Introduction
The concern of drug use among young people remains a pressing one in the United States. The way undifferentiated prevention messages about drug use are presented leads to inconsistent perceptions of drug use among young people. Moreover, sharply negative emotional attitudes toward drug users often coincide with an interest in using such substances. Numerous publicized stories of the negative experiences of people who have tried marijuana at a young age have always attracted the attention of authorities and the public. It, in turn, has caused the emergence of numerous prohibitions, regulations, and changes in the course of history as a whole. The shaping of social attitudes to drugs has deep roots. Still, marijuana association with the younger generation and prohibitionism has worsened the crisis and influences the war on drugs.
Discussion
The rhetorical and propaganda toolkit for counter-narcotics developed long ago and was primarily influenced by the U.S. experience. Politicians decided to use the term war on drugs in the second half of the twentieth century (Global Commission on Drug Policy, 2014). This phrase has marked a unique and new approach in life, both at the legislative level and in the fight for the minds of citizens. R. Nixon expressed his anger toward drug addicts in America because, in his words, as a Puritan and a man constantly irritated by the surrounding reality, he hated hedonism and the desire of the youth masses for easy pleasures (PBS). The association of drug addiction with youth and enjoyment undoubtedly influenced anti-addiction policies, leaving a mark on the number of addicts.
Furthermore, the other historical periods should be addressed to reveal the essence of a drug crisis. The Sixties usually seem to have been a time of a drug boom (Scheier, 2021). Nevertheless, it is hard to say how much of a reflection this is in reality. On the one hand, according to Gallup polls, in 1969, only about four percent of Americans said they had ever used marijuana; on the other hand, that same year, 48 percent of Americans said drugs were a severe problem in their area of residence (Scheier, 2021). Afterwards was a period of economic turmoil, restlessness, and political paranoia. It is likewise a time of rapid glamorization of drugs: David Bowie, as the Weary White Duke, sings about the side effects of use; Eric Clapton, Ozzy Osbourne, and Johnny Cash write songs about it (Drug Policy Alliance). Young people sought to emulate their idols, thereby increasingly resorting to the relaxation method of marijuana.
At the same time, administration measures yielded few outcomes, and the Watergate disgrace and the precarious political circumstances undermined public belief in politicians. Nancy Reagan likewise coined the slogan “Just Say No” and spoke at schools across the nation, and helped promote public service announcements designed to create an emotional response rather than educate the public (Global Commission on Drug Policy, 2014). Numerous bans and, at the same time, the growing popularity of marijuana have caused an increase in the number of addicts. Such a streamlining of indicators was the reason for the need to form a different opinion with the aid of the media.
It has helped the president shape the image of the drug user as the main culprit in the drug problem. However, the anti-drug policy was correspondingly influenced by life itself, and politicians have always tried to respond to high-profile tragedies and score points on them. In June 1986, for example, young basketball player Len Bias, who had just signed his first professional contract, died in a University of Maryland dormitory (Scheier, 2021). The death of the 22-year-old athlete caused a real political storm: a week later, Congress began drafting new anti-drug legislation that was passed at short notice.
The war on drugs has been going on in the U.S. for more than forty years, although the results are questionable. Today, public opinion has become one of the essential factors influencing decision-making processes. And in the 90s, a new pastime with all things Western came into the youth ranks, spreading through the city’s basements and dark streets. Nevertheless, at one point, it accumulated that much that the government could not contain the flow of drugs, and death with a tremendous force poured out on the teenagers. After all, most drug addicts are young people who are much weaker psychologically than adults and unable to refuse to try. Although the fight against drugs has reached some of its objectives, the most vital mission – significantly reducing drug use in the U.S. remains a goal (Drug Policy Alliance). In the face of skyrocketing rates of marihuana use among young people, the government has sought to impose as many restrictions as possible, thereby creating new institutions and bodies.
Furthermore, a recent medical study shows young people drink less alcohol than before. The proportion of smokers has likewise remained low for years while marijuana is growing in popularity. Doctors worldwide warn that today’s medical marijuana bears little resemblance to the weed used by hippies in the 1960s (Westendarp, 2022). In the pursuit of profit, pot producers try to maximize the content of the main active ingredient. It leads not only to the emergence of addiction but correspondingly to the gradual destruction of the personality.
The formation of public opinion about drugs began many years ago. However, the government has never found the proper measures to counteract growing addiction rates. Young people were attracted to the forbidden substance more and more, and the effect of this means seems too many to be a lifesaver (Westendarp, 2022). The specificity of teenage drug addiction is that the cause of its development may be the exact opposite. A teenager communicates with a thriving group of friends but strives to be a leader. For this purpose, one starts to show the peers’ different abilities, smoking, drinking, and drug use, as a sign of adulthood.
Conclusion
Thus, drug initiation can be considered a system of relations between the adolescent, family, drug culture, and society. The main driving forces of drug addiction are the particular mythological ways of mastering the world by adolescents, uneven development and the need to stabilize their mental state, and dependence on a reference group. Since many young people thought marijuana use was excellent, addiction rates increased dramatically. The image of coolness and the popularization of illicit drugs influenced public opinion while provoking an adverse reaction from the government. However, even now, no perfect strategy can reduce the number of people who use marijuana. Even though there have been many deaths, cannabis is still a means of expression, and the numerous institutions and regulations created by the government cannot stop it. Nevertheless, the fight against drug addiction and medical cannabis today is even more harmful than it was a few years ago.
References
Global Commission on Drug Policy. (2014). Taking control: Pathways to drug policies that work. Web.
Drug Policy Alliance. A brief history of the drug war. Web.
PBS. Marijuana Timeline. Web.
Scheier, L. M., & Griffin, K. W. (2021). Youth marijuana use: a review of causes and consequences. Current Opinion in Psychology, 38, 11-18. Web.
Westendarp, L. (2022). 5 things to know about Germany’s push to legalize cannabis. Politico. Web.