Here is the whole story of the world of drugs-from the infamous Opium Wars to the legal availability of narcotics in the United States during the past century; from the unexpected boost given to illicit drugs by Prohibition to the great success of the French Connection. The global drug trade is one of the most prominent examples of the law of supply and demand. Despite such countermeasures as the execution of narcotics dealers in China and the United States's much-ballyhooed "War on Drugs," drug traffickers have always managed to meet the demand and satisfy an ever-growing customer base. In addition to offering a wealth of little-known facts, The War on Drugs also covers major dealers, cartels, organizations, smuggling and anti-smuggling strategies, major miscalculations and disasters, drug epidemics, legal restraints, famous incidents, and more.