Dr. Katie McLain will take you on a deep dive into the history of American drug policy, exploring how the U.S. has responded to drugs over time, and what those choices mean for our communities today. From early moral panics around opium use to recent struggles with fentanyl, we will follow patterns of drug crises in the country. Using historical analysis, media critique, and discussion, students will gain a nuanced understanding of how drugs—and the laws governing them—have helped define American society and global power.

LECTURES:

1. Drug Cycles of the 20th Century & Origins of U.S. Drug Laws: The beginnings of illicit drug laws in the United States and the early roots of addiction science.

2. Treatment & Incarceration: How treatment for drug use evolved alongside the expansion of incarceration and specialized facilities. How public health efforts became intertwined with law and order.  

3. Fear as a Tool in Drug Policy: How media, political leaders, and advocacy groups used fear to shape public perceptions of drugs.

4. Into the 21st Century: The major shifts in drug policy, from marijuana legalization and the fentanyl crisis to renewed interest in psychedelics. This final session encourages big-picture thinking, debate, and reflection on what past cycles can teach us about the future.

Dr. McLain holds a Ph.D. in History from Montana State University, specializing in the history of illicit drug controls in the United States. She has worked with the U.S. Departments of State and Justice on counter-narcotics and crime prevention initiatives and consults with communities to develop substance use prevention and justice programs.

Live In-Person with Video Catch-up. Available 2-3 business days after the live lecture.