example thesis statement about drugs

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Developing Strong Thesis Statements

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These OWL resources will help you develop and refine the arguments in your writing.

The thesis statement or main claim must be debatable

An argumentative or persuasive piece of writing must begin with a debatable thesis or claim. In other words, the thesis must be something that people could reasonably have differing opinions on. If your thesis is something that is generally agreed upon or accepted as fact then there is no reason to try to persuade people.

Example of a non-debatable thesis statement:

This thesis statement is not debatable. First, the word pollution implies that something is bad or negative in some way. Furthermore, all studies agree that pollution is a problem; they simply disagree on the impact it will have or the scope of the problem. No one could reasonably argue that pollution is unambiguously good.

Example of a debatable thesis statement:

This is an example of a debatable thesis because reasonable people could disagree with it. Some people might think that this is how we should spend the nation's money. Others might feel that we should be spending more money on education. Still others could argue that corporations, not the government, should be paying to limit pollution.

Another example of a debatable thesis statement:

In this example there is also room for disagreement between rational individuals. Some citizens might think focusing on recycling programs rather than private automobiles is the most effective strategy.

The thesis needs to be narrow

Although the scope of your paper might seem overwhelming at the start, generally the narrower the thesis the more effective your argument will be. Your thesis or claim must be supported by evidence. The broader your claim is, the more evidence you will need to convince readers that your position is right.

Example of a thesis that is too broad:

There are several reasons this statement is too broad to argue. First, what is included in the category "drugs"? Is the author talking about illegal drug use, recreational drug use (which might include alcohol and cigarettes), or all uses of medication in general? Second, in what ways are drugs detrimental? Is drug use causing deaths (and is the author equating deaths from overdoses and deaths from drug related violence)? Is drug use changing the moral climate or causing the economy to decline? Finally, what does the author mean by "society"? Is the author referring only to America or to the global population? Does the author make any distinction between the effects on children and adults? There are just too many questions that the claim leaves open. The author could not cover all of the topics listed above, yet the generality of the claim leaves all of these possibilities open to debate.

Example of a narrow or focused thesis:

In this example the topic of drugs has been narrowed down to illegal drugs and the detriment has been narrowed down to gang violence. This is a much more manageable topic.

We could narrow each debatable thesis from the previous examples in the following way:

Narrowed debatable thesis 1:

This thesis narrows the scope of the argument by specifying not just the amount of money used but also how the money could actually help to control pollution.

Narrowed debatable thesis 2:

This thesis narrows the scope of the argument by specifying not just what the focus of a national anti-pollution campaign should be but also why this is the appropriate focus.

Qualifiers such as " typically ," " generally ," " usually ," or " on average " also help to limit the scope of your claim by allowing for the almost inevitable exception to the rule.

Types of claims

Claims typically fall into one of four categories. Thinking about how you want to approach your topic, or, in other words, what type of claim you want to make, is one way to focus your thesis on one particular aspect of your broader topic.

Claims of fact or definition: These claims argue about what the definition of something is or whether something is a settled fact. Example:

Claims of cause and effect: These claims argue that one person, thing, or event caused another thing or event to occur. Example:

Claims about value: These are claims made of what something is worth, whether we value it or not, how we would rate or categorize something. Example:

Claims about solutions or policies: These are claims that argue for or against a certain solution or policy approach to a problem. Example:

Which type of claim is right for your argument? Which type of thesis or claim you use for your argument will depend on your position and knowledge of the topic, your audience, and the context of your paper. You might want to think about where you imagine your audience to be on this topic and pinpoint where you think the biggest difference in viewpoints might be. Even if you start with one type of claim you probably will be using several within the paper. Regardless of the type of claim you choose to utilize it is key to identify the controversy or debate you are addressing and to define your position early on in the paper.

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• How to Write a Thesis Statement | 4 Steps & Examples

How to Write a Thesis Statement | 4 Steps & Examples

Published on January 11, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on August 15, 2023 by Eoghan Ryan.

A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . It usually comes near the end of your introduction .

Your thesis will look a bit different depending on the type of essay you’re writing. But the thesis statement should always clearly state the main idea you want to get across. Everything else in your essay should relate back to this idea.

