The war on drugs and the war on abortion: some initial thoughts on the connections, intersections and effects

While many people view the war on abortion and the war on drugs on the part of state and federal governments in the USA as distinct, there are in fact many connections and a great deal of overlap between the two. Their histories, the strategies used to control and punish certain reproductive choices and those to control the use of certain drugs, the limitations that are placed on access to abortion and other reproductive health care and drug treatment, and the populations most harmed by those limitations are remarkably similar. These similarities are particularly apparent where the issues coalesce in the regulation and punishment of pregnant, drug-using women [1]. Efforts to control reproduction and drugs are rooted in forms of bigotry and prejudice that are essentially the same; African-American women are particularly harmed by them [2]. These efforts reflect a common political agenda and draw attention away from real underlying issues, including poverty, race discrimination and lack of a coherent national health care policy. Those who fight against each of them must recognize that they have a common cause and need a comprehensive strategy to address both as fundamental issues of social justice.