And then I got busted, poster featuring Mercury Morris, National Institute on Drug Abuse, ca. 1980s
Courtesy National Library of Medicine
Former professional football player Mercury Morris became a spokesman for substance abuse recovery. In 1982, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison for drug trafficking. The courts later overturned his sentence.
The War on Drugs brought harsh sentences for drug offenses like this one, which disproportionately affected African American communities. These new laws further criminalized substance abuse, which often coincided with mental health diagnoses.