You can write your thesis statement by following four simple steps:

• Start with a question
• Write your initial answer
• Develop your answer
• Refine your thesis statement

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Table of contents

What is a thesis statement, placement of the thesis statement, step 1: start with a question, step 2: write your initial answer, step 3: develop your answer, step 4: refine your thesis statement, types of thesis statements, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about thesis statements.

A thesis statement summarizes the central points of your essay. It is a signpost telling the reader what the essay will argue and why.

The best thesis statements are:

• Concise: A good thesis statement is short and sweet—don’t use more words than necessary. State your point clearly and directly in one or two sentences.
• Contentious: Your thesis shouldn’t be a simple statement of fact that everyone already knows. A good thesis statement is a claim that requires further evidence or analysis to back it up.
• Coherent: Everything mentioned in your thesis statement must be supported and explained in the rest of your paper.

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The thesis statement generally appears at the end of your essay introduction or research paper introduction .

The spread of the internet has had a world-changing effect, not least on the world of education. The use of the internet in academic contexts and among young people more generally is hotly debated. For many who did not grow up with this technology, its effects seem alarming and potentially harmful. This concern, while understandable, is misguided. The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its many benefits for education: the internet facilitates easier access to information, exposure to different perspectives, and a flexible learning environment for both students and teachers.

You should come up with an initial thesis, sometimes called a working thesis , early in the writing process . As soon as you’ve decided on your essay topic , you need to work out what you want to say about it—a clear thesis will give your essay direction and structure.

You might already have a question in your assignment, but if not, try to come up with your own. What would you like to find out or decide about your topic?

For example, you might ask:

After some initial research, you can formulate a tentative answer to this question. At this stage it can be simple, and it should guide the research process and writing process .

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Now you need to consider why this is your answer and how you will convince your reader to agree with you. As you read more about your topic and begin writing, your answer should get more detailed.

In your essay about the internet and education, the thesis states your position and sketches out the key arguments you’ll use to support it.

The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its many benefits for education because it facilitates easier access to information.

In your essay about braille, the thesis statement summarizes the key historical development that you’ll explain.

The invention of braille in the 19th century transformed the lives of blind people, allowing them to participate more actively in public life.

A strong thesis statement should tell the reader:

• Why you hold this position
• What they’ll learn from your essay
• The key points of your argument or narrative

The final thesis statement doesn’t just state your position, but summarizes your overall argument or the entire topic you’re going to explain. To strengthen a weak thesis statement, it can help to consider the broader context of your topic.

These examples are more specific and show that you’ll explore your topic in depth.

Your thesis statement should match the goals of your essay, which vary depending on the type of essay you’re writing:

• In an argumentative essay , your thesis statement should take a strong position. Your aim in the essay is to convince your reader of this thesis based on evidence and logical reasoning.
• In an expository essay , you’ll aim to explain the facts of a topic or process. Your thesis statement doesn’t have to include a strong opinion in this case, but it should clearly state the central point you want to make, and mention the key elements you’ll explain.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

• Ad hominem fallacy
• Post hoc fallacy
• Appeal to authority fallacy
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• Sunk cost fallacy

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A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . Everything else you write should relate to this key idea.

The thesis statement is essential in any academic essay or research paper for two main reasons:

• It gives your writing direction and focus.
• It gives the reader a concise summary of your main point.

Without a clear thesis statement, an essay can end up rambling and unfocused, leaving your reader unsure of exactly what you want to say.

Follow these four steps to come up with a thesis statement :

• Ask a question about your topic .
• Write your initial answer.
• Develop your answer by including reasons.
• Refine your answer, adding more detail and nuance.

The thesis statement should be placed at the end of your essay introduction .

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II. Getting Started

2.5 Writing Thesis Statements

Kathryn Crowther; Lauren Curtright; Nancy Gilbert; Barbara Hall; Tracienne Ravita; and Kirk Swenson

To be effective, all support in an essay must work together to convey a central point; otherwise, an essay can fall into the trap of being out of order and confusing. Just as a topic sentence focuses and unifies a single paragraph, the thesis statement focuses and unifies an entire essay. This statement is like a signpost that signals the essay’s destination; it tells the reader the point you want to make in your essay, while the essay itself supports that point.

