In 1971, President Richard Nixon, motivated by addiction among US soldiers in Vietnam, told Congress drug abuse was “public enemy number one”. Despite decades of battling against narcotics, the levels of addiction, trafficking and violence continue to rise. The war on drugs has failed. Now, politicians in Latin America are calling to review all options, from full legalisation to a new war. Four... 

It’s been four years since Mexican President Felipe Calderón began a concerted effort to curb drug-related violence across Mexico, deploying 50,000 federal troops charged with dismantling the country’s drug cartels and drug transportation networks. Much to the chagrin of Calderón, his government’s escalation was met head-on by the cartels, resulting in a 60 percent increase in...