Exam 15: The Social Construction of Drug Scares

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1. The Opium Wars and Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882
During the 19th century, the United States experienced a significant influx of Chinese immigrants who came to work in industries such as mining, agriculture, and railroad construction. As these immigrants settled in the country, they brought with them the practice of smoking opium, which was legal in China at the time. However, as the use of opium spread among the Chinese immigrant population, it sparked a moral panic among white Americans, who viewed the drug as a threat to their society.

This fear of opium use among Chinese immigrants led to the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which prohibited the immigration of Chinese laborers and further fueled anti-Chinese sentiment in the United States. The opium scare and subsequent legislation demonstrate how drug scares have been used as a tool to target and marginalize specific immigrant groups throughout U.S. history.

2. The Reefer Madness Campaign of the 1930s
In the 1930s, the U.S. government launched a propaganda campaign known as "Reefer Madness" to demonize the use of marijuana. The campaign portrayed marijuana as a dangerous drug that could lead to insanity, violence, and moral decay. This fear-mongering campaign was used to justify the passage of the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937, which effectively criminalized the possession and sale of marijuana in the United States.

The Reefer Madness campaign and the subsequent criminalization of marijuana illustrate how drug scares have been used to justify the implementation of punitive drug policies and perpetuate racial stereotypes. The campaign specifically targeted Mexican immigrants and African Americans, associating marijuana use with these marginalized groups and reinforcing existing racial prejudices.

3. The War on Drugs in the 1980s
In the 1980s, the United States declared a "War on Drugs" in response to the perceived threat of drug abuse and addiction. This era saw the implementation of harsh drug sentencing laws, the militarization of law enforcement, and the expansion of the prison-industrial complex. The government's anti-drug rhetoric and policies disproportionately targeted communities of color, leading to mass incarceration and the perpetuation of systemic inequality.

The War on Drugs exemplifies how drug scares have been used to justify punitive and discriminatory drug policies that have had devastating consequences for marginalized communities. The government's response to the perceived drug crisis in the 1980s further demonstrates how drug scares have been used as a pretext for the expansion of state power and the erosion of civil liberties.

In conclusion, these historical examples from Reinarman illustrate how drug scares have been a recurrent feature of U.S. society for the past 200 years. These drug scares have been used to justify discriminatory policies, perpetuate racial stereotypes, and target marginalized communities, highlighting the enduring impact of moral panics and the politicization of drug use in American history.

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Reinarman identifies seven elements that contribute to the creation of drug scares and the implementation of repressive drug laws. Four of these elements include media sensationalism, political opportunism, racial and class bias, and moral crusades. These elements work together to create a perfect storm of fear and panic around drug use, leading to harsh and punitive drug policies.

To illustrate these elements, we can look at the historical example of the "crack epidemic" in the 1980s. During this time, the media played a significant role in sensationalizing the issue of crack cocaine, portraying it as a "new and deadly" drug that was ravaging inner-city communities. This sensationalism fueled public fear and panic, leading to demands for action from politicians.

Political opportunism also played a role, as politicians seized on the public's fear of crack cocaine to appear tough on crime and win votes. This led to the passage of harsh drug laws, such as mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses, which disproportionately targeted and impacted low-income communities of color.

Racial and class bias were also evident in the response to the crack epidemic, as the media and politicians portrayed crack as a problem primarily affecting African American and Latino communities, despite similar rates of drug use in white communities. This biased portrayal fueled the implementation of repressive drug laws that disproportionately targeted and punished people of color.

Finally, moral crusades played a role in shaping the response to the crack epidemic, as religious and moralistic rhetoric was used to justify harsh drug policies and demonize drug users.

In conclusion, the "recipe" for drug scares and repressive drug laws, as identified by Reinarman, includes elements such as media sensationalism, political opportunism, racial and class bias, and moral crusades. These elements were clearly at play during the crack epidemic, leading to the implementation of punitive drug policies that had lasting and devastating effects on communities of color.