Because writing is not a linear process, you may find that the best thesis statement develops near the end of your first draft. However, creating a draft or working thesis early in the writing project helps give the drafting process clear direction. You should form your thesis before you begin to organize an essay, but you may find that it needs revision as the essay develops.

A thesis is not just a topic, but rather the writer’s comment or interpretation of the question or subject. For whatever topic you select (for example, school uniforms, social networking), you must ask yourself, “What do I want to say about it?” Asking and then answering this question is vital to forming a thesis that is precise, forceful, and confident.

In the majority of essays, a thesis is one sentence long and appears toward the end of the introductory paragraph. It is specific and focuses on one to three points of a single idea—points that are able to be demonstrated in the body paragraphs. It forecasts the content of the essay and suggests how you will organize your information. Remember that a thesis statement does not summarize an issue but rather dissects it.

Working Thesis Statements

A strong thesis statement must have the following qualities:

• It must be arguable.  A thesis statement must state a point of view or judgment about a topic. An established fact is not considered arguable.
• It must be supportable.  The thesis statement must contain a point of view that can be supported with evidence (reasons, facts, examples).
• It must be specific. A thesis statement must be precise enough to allow for a coherent argument and remain focused on the topic.

Examples of Appropriate Thesis Statements

• Closing all American borders for a period of five years is one solution that will tackle illegal immigration.
• Compared to an absolute divorce, no-fault divorce is less expensive, promotes fairer settlements, and reflects a more realistic view of the causes for marital breakdown.
• Exposing children from an early age to the dangers of drug abuse is a sure method of preventing future drug addicts.
• In today’s crumbling job market, a high school diploma is not significant enough education to land a stable, lucrative job.
• The societal and personal struggles of Troy Maxson in the play Fences symbolize the challenges of black males who lived through segregation and integration in the United States.

Pitfalls to Avoid

A thesis is weak when it is simply a declaration of your subject or a description of what you will discuss in your essay.

Weak Thesis Statement Example

My paper will explain why imagination is more important than knowledge.

A thesis is weak when it makes an unreasonable or outrageous claim or insults the opposing side.

Religious radicals across America are trying to legislate their Puritanical beliefs by banning required high school books.

A thesis is weak when it contains an obvious fact or something that no one can disagree with or provides a dead end.

Advertising companies use sex to sell their products.

A thesis is weak when the statement is too broad.

The life of Abraham Lincoln was long and challenging.

Ways to Revise Your Thesis

Your thesis statement begins as a working thesis statement, an indefinite statement that you make about your topic early in the writing process for the purpose of planning and guiding your writing. Working thesis statements often become stronger as you gather information and develop new ideas and reasons for those ideas. Revision helps you strengthen your thesis so that it matches what you have expressed in the body of the paper.

You can cut down on irrelevant aspects and revise your thesis by taking the following steps:

• Pinpoint and replace all non specific words, such as people, everything, society, or life, with more precise words in order to reduce any vagueness.

Pinpoint and Replace Example

Working thesis:  Young people have to work hard to succeed in life.

Revised thesis:  Recent college graduates must have discipline and persistence in order to find and maintain a stable job in which they can use, and be appreciated for, their talents.

Explanation:  The original includes too broad a range of people and does not define exactly what success entails. By replacing those general words like people and work hard , the writer can better focus their research and gain more direction in their writing. The revised thesis makes a more specific statement about success and what it means to work hard.

• Clarify ideas that need explanation by asking yourself questions that narrow your thesis.

Clarify Example

Working thesis:  The welfare system is a joke.

Revised thesis:  The welfare system keeps a socioeconomic class from gaining employment by alluring members of that class with unearned income, instead of programs to improve their education and skill sets.

Explanation:  A joke means many things to many people. Readers bring all sorts of backgrounds and perspectives to the reading process and would need clarification for a word so vague. This expression may also be too informal for the selected audience. By asking questions, the writer can devise a more precise and appropriate explanation for joke and more accurately defines their stance, which will better guide the writing of the essay.

• Replace any linking verbs with action verbs. Linking verbs are forms of the verb to be , a verb that simply states that a situation exists.

