No greater threat faces America today than that posed by illicit drugs––and this despite the well-publicized menace of international terrorism. Rather than destroy us from the outside, the war on drugs corrodes society from within. In many of our cities, drugs have transformed whole neighborhoods into lost places of criminality and despair. In order to assure a final victory, we must understand the complexity of the challenge. Each drug has a unique history-from their country of origin to the way in which they are manufactured. These details help us appreciate the depth of the problem. They also are used every day to help the Drug Enforcement Agency, Customs, Coast Guard, and other government agencies, pursue the smugglers.
