But is that because of the drugs themselves or an absolute lack of systems and incentives that facilitate and promote agency, ownership and integration?

The system is absolutely broken in many ways. It has to be a multifaceted approach. Drug legalization is a piece of it. With drug legalization, millions of opportunities for more ownership would be created.

Because the real problem is ownership/agency. It's very hard to own anything, ownership has never been so expensive. You can't own anything, the rich/State have it all basically.

My point is if land was suddenly free in south America a lot of more stability and prosperity would be created. This would eventually generate better families, more opportunities, stability and peace and thus create less trauma that leads someone to despair like that in the streets of LA.

I believe more economic opportunities elsewhere mean we all benefit through competition. A lot of Americans would instantly move to South America and capitalize many places with capital, knowledge, etc, etc.