When it comes to the politics and culture of drugs, we are indeed special—or at least dramatically different from the rest of the Western world. Too often, however, we are special for the wrong reasons.
Americans are more likely to try illegal drugs than anyone else in the world, according to global survey data from the World Health Organization.A higher percentage of Americans have tried marijuana than the Dutch. A higher percentage of Americans have tried Cocaine than the Colombians. America apparently has a higher percentage of people who are high than any other country. And a higher percentage of people incarcerated for drug-related crimes.
Everything is different in America, including drug usage and addiction.
