The war on drugs was a major shift in the United States drug control strategy. It was one that significantly expanded United States drug control efforts and the use of punitive criminal justice sanctions in those efforts. However, despite massive public investment in these drug control efforts, the war on drugs and the increased use of punitive sanctions, the war on drugs has been a failure resulting in significant collateral damage. This article, through a literature review, argues that the war on drugs is costly and ineffective. It begins by defining, describing, and distinguishing the current war on drugs from earlier national drug control strategies. It continues with a review on the evidence of the effectiveness of the war on drugs in reducing drug use and drug-related violence. The article concludes by introducing and framing the issues examined by the articles in this special issue. The articles and issues addressed are just a portion of the many controversies surrounding the war on drugs. The intent is to promote discussion and innovative thinking towards making America's drug control efforts more effective, just, and cost effective. Figures, notes, and references