any strategy that allow a few to control many. which is the norm everywhere now. overton window, overthrown government and education system. thinking of uranium and plutonium as the most harmful discoveries is very naive... but I remember thinking the same when I was young. so see where you are coming from.

Cocaine was recommended and prescribe for much more than anesthetic. the other two also have medical use cases. the "war on drugs" did much worse than the substance themselves. drugs don't ruin lives, but people who ruins their lives might use drugs.