In the same way that overly strict parenting often increases rebellious behavior, a recent study by political scientist Dorothy Kronick and economist Juan Castillo highlights how militant policies often increase the violence they initially aim to curtail.

In a May 2004 press release, the alarming an unintended side effects of Drug Prohibition were laid bare by economist Jeffrey Miron.

Arguably the War on Drugs' most renowned critic was economist Milton Friedman, who at that time was writing a regular column in Newsweek.