Replace with Action Verbs Example

Working thesis:  Kansas City school teachers are not paid enough.

Revised thesis:  The Kansas City legislature cannot afford to pay its educators, resulting in job cuts and resignations in a district that sorely needs highly qualified and dedicated teachers.

Explanation:  The linking verb in this working thesis statement is the word are . Linking verbs often make thesis statements weak because they do not express action. Rather, they connect words and phrases to the second half of the sentence. Readers might wonder, “Why are they not paid enough?” But this statement does not compel them to ask many more questions.

• Who is not paying the teachers enough?
• How much is considered “enough”?
• What is the problem?
• What are the results?
• Omit any general claims that are hard to support.

Omit General Claims Example

Working thesis:  Today’s teenage girls are too sexualized.

Revised thesis: Teenage girls who are captivated by the sexual images on the internet and social media are conditioned to believe that a woman’s worth depends on her sensuality, a feeling that harms their self-esteem and behavior.

Explanation:  It is true that some young women in today’s society are more sexualized than in the past, but that is not true for all girls. Many girls have strict parents, dress appropriately, and do not engage in sexual activity while in middle school and high school. The writer of this thesis should ask the following questions:

• Which teenage girls?
• What constitutes “too” sexualized?
• Why are they behaving that way?
• Where does this behavior show up?
• What are the repercussions?

This section contains material from:

Crowther, Kathryn, Lauren Curtright, Nancy Gilbert, Barbara Hall, Tracienne Ravita, and Kirk Swenson. Successful College Composition . 2nd ed. Book 8. Georgia: English Open Textbooks, 2016. http://oer.galileo.usg.edu/english-textbooks/8 . Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License .

Relating to lines; a way of explaining information logically and/or sequentially; can refer to the chronological relaying of information.

A brief and concise statement or series of statements that outlines the main point(s) of a longer work. To summarize is to create a brief and concise statement or series of statements that outlines the main point(s) of a longer work.

To analyze closely or minutely; to scrutinize every aspect. Unlike the fields of biology, anatomy, or medicine, in rhetoric and writing, dissect does not refer to the cutting apart of a physical body but to the taking apart the body of an argument or idea piece by piece to understand it better.

A logical, rational, lucid, or understandable expression of an idea, concept, or notion; consistent and harmonious explanation.

Assertion or announcement of belief, understanding, or knowledge; a formal statement or proclamation.

Without a defined number or limit; unlimited, infinite, or undetermined.

An altered version of  a written work. Revising means to rewrite in order to improve and make corrections. Unlike editing, which involves minor changes, revisions include major and noticeable changes to a written work.

Not relevant; unimportant; beside the point; not relating to the matter at hand.

Attractive, tempting, or seductive; to have an appealing and charismatic quality.

To influence or convince; to produce a certain or specific result through the use of force.

2.5 Writing Thesis Statements Copyright © 2022 by Kathryn Crowther; Lauren Curtright; Nancy Gilbert; Barbara Hall; Tracienne Ravita; and Kirk Swenson is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Thesis Statement of Drugs

Drug consumption is one of the most discussed and analyzed topics in the literature and scientific works, researches and experiments throughout the last twenty years. Drug specialists and scientists have developed various methodologies for fighting with the increasing drug consumption and trade.

This work will not touch upon any new aspects of drug consumption or trade, but we will look in more details at the evolution of the illegal drug trade and preventive measures in Central and Latin America. The purpose of this study is to analyse current state of events in regards of this topic and try to develop several parallels between the growth/reduction in the drug trade and consumption within the region as well as measures, taken by individual governments and joint efforts of the America’s states.

The analysis is based on the review of the existing literature and latest measures taken in relation to the illegal drug trade in the region of America and Asia, development of the so-called black market and competition between legal drug trade, production and sales and their illegal alternatives.

To narrow down the scope of the analysis, it was decided to focus on the specific drug – heroin . Geographical scope will cover the Golden Triangle, the region of Southeast Asia and Afghanistan that are considered to be the world’s largest heroin exporting regions. The results of the analysis will include:

– Geographical analysis. – Growth rates and statistical analysis per region. – Specific measures and their effectiveness on the reduction of illegal trades.

