Original version

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

Witness History

Podcasts

Factual: Life Stories

Factual: History

History as told by the people who were there

History as told by the people who were there.

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service News Internet

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

BBC World Service East Asia

Witness History: The war on drugs

Documentaries

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)

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Witness History

The war on drugs

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

About BBC World Service