The American drug experience has emerged, evolved, and endured within the framework of the worldwide trafficking of what were originally local psychopharmacological agents. It began with the widespread use of opium in home remedies and patent medicines during the latter part of the 18th century, followed by the discovery of morphine, cocaine, heroin, and the hypodermic needle during the following 100 years. Addiction became so visible and widespread that the medical community, the media, and the public called for governmental restrictions on the availability of drugs. The Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 and the Harrison Narcotics Act in 1914 were intended to provide these restrictions. Since then the Federal approach to the control of drug abuse has included a variety of avenues for both supply reduction and demand reduction. New approaches were added in the 1970's when it appeared that the war on drugs was ineffective. These approaches included the Racketeer-influenced and Corrupt Organizations law, the Continuing Criminal Enterprise law, an extradition treaty between the United States and Colombia, and the use of the military in training, intelligence gathering, and detection. In 1988 the Federal government added the policy of zero-tolerance. However, by 1988 many observers had decided that the 74 years of Federal prohibition were a costly failure that were doomed by their very nature and generated the debate regarding legalization. Figures, notes, and 25 references.