The results will be presented in the form of a report that will include details of theoretical background analysis and specific statistical comparison to support main conclusions.

Have Fun and Save Your Life Essay

Several days ago, surfing the Net, I came across a news item which told a story of a seventeen-year-old guy who had attempted a burglary. When he was asked why he had done it, the youngster answered that he simply had nothing to do and decided to see if he would manage to open the…

Questions That Are Hard to Answer

Socrates once said that the more one tries to understand life, the more confused and lost one feels. This idea is definitely true for me. Although I love my life and thank God every day for this precious gift, there are a lot of things which I find strange, puzzling or irritating. But what I…

Can Curfews Keep Teens Out of Trouble?

Teens today are under tremendous pressure from all sides. On one side, there is pressure at school to perform well in their academics. As they go higher up the classes, subjects become more difficult and they need to spend more and more time studying to get good grades. On the other side, they have peer…

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Top 7 Examples Of A Good Thesis Statement

Today I want to talk about one of the greatest challenges facing any student who wants to pass his or her written assignment with flying colors. You are right – I am going to explain how to write an excellent thesis statement . So, look through these seven ideas and come up with a thesis statement that will impress your professor.

Idea 1: Understand What Thesis Statement Is

Just like you don’t start your journey without an accurate road map, you cannot write a decent paper without a clear thesis statement. Basically, thesis statement is the “road map” of your paper.

Still hard to understand? Ok, below is a short list of what thesis statement is :

• Short sentence presenting an argument to the reader.
• Backbone around which all subsequent work is structured.

And here is the list of what thesis statement is not :

• Introduction of the topic: “This paper will examine/discuss/analyze etc…”
• Introduction of the author: “I am going to confirm/prove/refute etc…”
• Asking your reader a question: “What is the antecedent/effect/consequence etc…?”

Idea 2: Compose A Thesis Statement Outline

Your professor should have told you that an outline is helpful to write a good paper. Well, the same rule applies to writing a thesis statement.

A strong thesis statement includes the following elements:

• Qualification

Now, let’s see how all these elements work together in the following thesis statement: “ In an overwhelming majority of cases ( qualification ) , income-based inequality leads to health disparities ( topic and position ) because of the fallacies in the national insurance system ( reason ) . ”

I believe that developing thesis statements can be fun. Make sure of it yourself and compose a thesis statement using the following formula:

Topic: “ Eating sweets”

Position: “A good idea”

Qualification: “Always”

Reason: “Makes you happy”

Now, as your “sweet” thesis is complete, and your brain is recharged with glucose, you are ready to learn some more thesis statement ideas.

Idea 3: Always Distinguish Between Debatable And Non-Debatable

Naturally, debatable thesis statement is preferable, especially if you plan to write an argumentative or persuasive paper.

To understand the difference, I suggest comparing between the two theses statements.

Non-Debatable Thesis Statement: “Pollution is bad for the environment”

There are at least two reasons why this short (and pretty clumsy) to call this thesis statement a non-debatable. In the first place, the word pollution has a negative denotation : when reading this word, we already understand it stands for something not very good. Second, neither study indicates that pollution has any advantage. So, there’s simply nothing to argue about.

Non-debatable thesis statement is commonly boring, so you should better have a debatable one.

Debatable Thesis Statement: ”At least 25 percent of the federal budget should be spent on limiting pollution.”

It is a perfect example of a debatable statement, since reading it people may have thoughts like: “Right, we should invest more in limiting pollution”, “We must allocate more resources to education”, or “He’s crazy! Where will we find the money?!”

Idea 4: Different Types Of Essay Need A Different Thesis Statement

Experts suggest a rule of thumb: determine the type of essay before drafting a thesis statement.

Basically, essays are divided into three types:

Thesis example: Shaped by religious tradition and belief the supremacy of Western culture, 20 th century United States foreign policy has reinforced racism against the Middle East (Source: University of Evansville).

• Argumentative

Thesis example: High school graduates should be required to take a year off to pursue community service projects before entering college in order to increase their maturity and global awareness (Source: University of Evansville).

Thesis example: The life of the typical college student is characterized by time spent studying, attending classes, and socializing with peers (Source: University of Evansville).

