The House I Live In paints a picture of America that leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Eugene Jarecki's investigation into the history of drug laws and drug culture in the United States reveals a problem that may be worse than the "drug problem" itself. The social class and racial discrimination depicted in the film appear to be the real root of the problem. Furthermore, the treatment of convicts is inconsistent with scientific findings on addiction and rehabilitation. In the following paragraphs I will reiterate the origins of the "War on Drugs" explained in the film, outline the failures and problems with current US drug laws, and finally explain the biological mechanisms occurring in the brain that cause addiction and propose possible changes , based on scientific research, that should be brought to current drug policies in America. The House I live in makes it very clear that US drug laws have no correlation to the scientific assessment of proportional hazards of drugs. Rather, the laws have everything to do with the race or social class associated with the drug. More specifically, the first anti-opium laws passed in the 1870s were intended to thwart Chinese immigrants, the first anti-marijuana laws passed in the early 1900s were aimed at Mexican and other Hispanic immigrants, and the irrationally harsh anti-crack laws on cocaine approved by the Reagan administration in the 1980s targeted poor African Americans. However, it was President Nixon who served as the driving force that accelerated the “war on drugs” in the 1970s. Nixon used aggressive anti-drug propaganda to gain momentum for re-election in 1973. While in office, Nixon dramatically increased the size and scope of governments... midway through the document... that treatment can reduce drug abuse drugs by half, reduce criminal activity by up to 80% and reduce arrests by up to 64%.” Why then do legislators continue to keep current policies in place? The answer lies in the house I live in. Politicians do not want to upset the current system in place, which targets minorities and the poor. Additionally, the film explained that in some areas, prison facilities drive local economies by providing jobs and paying taxes. Changing the laws would, in fact, cause many people to lose their jobs, which is one of the causes of drug addiction in the first place. However, the United States government has a moral obligation to make changes to current drug laws. It is unfair to the groups targeted by the laws, and the federal debt could be significantly reduced if less money was invested in law enforcement. The problem is addiction, not drug use.