As you walk around Tufts, it is likely that you will overhear several conversations regarding drugs. For some, it may be regaling tales of shots taken and beers "shotgun'd." Others may be doting praise upon the stimulants that kept them trucking through finals. And, of course, conversations on the artistic merit of glassware and the dankness of a particular plant are a constant in certain circles. Affecting one's mental state through mind-altering substances is embedded in the human experience, being particularly prominent among college students. This enthusiasm suggests the potential for more comprehensive dialogue, one that critically examines the United States' war on drugs and the complementary, unsustainable growth of the American prison-industrial complex. If we are to create a more perfect union, one that is both just and cost-effective, we must reform the broken institution of the American prison system. For the sake of our wallets and our souls, something needs to be done.

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