The Americas have hosted several wars against drugs, but these militarized campaigns have not curtailed the global consumption of opiates, cocaine, and cannabis. Perhaps even more sobering, the drug wars have coincided with spiraling rates of violent crime. Given this track record, policymakers have begun to reevaluate drug policies in the US and abroad. This course evaluates these contemporary changes, particularly in light of the successes and failures of past drug control policies.