The War on Drugs is Failing“Prohibition will do great harm to the cause of temperance... for it goes beyond the bounds of reason in attempting to control a man's appetite man through legislation and make what is not a crime a crime. A prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principle on which our government was founded” Abraham Lincoln On January 16, 1920, the Eighteenth Amendment was ratified by thirty-six states and became part of the Constitution. The intention of this new amendment was to reduce Americans' consumption of alcohol. At the time, each American consumed an average of thirty liters of alcohol per year.[1] This new amendment took away the license to do business from brewers, distillers, and wholesalers and retailers of alcoholic beverages. Alcohol consumption declined slightly at the start of Prohibition and then slowly rose back to pre-Prohibition levels shortly before the movement's end on December 5, 1933. Not only was Prohibition never achieved, but it elevated crime organized at previously unimaginable levels of power and has seriously compromised both the legitimacy and revenue of the government. Just as prohibition incited much unsavory activity, so has the war on drugs. The simplest way to show the connection between these and the movements is an excerpt from an article relating to Prohibition in America in the 1920s: The bootleggers went wild. Professional robberies began as soon as Prohibition began. The territories were divided by organized crime groups who became the scum known as the mafia. Territories have been decided by violence and death, both against each other, and against those in the public who may/may not have been innocent... middle of paper... equipped with all-tech cutting edge learning tools. Teachers will receive salary increases. Students will find themselves in an environment conducive to learning. Not to mention that violence in schools will decrease dramatically. Public schools across America would phase out drug addicts by teaching drug awareness, tolerance, and moderation. It's pretty clear that the war on drugs is failing. A drug-free country would be ideal. The same goes for a country without alcohol, a country without pollution and most likely a country without fast food. None of these things will happen, so we need to make the best of the situation as it presents itself. The only practical way to address this problem is to legalize drugs. The government should take advantage of the money generated from drug revenues to provide young Americans with the knowledge they need to make the right choice.