Member-only story
Shocking Truths: The War on Drugs’ Winners and Losers Exposed!
Do better, because now you’ll know better.
I’m writing this not just as a bystander but as someone who’s lived through the grit of addiction, watched friends disappear into the system, and seen families, including my own, torn apart. The War on Drugs isn’t just policy talk; it’s personal. Let’s dive into the heart of it, exploring who really wins and loses in this battle, and believe me, it’s a mixed bag.
The Personal Frontline
Growing Up in a Sheltered Bubble
I was raised in a suburb where the closest encounter most of us had with drugs was through the news or an occasional school assembly. The War on Drugs seemed like a distant battle, one that was fought on screens and in newspapers, not on our manicured lawns. Police raids and arrests were stories from another world, far removed from the safety of our neighborhood. It took me years, and a broadening of my own experiences, to realize the privilege that insulated us. The stark contrast between my upbringing and the realities faced by others in different parts of the city, and indeed the country, was a jolt to my understanding of what “normal” really meant.
