How did Mexico's drug heaven develop from the context of U.S. drug policies and geography? U.S. prohibitions on opium, alcohol, and marijuana pushed the black industry to Mexico, while Mexico's poverty and corruption fueled its growth. Since 1971, the U.S. "War on Drugs" has ended in failure, giving rise to countless smaller, more violent criminal gangs. Today, both countries suffer: Mexico is plagued by the chaos of drug cartels, while the U.S. faces mass drug addiction.