Essay About U.S. Population And Essay Legalize Drugs

Legalize Drugs
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The question of whether to legalize drugs or not is a very
controversial and important issue. Drugs affect so many areas of
society. “The U.S. population has an extremely high rate of alcohol
and drug abuse” (Grolier). Several groups have formed and spoken out
regarding their position. “Speaking Out Against Drug Legalization
is the first step in helping to deliver the credible, consistent
message about the risks and costs of the legalization of drugs to
people in terms that make sense to them. The anti-legalization message
is effective when communicated by representatives of the Federal
Government, but takes on even more credibility when it comes from
those in the community who can put the legalization debate in local
perspective” (Internet).
After learning about the issues regarding both sides of the
argument, I would choose to support those who oppose legalization
of any drugs. Drugs simply create problems which effect society in
several ways. The government has made several efforts to control drugs
and their users, however, to most the problem appears too out of hand.
“Others see potential profit in legalizing drugs and still others
simply believe that individual rights to take drugs should be
protected. The group also acknowledged that the legalization concept
appeals to people who are looking for simple solutions to the
devastating problem of drug abuse” (Internet). Societys answer to
the problem is to trick the drug user by giving him what he wants.
People believe that making drugs legal will take away the temptation
to use them. This idea is wrong and far from logical. If drugs are
legalized then they will be more accessible to the young, addicted,
and ignorant.
“As a result the ready availability of addicting drugs, and as
a result of their heavy use for medical problems, many individuals
became addicted to the narcotics contained in these potent medicines.
In fact, in 1900, there were more narcotics addicts, proportionate to
the population, than there are today. At that time, most of the users
who became addicts were medical addicts. Very few abusers took drugs
for “recreational” purposes. In 1914, in an effort to curb the
indiscriminate use of narcotics, the federal government passed the
Harrison Act, making it illegal to obtain a narcotic drug without a
prescription. During the 1920s the Supreme Court ruled that
maintaining addicts on narcotic drugs, even by prescription, was in
violation of the Harrison Act. Some 30,000 physicians were arrested
during this period for dispensing narcotics, and some 3,000 actually
served prison sentences. Consequently, doctors all but abandoned the
treatment of addicts for nearly half a century in the United States”
(Grolier).
The only resulting effect will be a negative one. There are no
positive aspects of putting drugs on the streets with a label reading
“legal.” There are plenty of people in society that find enough
trouble on their own without the help of their country. Legalizing
drugs would have a devastating result that would affect society as a
whole.