For more than fifty years, the United States has waged its so-called “War on Drugs”, yet despite decades of enforcement and reform, the U.S. continues to face record overdose deaths, the spread of synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, and growing uncertainty about the right policy direction. In this moderated conversation, Paul J. Larkin, Senior Legal Research Fellow at the Heritage Foundation, will reflect on what America has learned — and what it has failed to learn — from half a century of drug policy.  

The discussion will address Oregon’s failed experiment with drug decriminalization, exploring why well-intentioned reforms can sometimes backfire, and examine the emerging threat of novel psychoactive substances (NPSs) such as nitazenes, which challenge both law enforcement and public health systems. 

Paul J. Larkin is a Senior Legal Research Fellow at the Meese Center for Legal and Judicial Studies at The Heritage Foundation. His research focuses on criminal justice, drug, and regulatory policy. He joined Heritage in 2011 following a distinguished career in public service, private practice, and corporate law. He served at the U.S. Department of Justice, and as an attorney in the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Racketeering Section. He later served as Counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee and held senior roles at the Environmental Protection Agency. His government service earned him the Secretary of Defense Medal for Meritorious Civilian Service. In the private sector, Larkin practiced law at two prominent Washington, D.C. firms and served as Assistant General Counsel for a leading telecommunications company.  

Moderator: Róbert Bodor, law student at Sapientia University, member of the MCC University Program. 

The discussion takes place as part of the MCC Budapest Summit on the Global Drug Epidemic conference. 

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