War on Drugs The Prison Industrial Complex

The war on drugs has been going on for more than three decades Today nearly 500000 Americans are imprisoned on drug charges In 1980 the number was 50000 Last year 40 billion in taxpayer dollars were spent in fighting the war on drugs As a result of the incarceration obsession the United States operates the largest prison system on the planet Today 89 percent of police departments have paramilitary units and 46 percent have been trained by active duty armed forces The most common use of paramilitary units is serving drugrelated search warrants which usually involve noknock entries into private homes