“Just say no!” A statement that transports us to another decade in the history of the United States, marked by controversy, social issues and drug abuse. The theme of this statement is fueled by the growing abuse of cocaine in the mid-1980s. I will discuss the effects of the crack cocaine epidemic of the mid-1980s from a cultural and social perspective because in that decade this country moved at the pace and pace of this mysterious drug. Cocaine entered American society in the 1980s; it has devastated every social group, race, class, etc. He reigned over the United States without any prejudice. Crack cocaine was the way into urban society, due to its convenience compared to the powder form. In society, minorities were those most affected by the growing excess of crime and drug abuse, especially African Americans; so the question was, “Why was almost everyone convicted in California federal court of trafficking black crack and cocaine?” (Webb: day 3). The growing hysteria has brought out many questions that might seem to have concrete answers, but the fact of the matter is that they are ultimately nothing more than conspiracies, although this does not eliminate the ambiguity and doubt. I will address just a few topics of the wide range of events and effects that this time period has trended. Where and whom this epidemic seemed to affect most significantly, and perhaps how the drugs reached such territories and people. What actions has the authority of this country taken to restore moral sanity and how has it affected people in terms of gender. Cocaine use had reached worrying numbers in contrast to those of the early 1970s. Statistically it went from 5.4 million in 1974 to a dizzying surge. 21....... middle of paper ......n Francisco Mercury News August 19, 1996: Print.(http://www.narconews.com/darkalliance/drugs/start.htm) Kozel, Nicholas J and Adams, Edgar H. Cocaine Use in America: Epidemiological and Clinical Perspective. Maryland: 3rd edition. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), 1990. Print. (http://archives.drugabuse.gov/pdf/monographs/61.pdf)Drug abuse. The crack cocaine epidemic: health consequences and treatment. Fact Sheet for the Chairman, Select Committee on Drug Abuse and Control, House of Representatives. United States General Accounting Office. Washington DC: Human Resources Division, January 1991. Print. http://www.legistorm.com/showFile/L2xzX3Njb3JlL2dhby9wZGYvMTk5MS8x/ful19849.pdf