IntroductionThe United States has a complex system that has been demonstrated in its framework and enforcement practices associated with drug laws. A number of federal and state policies have been formulated, which sometimes appear to overlap, thus giving rise to a number of conflicts between different levels of government. This essay will explore and demonstrate the federal drug policy that the United States federal government is designing and the federalism issues that this policy raises. especially because it is aimed at young Americans. According to Gaines$ Miller (2010 p. 383), drug prevention is incorporated in the form of three elements and has been placed under the responsibility of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). ONDCP Priorities Stopping drug use before initiation; this focuses on the prevention of drug use and is achieved through research-based programs. They focus on providing care and treatment to America's addicts and addicts. This involves intervention and drug abuse programs that aim for the sustainable recovery of drug users and the provision of aftercare. The third objective is to destabilize the drug market. This is done by tackling the supply side of drugs. History The history of drug use dates back to the 19th century, during the American Civil War. This saw the introduction of a number of policies and by 1898 heroin was inaccessible. The next drugs to be targeted were alcohol, and in 1906 the United States Congress passed the Pure Food and Drug Act (PFDA) to help end the use of these drugs. The next drug that was targeted was opium and a law was passed in 1909 to ban it... middle of paper ... states did so, although in different ways. This does not mean, however, that the national government has been left out of the loop constitutionally as it must look to the “equal protection” clause to claim a clearer and broader mandate for action . However, it appears that drug policy is being left open for debate. ConclusionPolicy-making in the federal system is fraught with pitfalls. The Constitution is vague about how the federal government and the national government should share their responsibilities. There has been an ongoing challenge in determining roles and responsibilities regarding the regulation of medicines. However, despite its complexity, the federal system provides opportunities for participation by citizens and government officials. As a result, we can benefit from successful policymaking through broad participation of all stakeholders involved..