The American Drug War in Colombia: Causes, Consequences, and New Policies for an Era of a Loosening Stance Against Drugs

63 pages. A thesis presented to the Department of Political Science and the Clark Honors College of the University of Oregon in partial fulfillment of the requirements for degree of Bachelor of Arts, Spring 2016.The United States has been fighting a War on Drugs since 1971. Although the goal is to reduce the amount of drugs in the United States, the policies against drugs extend to other countries where many of the drugs are produced. Colombia is a prime example of that, the recipient of United States aid for decades, yet the goals of less cocaine entering the United States from Colombia, a decrease in coca production, and fewer cocaine users have not been achieved. Instead, there have been environmental, economic, and civilian consequences that have seriously hurt Colombia as a country. New policies are needed that target more than just coca production and cocaine trafficking. There should be efforts to incentivize people to avoid coca production, to increase the government's ability to act strongly, to create peace with guerrillas, and to help all drug abusers and users. Hopefully the combination of all of the mentioned policies will make a positive difference in the War on Drugs in Colombia and the United States