It is starting to remind me of the crack wars in the 80’s and 90’s. Why did that end? Was it longer sentences or a sufficient culling of the crack dealer population?
“Why did that end? “
There are probably a lot of factors. But one I think is that drug use can be modeled something like the 1918 flu. The flu swept through communities killing many. But the flu ends by having no new hosts to infect. The people who get it have already had it and are immune. There are people who are genetically unable to cope with certain drugs, be it alcohol or cocaine or whatever. Those people die fast or burn out. Others without the drug intolerant genes try it and for one reason or another don’t continue or are what doctors call highly functional addicts. (For example, a movie producer stoned out of his gourd but still producing hit after hit until he burns out. You probably know an alcoholic like this.)
Another factor is I suspect that it was new and it got much more coverage than other drugs. Therefore the impact to society and culture was blown out of proportion and the problem was never as big as it seemed.
Either or both are possible. It seems that there are several drugs with the potential for being instantly addicting. Meth, for example. But we aren’t running around screaming the sky is falling. This may be because the whole world is weary and a lot less excitable now. (Look! Drugs! Bodies! We’reallgonnadie!!!!!) Yawn. Anybody know what’s on HBO tonight?