Costs of our War on Drugs

There are numerous economic and social impacts of the criminalization of drugs. Prohibition increases crime (theft, violence, corruption) and drug price and increases potency.  In many developing countries the production of drugs offers a way to escape poverty.  Milton Friedman estimated that over 10,000 deaths a year in the US were caused by the criminalization of drugs, and if drugs were to be made legal innocent victims such as those shot down in drive by shootings, would cease or decrease.  The economic inefficiency and ineffectiveness of such government intervention in preventing drug trade has been generally acknowledged since at least 1981.  The War on Drugs of the United States, that provoked legislation within several other Western governments, has also garnered criticism for these reasons.