The war on drugs in the United States formally started since the administration of President Richard Nixon, who declared it as a "public security" issue. Tough criminal punishments were established during the administrations of George Bush and Bill Clinton.
However, the government's strategy changed with the Obama administration, as it labeled the fight on drugs more as a "Public Health Issue" rather than a "Public Security Issue". The government then spent over $ 1 billion on rehabilitation programs for opium and heroin addicts.
