People in almost all cultures, in every era, have used psychoactive drugs. Native South Americans take coca-breaks the way we, in this country, take coffee-breaks. Native North Americans use peyote and tobacco in their religious ceremonies the way Europeans use wine. Alcohol is the drug of choice in Europe, the U.
A "drug free America" is not a realistic goal, and by criminally banning psychoactive drugs the government has ceded all control of potentially dangerous substances to criminals.
Instead of trying to stamp out all drug use, our government should focus on reducing drug abuse and prohibition-generated crime. This requires a fundamental change in public policy: repeal of criminal prohibition and the creation of a reasonable regulatory system.
While it is impossible to predict exactly how drug use patterns would change under a system of regulated manufacture and distribution, the iron rules of prohibition are that 1 illegal markets are controlled by producers, not consumers, and 2 prohibition fosters the sale and consumption of more potent and dangerous forms of drugs.
During alcohol prohibition in the s, bootleggers marketed small bottles of plus proof liquor because they were easier to conceal than were large, unwieldy kegs of beer. The result: Consumption of beer and wine went down while consumption of hard hard liquor went up. Similarly, contemporary drug smugglers' preference for powdered cocaine over bulky, pungent coca leaves encourages use of the most potent and dangerous cocaine products.
In contrast, under legal conditions, consumers -- most of whom do not wish to harm themselves -- play a role in determining the potency of marketed products, as indicated by the popularity of today's light beers, wine coolers and decaffeinated coffees. Once alcohol prohibition was repealed, consumption increased somewhat, but the rate of liver cirrhosis went down because people tended to choose beer and wine over the more potent, distilled spirits previously promoted by bootleggers.
So, even though the number of drinkers went up, the health risks of drinking went down. The same dynamic would most likely occur with drug legalization: some increase in drug use, but a decrease in drug abuse. Another factor to consider is the lure of forbidden fruit.
For young people, who are often attracted to taboos, legal drugs might be less tempting than they are now. That has been the experience of The Netherlands: After the Dutch government decriminalized marijuana in , allowing it to be sold and consumed openly in small amounts, usage steadily declined -- particularly among teenagers and young adults. Prior to decriminalization, 10 percent of Dutch and year-olds used marijuana.
By , that figure had dropped to 6. Would drugs be more available once prohibition is repealed? It is hard to imagine drugs being more available than they are today. Despite efforts to stem their flow, drugs are accessible to anyone who wants them.
In a recent government-sponsored survey of high school seniors, 55 percent said it would be "easy" for them to obtain cocaine, and 85 percent said it would be "easy" for them to obtain marijuana.
In our inner-cities, access to drugs is especially easy, and the risk of arrest has proven to have a negligible deterrent effect. What would change under decriminalization is not so much drug availability as the conditions under which drugs would be available.
Without prohibition, providing help to drug abusers who wanted to kick their habits would be easier because the money now being squandered on law enforcement could be used for preventive social programs and treatment.
Some people, hearing the words "drug legalization," imagine pushers on street corners passing out cocaine to anyone -- even children. But that is what exists today under prohibition. Consider the legal drugs, alcohol and tobacco: Their potency, time and place of sale and purchasing age limits are set by law. Similarly, warning labels are required on medicinal drugs, and some of these are available by prescription only.
After federal alcohol prohibition was repealed, each state developed its own system for regulating the distribution and sale of alcoholic beverages. The same could occur with currently illegal drugs. For example, states could create different regulations for marijuana, heroin and cocaine. Ending prohibition is not a panacea.
It will not by itself end drug abuse or eliminate violence. Nor will it bring about the social and economic revitalization of our inner cities. However, ending prohibition would bring one very significant benefit: It would sever the connection between drugs and crime that today blights so many lives and communities.
In the long run, ending prohibition could foster the redirection of public resources toward social development, legitimate economic opportunities and effective treatment, thus enhancing the safety, health and well-being of the entire society.
Against Drug Prohibition. For example, nicotine, alcohol and caffeine are all legal. People use them everyday. To accurately answer this question, we must look at the approval process. This is the current process for drugs today. As you can imagine, the process has evolved over time. Once a drug has gone through the approval process, it may or may not be deemed safe for use.
An opioid such as OxyContin has gone through this approval process and is only considered safe when monitored by a medical professional. Another opioid such as heroin is illegal because it is not safe for use.
The individual has no way to know how the strength of the heroin as it may include other ingredients with the drug. It is important to note that even if a drug is legal, it should be used with caution. If you are experiencing any side effects, please seek immediate medical attention. If you or someone you love struggles with a drug problem, Skywood Recovery is ready to help. Please call our toll-free, hour helpline, , to find the high-quality treatment you deserve. Accessed 6 July Search Go.
Different illegal drugs have different effects on people and these effects are influenced by many factors. This makes them unpredictable and dangerous, especially for young people. Below are some types of illegal drugs. Click the link to find out more about each drug, its effects and potential harms. Depressants are drugs that slow down the central nervous system and the messages that go between the brain and the body.
The term depressant purely refers to the effect of slowing down the central nervous system. Some examples of depressants include: alcohol, opioids e. Stimulants also referred to as psychostimulants are drugs that stimulate the central nervous system and speed up the messages going between the brain and the body. These drugs typically increase energy, heart rate and appetite.
Hallucinogens are drugs which typically alter how a person perceives the world. These drugs can change the way a person sees, hears, tastes, smells or feels different things, including experiencing things that aren't there at all.
Some examples of hallucinogens include: ketamine, magic mushrooms, LSD. To find out more, read our Hallucinogens factsheet. Add your name and the email address of the person you would like to share this resource with and the information will be emailed to them. By sending this message, you confirm that the recipient if someone other than yourself has consented to receiving this message from you.
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