NB: You can learn more about different types of essays by visiting the aforementioned Purdue Online Writing Lab , University of Evansville ’s website or other reputable resource.

Idea 5: A Good Thesis Statement Is Always Narrow

At times, there are too many things that seem relevant to your essay. But the problem is that you cannot fit them all in your paper, unless you want to confuse the reader. So, consider writing on a limited number of topics and include them in your narrowed thesis.

To see the difference between a broad and a narrowed thesis statement, consider the examples below.

Thesis Example 1   : Drug use is detrimental to society (Source: Purdue Online Writing Lab) .

Thesis Example 2  : Illegal drug use is detrimental because it encourages drug violence (Source: Purdue Online Writing Lab) .

I hope you didn’t have any difficulties with distinguishing between the broad and the narrowed thesis statements. Indeed, the second thesis has been narrowed to reflect a specific aspect of illegal drug use – drug violence.

Idea 6: Good Thesis Statement Picks Up A Side

Remember that a strong thesis statement picks up one side or another, but never both. This idea can be illustrated by the thesis statements below:

Thesis Statement Example 1:

Drug use is detrimental because it encourages drug violence, therefore it should be outlawed. But there are instances when people take drugs for medical reasons. It means that drug use is a controversial public issue, and we cannot introduce a regulation that would satisfy everyone.

In fact, it’s the worst thesis statement I’ve ever seen. The main problem with this thesis is that while familiarizing it, the reader will likely feel confused: “So, what on earth is he thinking about drug use?! Is it good? Is it bad?”

Like in a real-life conversation, you cannot pick up both sides, since your interlocutor might think that you don’t have your opinion at all. So, do not let anyone question your critical thinking and pick up one side only.    

And now consider another example of an argumentative essay thesis.

Thesis Statement Example 2 :

Drug use is detrimental to society because it encourages drug violence, therefore strict measures must be taken to stop illicit drug trafficking.

I think it is a MUCH better thesis statement, because it clearly reveals the thought that you want to convey in your essay: Drug use should be stopped .

Still stuck on your thesis statement? Then go to the final, seventh idea…

Idea 7: Use Thesis Statement Generator To Compose A Statement

You can find plenty of thesis statement generators online. And even more pleasant is the fact that most of these statement generators are free.

With minor differences, most thesis statement generators have a universal algorithm:

• State the topic
• State your opinion about the topic
• Provide the strongest reason that supports this opinion
• Give one more or several strong assertions to support your opinion
• Put all the elements together by pressing the button.

Voila, your thesis statement is complete!

However, a friendly advice is to edit the generated thesis prior to submission. Make sure that it is clear, succinct, thought provoking and deserves the highest grade!

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The War on Drugs and the Incarceration of Black Women Analytical Essay

Introduction, the war on drugs as the war against black women, works cited.

The war on drugs is often associated with controversy. Issues of gender and race have been raised on numerous occasions in the war against drugs. The war on drugs was declared in the United States over three decades ago, and individuals of color have been greatly affected by this war.

The policies that have been put in place in the war on drugs have exhibited a discriminatory element. In particular, black women and individuals from the minority groups have been targeted in this war. In this case, such individuals are predisposed to harassment from the state officials.

It can be noted that black women have been made to bear the brunt of police cruelties in the name of war on drugs. Considering the plight of black women in the war on drugs, this paper discusses the concept of war on drugs as the war against black women.

The period between 1986 and 1991 was a critical time for the African American community as a whole. At this time, the community was facing a high amount of oppression making them take out their frustration on the use of drugs. Essentially, top of the list of substance abusers were the black females who recorded twice the number of drug offences compared to their male counterparts. Despite the high number of black women incarcerated for drug abuse, authorities do not place emphasis on this issue.

Criminologists often focus on male oriented cases ignoring the plight of the female community. Feminists specialized in criminology have thus dubbed the exclusion of black female drug offenders as discriminatory policies. This has given rise the campaign that accuse criminologist on the war on drugs as the war against black women (Bush-Baskette, p. 5).

The legislations on drugs have been known to affect the black women more than any other group. It has been established that the black women form the rapidly expanding population that is arrested on drug related offences.

