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Witness History: The war on drugs

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The war on drugs

31/05/2021 GMT

BBC World Service - Witness History, The war on drugs

President Richard Nixon was the first US President to try to wipe out illegal drug use

The 'war on drugs' was launched by US President Richard Nixon in 1971. He said drug abuse was a 'national emergency' .

The first 'war on drugs' was launched by US President Richard Nixon in 1971. He described drug abuse as a 'national emergency' and asked Congress for nearly four hundred million dollars to tackle the problem. Claire Bowes spoke to one of Nixon's policy advisors, Jeffrey Donfeld, about an approach to drugs which he describes as more 'find them and help them' than 'find them and lock them up'. And how he convinced the President to roll out a nationwide programme of methadone treatment for heroin addicts.

This programme is a rebroadcast

Photo: US President Richard Nixon (BBC)

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