Frontline Season 5 Episode 4 Stopping Drugs (Part 2)

Stopping Drugs (Part 2) is the fourth episode of the fifth season of the award-winning investigative journalism series, Frontline. In this hour-long episode, the journalists continue their exploration of America's ongoing struggle with drugs, particularly cocaine and crack-cocaine.

The episode begins with an examination of the role of the US government in the fight against drugs. Frontline takes a look at the early years of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and how its agents targeted high-level drug traffickers. The show examines the political pressures and expectations that the DEA faced in the 1980s, when the crack-cocaine epidemic began to sweep across America.

The episode also looks at the impact of drug policies on vulnerable communities. Frontline visits neighborhoods in Washington, DC, where high levels of poverty and crime intersected with the crack epidemic, resulting in widespread addiction, violence, and incarceration. The show speaks with former addicts, law enforcement officials, and community activists to gain insight into the devastating impact of crack-cocaine on these neighborhoods.

Throughout the episode, Frontline explores the political and social factors that have contributed to America's ongoing struggle with drugs. The show examines how race and economic inequality have shaped the government's response to drug abuse, and how the drug trade has become intertwined with larger issues of power and corruption.

One segment of the episode delves into the US government's involvement in the drug trade, specifically the CIA's alleged role in aiding drug smuggling operations during the Contra wars in Nicaragua. Frontline investigates these claims and speaks with former government officials, journalists, and scholars to provide an in-depth look at the complex web of interests and motivations underpinning America's drug policies.

As the episode draws to a close, Frontline introduces viewers to the stories of individuals who are working to combat drug addiction and its associated problems. The show profiles programs that are investing in drug treatment and prevention, as well as grassroots movements that are advocating for systemic change. These powerful stories highlight the ways in which individuals and communities can make a difference in the fight against drugs.

Overall, Stopping Drugs (Part 2) is a thought-provoking and insightful episode of Frontline that provides a comprehensive look at America's ongoing struggle with drugs. From the government's role in drug enforcement to the impact of drug policies on vulnerable communities, the show explores the complex factors that have contributed to this ongoing crisis. While the focus is on cocaine and crack-cocaine, the episode's themes and analysis have broader implications for understanding the larger social and political forces at work in America today.