Question

!!SOMEONE PLEASE HELP THIS IS DUE IN 2 HOURS!!

In a 125-word paragraph, explain why President Reagan passed the Anti-Drug Abuse Act in 1986?​

Answer 1

to look tough on drugs & crime

1980s had high crime & murder rates

he increased "mandatory minimum" sentences

note : "mandatory minimums" can be a great bargaining chip for prosecutors to get the drug user to take a plea instead of going to trial

1980s : sharp increase in drug abuse, like crack cocaine was part of the reason for a big jump in crime

Reagan took action to try to reduce drug use

Tougher sentencing

he increased "mandatory minimum" sentences

to try to stop both drug dealers & users

pressure from other countries to take action against illegal drug countries like colombia & nicaragua

to make the USE of drugs a crime rather than to treat its addiction as a disease

drugs used in the inner cities, crack, received harsher penalties than those used in suburbs (cocaine)

made Marijuana use a crime

hypocritically reagans dad was an alcoholic

hypocritically reagans mom taught him that alcoholism is a disease not a crime

before in 1974 pres nixon from reagans party (republicans) had made heroin use & addiction to be treated like a disease. this was a big change from that way of thinking

iran contra affair : usa sold arms to fund contras who fought communists in nicaragua

reporter gary webb exposed that cia was selling drugs to gangs in los angeles to fund the contras even more

chatgpt

Answer 2

President Reagan passed the Anti-Drug Abuse Act in 1986 in response to what he perceived as a growing drug epidemic in the United States. The Act represented a significant expansion of the government's efforts to combat drug use and trafficking, and included provisions such as mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses, increased funding for drug interdiction efforts, and expanded drug testing for federal employees. The Act was also motivated by a desire to address the negative social and economic impacts of drug use, including increased crime rates, decreased productivity, and higher healthcare costs. Additionally, the Act was viewed by many as a way for Reagan to bolster his "tough on crime" image and appeal to conservative voters who were concerned about rising crime rates in the 1980s.