the Controlled Substance Act, brought together many laws passed since the Harrison Narcotics tax act of 1914. It put drugs into categories called schedules in accordance with their potential for abuse. The CSA also set forth regulations on who and how these drugs would be handled and also put into place harsh penalties for the illegal h...

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...g and more focused now on the maintenance of physical security and strict records for many drugs. The DEA mainly concerns itself now with diversion of drugs from pharmacies, doctor shoppers, and prescription forgers. Government websites like deadiversion.usdoj.gov have established drug diversion programs. US drug laws are continuously changing with advances in technology. The use of technology and online resources have been the biggest help to tracking and stopping illegal prescription drug use. Obtaining prescription drugs now requires the use of technology and it makes it harder for people to get away with the illegal handling of prescription drugs. With better treatment available for drug abusers and the health industry being proactive in following laws, policies, and procedures, prescription drug abuse can be greatly slowed and hopefully minimized one day.