Notably, from the late 1980s, the number of black women who have been arrested on drug related offences increased by 800%. This was double the rate of women from other racial groups. In New York, the percentage of black women arrested on drug offences was over 90% while they make barely a third of the women population in the state (Bush-Baskette, p. 43).

The early form of the war on drugs constituted of the arrest of low level drug users and dealers, as opposed to high-ranking people in the trade. This removed the attention from the drug lords who control the dynamics of the industry across the globe.

Another issue regarding the control of drug use was the misrepresentation and improper recording of the people arrested. Fabricated statistics saw the Increase in the number of blacks arrested for the use of drugs and the decrease in the arrest of whites. This triggered a national out raw which advocated for the equal treatment of all races regarding the eradication of drugs.

Women may get involved in drug dealings due to similar reasons as the male culprits. Nonetheless, there are certain gender-specific aspects that should be considered. It can be observed that black women are faced with various forms of oppressions and thus find it difficult to support their families.

In this case, they are forced to engage in street crimes for survival. Most of these women become involved with males who are drug traffickers and find themselves using the prohibited drugs. These women are often threatened with violence and abusive relationship if they refuse to cooperate with their male partners in drug activities (Bush-Baskette, p. 14).

Though the drug trade is said to be profitable, it can be observed that women do not accrue the benefits associated with this trade is equal measure to their male counterparts. Indeed it has been established that women are likely to spend more time in prison on drug related crimes compared to the male dealers. This is because women are likely not able to reveal their male accomplices to earn shorter sentence. On the other hand, males are known to reveal their female counterparts in the trade when required to do so (Chesney-Lind, p. 37).

Heroin was mostly abused by blacks as opposed to whites faring differently from marijuana which was consumed equality by both blacks and whites. The term the war on drugs as the war on women is used to display the level of disregard the society has for the welfare of the black women.

Women associated with drug use recorded fewer cases of the application of force and violence during their consumption or purchase. Poverty and unemployment are the leading factors for the reason of drug on both male and female cases (Stevens and Wexler, p. 28).

The state of Florida recorded drug peddling as the single most recurring primary offence in the years of 1993-1994. Drug peddling was the main offence reported in the criminal files and records. These records only represent the cases concerning drug use, as opposed to drug use accompanied with lesser charges (Nelson, p. 184).

An analysis of the statistics of the incarcerated women lists black women who take the lead representing 51% of the population. Black males take the second slot recording 49% of the country’s population. In the third position are white women who record a competitive 43%. White males take the last slot recording 38% representing the lowest group in reference to the consumption of drugs (Gartner and Kruttschnitt, p. 29).

The police and state authorities are often accused of racial profiling when it comes to war on drugs. This is because there are significant racial disparities observed in arresting, convicting, and incarcerating black women. Arrest, conviction, and incarceration depend on the discretion of the law enforcers in their war on drugs. It is assumed that black women are vessels for prohibited drugs. In this case, the black women are often perceived by the law enforcers as couriers in the drug trade (Stevens and Wexler, p. 19).

Consequently, these women are targeted by the state and federal officers for strip search aimed at identifying drugs. Therefore, black women have been stereotypes as possible drug dealers. It has been established that black women are most likely to be subjected to X-rays after being frisked than white women. On the contrary, the chance of finding black women with contraband products is half compared to white women who stand a high chance of carrying contraband products (Bush-Baskette, p. 45).

Black women are often exposed to regular and offensive strips and searches by the law enforcement agents in the war against drugs. The war on drugs has gone to the extreme. Enhanced surveillance and policing of the reproduction of black women has been reported in the fight against drugs.

Essentially, discriminatory testing of black women who are pregnant to establish drug use is carried out by state officials. Also, there is enhanced surveillance and policing of poor women of African descent under the guise of monitoring child abuse and neglect. This can be argued as being part of a wider scheme in the protracted war on drugs (Bush-Baskette, p. 32).

It is estimated that about two hundred women in over thirty states have faced prosecution on drug related crimes. In some instances, child or fetal abuse is associated with the use of drugs when the woman is pregnant.

