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Image: Akila Jayawardana/picture alliance/NurPhotoImage: Akila Jayawardana/picture alliance/NurPhoto

War on drugs

The war on drugs encompasses any government-led actions aimed at containing the illegal sale, distribution or use of illegal narcotic substances. The term was coined in the 1970s by then-US President Richard Nixon.

Skip next section Reports & Analysis

Reports & Analysis

DW Fokus Beitragsstill | Fokus Grenoble Bandenkriminalität

France: Street violence casts a shadow over Grenoble

France: Street violence casts a shadow over Grenoble

Drug gangs are increasingly clashing on the streets of Grenoble in southeastern France.
SocietyNovember 5, 202405:21 min
Mexikos Marine beschlagnahmt 8,4 Tonnen illegale Fracht im Rahmen einer rekordverdächtigen Drogenrazzia

Mexico's navy makes largest-ever drug bust

Mexico's navy makes largest-ever drug bust

Sanho Tree, director of the Drug Policy Project at the Institute of Policy Studies, Washington, D.C., speaks with DW.
October 19, 202404:09 min
Gisele Pelicot arriving at the Avignon courthouse for

Is the Pelicot rape trial sparking #MeToo moment in France?

Is the Pelicot rape trial sparking #MeToo moment in France?

Gisele Pelicot's case is giving hope to France's survivors of rape through chemical submission.
PoliticsOctober 16, 2024
A policeman guards marijuana packages seized in Guayaquil, Ecuador

Ecuador tackles growing influence of drug cartels

Ecuador tackles growing influence of drug cartels

Drug trafficking is a billion-dollar industry in Ecuador, run by networks of international cartels.
CrimeOctober 11, 202406:57 min
Bacterial transduction - Illustration of bacterial transduction, a horizontal gene transfer mechanism that can lead to antimicrobial resistance.

Africa's fight against antimicrobial resistance

Africa's fight against antimicrobial resistance

Antimicrobial resistance is linked to more than 1 million disease-related deaths in Africa, a new report says.
HealthSeptember 30, 2024
A female model walks down the runway wearing a pink cap and a t-shirt that says "I love Ozempic"

Bye-bye body positivity, hello 'heroin chic'?

Bye-bye body positivity, hello 'heroin chic'?

Do weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Y2K nostalgia mean the end of body positivity?
LifestyleSeptember 9, 2024
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Skip next section In the spotlight

In the spotlight

Captagon tablets in a black plastic bag.

What is the drug Captagon, and how is it linked to Germany?

What is the stimulant Captagon, where does it come from, and what does Germany have to do with its discovery?
HealthAugust 14, 2024
The coastline of western Ireland

Ireland struggles with growing cocaine problem

International drug smugglers are increasingly using Ireland as a back door into Europe.
SocietyJuly 28, 202406:36 min
A bag of pills containing the synthetic opioid fentanyl. The pills are disguised as prescription oxycodone painkillers.

Illicit fentanyl is entering the US at highest rates ever

More than 115 million illicit pills containing fentanyl were seized by US law officials last year.
HealthMay 14, 2024
Man slumps on street bench having apparently smoked synthetic drugs

Nitazenes: The opioids 500 times stronger than heroin

Developed in the 1950s, drugs called nitazenes are causing street deaths in the US and the UK. What you need to know.
ScienceMarch 19, 2024
Homeless drug addicts smoking crack cocaine

Crack and fentanyl abuse on the rise in Germany

Crack is spreading rapidly in Germany, as are synthetic opioids like fentanyl. Both are cheap drugs — and can be deadly.
SocietyMarch 17, 2024
A vehicle carrying suspects arrives at the high security court in Amsterdam, Netherlands

Dutch crime boss goes down, but cocaine trade here to stay

The conviction of kingpin Ridouan Taghi ends a violent chapter in Dutch history, but organized crime still looms large.
CrimeFebruary 27, 2024
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