After 60 Years, The Drug War Has Failed. What Now?

For six decades, the United States and its allies have led a global "war on drugs." The strategy has focused on military force, arresting kingpins, and destroying cartels. This campaign has cost countless lives and billions of dollars. Yet, the supply of illegal drugs has not stopped. New, more violent criminal groups quickly replace those that are defeated. The persistent failure of this approach is forcing a urgent question: If crushing cartels with force does not work, what does? Experts and some governments are now pushing for a major shift. They argue for treating drug abuse primarily as a public health issue, not a criminal one. Policies like decriminalization, treatment programs, and harm reduction are gaining attention as potential alternatives. The debate is no longer about winning the old war. It is about finding a new path forward.