Drug Policy
Drug policy is how governments control, classify, and respond to illegal and controlled drugs. It includes criminal enforcement, drug schedules, treatment, and prevention. Congress, federal agencies such as the Drug Enforcement Administration, state legislatures, courts, and local police all take part.
People usually ask how drugs are classified, how enforcement differs from treatment, how federal and state approaches overlap, and what the costs and results of different strategies are. Public debate covers punishment, public health, and the role of the criminal justice system.
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Referenced by Brookings, CNN, Forbes, Fox News, Pew Research, Snopes, The Hill and USA Today.
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All Articles on Drug Policy
Safe Injection Sites and Needle Programs: Do They Save Lives or Enable Drug Use?
The United States faces an unprecedented overdose crisis. This has led to interventions ranging from established Syringe Service Programs (SSPs) to controversial Overdose Prevention…
Good Samaritan Laws: Why Most States Protect You from Arrest If You Call 911 on an Overdose
In a drug overdose emergency, one phone call can mean the difference between life and death. But for decades, fear of arrest stopped people…
Fentanyl in America: How a Medical Drug Became a National Crisis
Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid of extraordinary potency, stands at the center of an unprecedented public health crisis in the United States. Originally developed for…
The History of the US Drug Classification System
The United States drug regulation system began as a consumer protection effort and evolved into one of the world's most expansive criminal control frameworks.…