Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986

The Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 is a U.S. law aimed at reducing drug trafficking and abuse. It increased penalties for drug offenses and established mandatory minimum sentences for certain drug crimes, particularly for crack cocaine. The law also created programs for prevention and treatment, and expanded law enforcement powers. Its goal was to combat the growing drug problem nationwide, but it has been criticized for contributing to mass incarceration, especially among minority communities, due to the harsher sentences for crack versus powder cocaine offenses.