In 1971, Nixon declared drug abuse public enemy number one, setting in motion half a century of policy that treated substances as a criminal problem instead of a health one. American drinking has since dropped to a 90-year low, and addiction is now treated as a medical condition.
In 1971, President Richard Nixon told reporters that drug abuse was now public enemy number one, asking Congress for emergency funding to fight the problem of drug addiction. That announcement set the terms of drug policy in America for the next half-century, with every substance other than alcohol and tobacco being treated as a criminal problem rather than a health issue. Many years later, those assumptions about alcohol and drugs are being challenged.
Drinking Has Fallen to a 90-Year Low
Alcohol consumption trends, according to Gallup's annual Consumption Habits survey, have fallen significantly.
Around 54% of American adults drink, which is down from 62% just a few years ago. That's the lowest share in nearly 90 years of tracking. Anybody cutting back on alcohol now finds they have considerable company, making it easier to live an alcohol-free lifestyle.
The reasons for this shift are largely about health. A majority of Americans, 53%, say one or two drinks a day is bad for health, compared to just 28% back in 2018. People increasingly see alcohol use as a health problem, and there's increased awareness of the addictive potential of alcohol, which can have serious withdrawal symptoms, produce seizures, and cause cardiovascular complications, requiring medical detox.
Cultural Attitudes Toward Drugs Are Split by Substance
Cultural attitudes toward alcohol and drugs are split by substance. Cannabis has undergone the most significant transformation since Nixon started his war on drugs decades ago. While the majority used to see cannabis as harmful, the attitude has completely shifted, with 9 in 10 adults supporting legal cannabis access for medical or recreational use, and many states like Colorado have made recreational use legal.
Overdose Deaths Are Decreasing After a Historic Peak
One of the most consequential changes in substance use over the last few years has been the marked drop in fatal drug overdoses. According to the CDC's health statistics, opioid-involved deaths fell from around 55,000 to 44,000.
Overdose deaths have decreased because users have become more aware of the risks of fentanyl, and the opioid antagonist naloxone has become widely available without a prescription since 2023. In addition, Chinese regulations have started controlling the precursor chemicals for manufacturing fentanyl. While overdoses have decreased, the impact of drug abuse through opiate addiction and all of its associated harms is still a huge problem in many areas in the United States.
Treatment for Alcohol and Drugs Has Moved to the Center
Insurance coverage, medication-assisted treatment, and outpatient options for alcohol and drugs have all expanded. The vast majority of recreational drugs remain illegal, but the healthcare system and society at large now see addiction as a health issue, or in the case of cannabis, see it as relatively harmless recreational drug use that shouldn't be criminalized.
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