Frontline Season 11 Episode 10 What Happened to the Drug War?

For over four decades, America has been engaged in a war against drugs, pouring billions of dollars into enforcement, interdiction, and treatment programs. And yet drugs are still plentiful, violence even more brutal and widespread. In this episode of the acclaimed investigative journalism series Frontline, correspondent Henry Schuster examines the past and present of America's drug war, seeking to uncover what went wrong and what hope there may be for a way forward.

Schuster begins by tracing the origins of the drug war to the 1970s, focusing on two key players: Richard Nixon, the president who declared drug abuse "public enemy number one," and John Ehrlichman, one of Nixon's closest advisors. Through archival footage and interviews with historians and experts, Schuster reveals the motivations behind Nixon's campaign--including his desire to exploit racial and cultural divisions for political gain--and how this set the stage for decades of misguided policies.

Schuster then turns to the present, speaking with law enforcement officials, drug counselors, and recovering addicts about the state of the drug war today. He visits a crackdown on a drug ring in the city of Baltimore, following police officers as they launch a series of high-stakes undercover operations. He speaks with a judge in a drug court, learning how the system balances punishment with rehabilitation. And he visits a needle exchange program, witnessing firsthand the impact of harm reduction strategies.

Throughout the episode, Schuster asks tough questions about the effectiveness and morality of the drug war. He explores the socioeconomic and racial factors that contribute to drug use and drug-related violence, challenging viewers to consider the broader contexts of drug policy. And he offers a range of perspectives on what might be done to move beyond the failures of the past, from ending the war on drugs altogether to pursuing a more nuanced approach that recognizes the different needs and challenges of different communities.

At its heart, What Happened to the Drug War? is an invitation to engage with one of the most pressing and complex issues of our time. By highlighting the human stories behind the statistics, and by weaving together history, policy, and personal experience, Schuster and the Frontline team offer a powerful exploration of a problem that affects us all.