Could Britain inherit the American nightmare?

The article offers a critical review of the debate on policy towards illegal drugs in the United States and demonstrates how discussion of the 'drugs' issue there is linked to perceptions of the condition of African-American people and to the contentious concept of the 'underclass'. Alternatives to the Reagan-Bush policies include the extension of treatment options, possibly compulsorily, and pro-legalization arguments. The links between these perspectives and wider social philosophies and programmes are indicated. Ripples of the legalization debate are now felt in Britain and Europe. The paper concludes that understanding of the social problem of 'drugs' cannot be divorced from judgements about wider socio-cultural conditions and appropriate policies. US definitions of the problem and views of policy are not as yet the only options for Britain. A 'third way' is possible between neo-conservative and free-market approaches, that of a 'new public health'.