HIST1911: A History of the Drug Wars

When and how did some drugs become a social problem? Why is cocaine illegal in the United States? Who is winning the war on drugs? These questions and others are at the heart of this seminar. We will examine the longer history of controlled substances throughout the Western Hemisphere, focusing in particular on the scope of the so-called war on drugs of the past 30 years. We will read books, articles, and websites dealing with illegal drugs, and we will watch documentary and full-length films dealing with drug use, drug markets, and the violence surrounding drugs. Our study of the past is intended to help us understand the present context and to allow us to imagine a different future regarding these complicated issues.

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