In South Carolina State, there is legislation that women who use drugs during while pregnant can be charged with child abuse. In this case, such women are reported to the state authorities by their doctors. Instead of offering rehabilitation services to such women, they are arrested and prosecuted based on child abuse laws (Bush-Baskette, p. 51).

In conclusion, the fight against drugs has come a long way for the time of its rise in the ten years ago. The U.S. has the greatest number of consumers owing to a number of factors. This rate has been on the rise due to the political, social and economic factors experienced today.

Top of the list are black women who are notorious for the frequent consumption of the substance. This is not ideal because a large number of the same culprits are single mothers. It is thus ideal for authorities to place more emphasis on black women so as to tackle the bulk of the problem.

Bush-Baskette, Stephanie. Misguided Justice: The War on Drugs and the Incarceration of Black Women . Bloomington, IN: Universe, Inc, 2010. Print.

Chesney-Lind, Meda. Girls, Women, and Crime: Selected Readings . London [u.a.: SAGE, 2004. Print.

Gartner, Rosemary, and Candace Kruttschnitt. Marking Time in the Golden State: Women’s Imprisonment in California . Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005. Print.

Nelson, Jennifer. Women of Color and the Reproductive Rights Movement . New York [u.a.: New York Univ. Press, 2003. Print.

Stevens, Sally J. and Harry K. Wexler. Women and Substance Abuse: Gender Transparency . New York: Routledge, 1998. Print.

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IvyPanda. (2024, March 1). The War on Drugs and the Incarceration of Black Women. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-war-on-drugs/

"The War on Drugs and the Incarceration of Black Women." IvyPanda , 1 Mar. 2024, ivypanda.com/essays/the-war-on-drugs/.

IvyPanda . (2024) 'The War on Drugs and the Incarceration of Black Women'. 1 March.

IvyPanda . 2024. "The War on Drugs and the Incarceration of Black Women." March 1, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-war-on-drugs/.

1. IvyPanda . "The War on Drugs and the Incarceration of Black Women." March 1, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-war-on-drugs/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "The War on Drugs and the Incarceration of Black Women." March 1, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-war-on-drugs/.

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Jon Jones releases statement addressing alleged assault of drug testing agent

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Jon Jones issued a statement on Saturday regarding the allegations that he assaulted a drug testing agent and threatened to kill her after she arrived at his home to collect a sample under the UFC’s anti-doping program.

A police report filed on April 5 by an agent representing Drug Free Sport alleged that Jones grabbed her phone after he “appeared agitated” when he wasn’t able to urinate for the test and she suggested a blood sample instead. During the altercation that the police report states took place on March 30, the drug testing agent claimed Jones put her phone in his pocket, got into her face and allegedly stated “why you f****** people come so early, do you know what happens to people who come to my house … they end up dead.”

Jones answered the allegations on social media along with security camera footage he claims shows the drug-testing agents leaving his house after collecting the sample.

“I want to address reports about me allegedly threatening a drug tester’s life and taking a phone,” Jones wrote on Instagram. “I want to clarify that there is a video showing both drug testers leaving my home after the testing session, where we exchanged a high five and a hug. Although I was frustrated with the unprofessionalism and used profanity out of frustration it ended friendly and amicably, nothing threatening at all. I was actually celebrating a friend’s birthday party at my home, and I believe it’s perfectly normal to celebrate in the comfort of my own home.

“I must say, this particular tester behaved quite unprofessionally and even breached standard protocol along with HIPAA laws. Throughout my 20 years of being subjected to drug tests, I have never encountered such an incident with a DCO officer before.”

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bony (@jonnybones)

In her statement to police, the drug testing agent claimed she was “terrified” as Jones stood less than a foot away from her during the alleged incident. The agent added that Jones eventually did submit a urine sample as requested before she and her co-worker left his home.

She stated that her boss at the drug-testing agency asked why she wanted to file a police report over the incident and she claimed that it “seemed like he was trying to talk her out of it.”

The agent ultimately decided to seek criminal charges against Jones for the alleged assault.

The police sent Jones a summons dated April 5 on assault charges and interference with communications for allegedly taking the drug tester’s phone. Based on online court records, no official charges are showing against Jones currently.

UFC officials are yet to issue a statement regarding the allegations against Jones.

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