The war on drugs

The First Anti-Drug Campaign

The first anti-drug campaign used by the U.S. Government is a good representation of the government’s “fighting the war on drugs” for the wrong reasons. In 1875, the government enacted its very first anti-drug campaign aimed at controlling opium. The campaign was implemented not because of the negative effects on ones health from opium, but actually, “as a result of misguided concerns over a failing labor market.” (Helmer, 1975:20).
At this time the U.S. economy was on the decline. All the railroads were finished, and many were desperate for work. Chinese immigrants were targeted because these immigrants would work for little pay, forcing white Americans work for low pay or risk unemployment. There was no documented evidence of widespread opium use among Chinese immigrants, but the government took action, and took it fast. San Francisco passed the first anti-drug ordinance forbidding the smoking of opium. Soon after, similar ordin...