title: Degeneration and the origins of Mexico's war on drugs.
abstract: In the early twentieth century, the concept of “degeneration” helped to turn “drugs” into a problem of national importance in Mexico. By invoking this concept, Mexico's sanitary authorities secured provisions in the Constitution of 1917 which specifically authorized a newly constituted Department of Public Sanitation to lead a nation-wide campaign against drug abuse. That Department then inaugurated Mexico's modern war on drugs when, in 1920, it declared a law governing the import and distribution of the opiates, cocaine, and marijuana nationwide. This essay examines the idea of degeneration and how it came to play this crucial role in the foundation of Mexico's modern war on drugs.
authors.affiliation: University of Cincinnati.
authors.forename: Isaac
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Campos
mesh_terms: D002188:Cannabis; D003042:Cocaine / Q000191:economics / Q000266:history; D004345:Drug Industry / Q000191:economics / Q000193:education / Q000266:history / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D033161:Government Regulation / Q000266:history; D049673:History, 20th Century; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000191:economics / Q000266:history; D035846:Law Enforcement / Q000266:history; D008800:Mexico / Q000208:ethnology; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000191:economics / Q000208:ethnology / Q000266:history; D011634:Public Health / Q000191:economics / Q000193:education / Q000266:history / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D011640:Public Policy / Q000191:economics / Q000266:history / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012924:Social Conditions / Q000191:economics / Q000266:history / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012940:Social Problems / Q000191:economics / Q000208:ethnology / Q000266:history / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D012941:Social Responsibility; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000191:economics / Q000208:ethnology / Q000266:history / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs; D003042:Cocaine