Nixon officially declares a "war on drugs," identifying drug abuse as "public enemy No. 1."
Nancy Reagan launches her "Just Say No" anti-drug campaign
Reagan signs the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986, which appropriates $1.7 billion to fight the drug war.
After receiving personal threats from drug traffickers, the Colombian Supreme Court ruled by a vote of 13-12 to annul the extradition treaty with the United States.
President George H.W. Bush creates the Office of National Drug Control Policy and appoints William Bennett as the head of the program.
President Clinton signs the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which increases the amount of trade and traffic across the U.S-Mexican border.
This makes it more difficult for U.S. Customs to find narcotics moving across the border.
President Bill Clinton gives $1.3 billion in aid to Plan Colombia, an effort to decrease the amount of cocaine produced in that nation.
In February, three Americans — contracted by the Pentagon to help with Colombia's anti-drug effort — are taken hostage by guerrilla fighters after their surveillance plane crashes.
In April, the Illicit Drug Anti-Proliferation Act is enacted, which targets ecstasy, predatory drugs and methamphetamine.
