The U.S. Stance

The Reagan Administration led a crusade against drugs. They cited moral issues and involved children in the fight against drugs. Nancy Reagan's "Just Say No" campaign targeted children and schools and stressed the importance of keeping American children out of contact with drugs.

More recently, the drug trade has been linked to issues of natural security. The prevalence of smugglers has been inextricably linked to issues of terrorism. In the mind of the public, if the border cannot be secured from the drug trade, then other individuals with other nefarious purposes could find their way in.