The purpose of this course is to provide an overview of how the War on Drugs has been failing our generation and our society, from the prohibition of alcohol and the “reefer madness” scare of the 1920s/1930s, to the contemporary era of mass incarceration and the American prison-industrial complex. This course will develop student knowledge and understanding of how the war on drugs impacts young people, decimates communities, swells the ranks of the juvenile justice system, and negatively impacts school learning and discipline. The goal is to mobilize and empower young people to participate in the political process, push for sensible policies to achieve a safer and more just future, while fighting back against counterproductive Drug War policies, particularly those that directly harm students and youth. As a member of this decal, you will be mindful of diversity and share comments, thoughts, ideas beyond comfort zones. Our goal is to provide a safe space to unravel and understand these controversial topics and empower students to be actively engaged in a new kind of civic action –to be a force in changing the circumstances that trouble them.

This course will cover topics such as the historical context of the Drug War, mass incarceration, harm reduction, Latin America, addiction, drug education, and drug policy.