The young African-American male has become the symbolic demon of drug use, drug dealing, and crime in America. The war on drugs and the war on crime have virtually declared war on the African-American male and other minorities, such that prisons are filled with minority men serving 20 years to life for drug use and possession. Although the majority of drug users are suburban and rural whites, the focus of drug laws and drug law enforcement is on urban black males. Racial discrimination, racial segregation, and racism have impacted and continue to perpetuate the minority and criminal status of all U.S. racial minorities through every phase of contemporary life and in its social institutions. Historic racial discrimination is so ingrained in America as to require a mammoth program of social and economic reform that involves the restructuring of all of America's social institutions. Drug addiction is a psychological problem that is largely one of dependency, which makes addiction a medical problem, not a criminal problem. Legalization of drugs would allow the treatment of registered drug users through the regulation and control of the substance. The addict would be registered, given an identification card, and monitored regularly. Therapy and drug counseling would be integral components of a legalized drug program. Such a plan could also involve family therapy, job training and placement, and any other counseling necessary to bring the dependent addict into the mainstream of society. Further, there should be a moratorium on research that focuses on minority youths and adults, and the funds should be applied to drug treatment and rehabilitation efforts. The only "war" that has made sense in America was the 1960s "war against poverty" and many of its programs. This was the only "war" that not only made sense, but also had the potential for introducing major changes in U.S. social institutions. America needs to revisit these innovative approaches. 51 footnotes