Ifetayo Harvey, Fordham Law Review
This Essay calls for a reimagining of how the United States approaches drug policy, starting with the abolition of the DEA. In making the case for abolition, this Essay will proceed in three parts. First, Part I will provide a brief history of the DEA and its mandate as prescribed by the U.S. government. Part II will provide a snapshot of the DEA’s approach to drug use and drug economies. Part III will explain why the DEA’s approach has historically been counterproductive and will highlight challenges the agency has faced in the twentieth century in addressing new and emerging issues in communities. This Essay concludes by urging readers to reimagine what American society could be if community care and access to resources took precedence over criminalization and enforcement as embodied by the DEA.