Under the security cooperation agreement called the Merida Initiative, the United States provides military and law enforcement assistance to the Mexican government in support of efforts to combat drug cartels and organized crime. The United States and Mexico jointly developed this agreement in response to a substantial increase in drug-related criminal activity and violence on both sides of the border.

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By refocusing from more militarized bilateral security assistance to institution building, Mexico and the United States can work together to strengthen the rule of law, to the benefit of both countries.

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The U.S. Psychotropic Substances Act of 1978 was signed into law on November 10, 1978 as Public Law 95-633.

The African Union Plan of Action on Drug Control and Crime Prevention Enforcement Mechanism was adopted on December 7, 2007 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The African Union Revised Plan of Action on Drug Control and Crime Prevention was adopted on December 7, 2007 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Transforming Afghanistan's opium farming from heroin to morphine production would thwart the Taliban and stabilize the economy, writes Vartan Gregorian, president of Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Senator John Kerry chaired this Senate Subcommittee on Terrorism, Narcotics, and International Operations that produced this December 1988 report.

The Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 was signed into law on November 18, 1988. Among its provisions, it established the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

The Southasian Regional Convention (SAARC) Convention on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances was signed on November 23, 1990 and entered into force on November 15, 1993.

The U.S. State Department released this fact sheet on the Plan Colombia on March 28, 2000.

The U.S. Office of Drug Control Strategy released the U.S. Drug Control Strategy 2012 report on April 17, 2012.

The Harrison Narcotics Tax Act of 1914 was approved on December 17, 1914. It involved "a special tax on all persons who produce, import, manufacture, compound, deal in, dispense, sell, distribute, or give away opium or coca leaves, their salts, derivatives, or preparations, and for other purposes."

As violence soars, so do voices of dissent against drug prohibition, notes this Economist piece.

The U.S. Department of State released its 2012 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report in March, 2012.

The U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy released the National Northern Border Counternarcotics Strategy in January 2012. The press release states,

"The Strategy outlines new actions that seek to reduce the two-way flow of illicit drugs between the United States and Canada by increasing coordination among Federal, state, local, and tribal enforcement authorities, enhancing intelligence-sharing among counterdrug agencies, and strengthening our Nation's ongoing counterdrug partnerships and initiatives with the Government of Canada and Canadian law enforcement agencies."

Shannon K. O'Neil says domestic responsibility and action are needed to win Mexico's drug war.

Shannon K. O'Neil testifies before the U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on Foreign Affairs and  Committee on Homeland Security on the way forward for U.S.-Mexico security cooperation.