Legalization of Drugs Essay - 1494 Words

Legalization of Drugs Legalization of drugs has been a very controversial issue in the United States for many years. Drugs being legalized can have both advantages and disadvantages on society. On one hand, certain drugs, such as aspirin has long been used as a common medicine to many people, to cure diseases and help people with their personal problems such as headaches, toothaches, to name a few. Some people even take the drug daily as a therapy to lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes. On the other hand, legalization of all drugs could potentially lead to over use; putting the young generations at great risk due to their unawareness of the effects and damages some substances can cause. This issue becomes directly connected to the†¦show more content†¦I agree with Shapiro that the three components of addiction including drug, setting and set impact the nature of drug addiction. â€Å"Humans are social or cultural animals, not just products of their biochemistry, and this means, in part, that social norms or rules play a significant role in influencing behavior,† the author explains (Shapiro, 532). I think that if a person is in the environment that accepts drug use, that person will be more likely to use drugs by observing what is around and accepting it as a â€Å"norm.† Likewise, in the environment where people are using drugs in moderation and with limitation, that behavior will likely carry over in the individual. Shapiro explains why it is much harder to quit smoking than to stop using other drugs. He states that smokers smoke for a variety of different reasons such as to relax, handle anxiety and stress, and also as a social lubricant. Because smoking becomes intertwined with so many activities and situations, quitting smoking turns out to be a difficult change in a person’s life. That is why the pharmacology of smoking cannot be separated from its social setting. The same principle Shapiro applies to the addiction of cocaine or heroine. According to his view, the addictiveness of any drug depends on an aforementioned set, setting, and pharmacology. The highlyShow MoreRelatedThe Legalization Of Drug Legalization1310 Words   |  6 Pages Drug decriminalization is opposed by the majority of Americans. Leaders in drug prevention, education, treatment, and law enforcement are against it, as are many political leaders. However, pro-drug advocacy groups, who support the use of drugs, are making headlines. They are influencing legislation and having a significant impact on the national policy debate in the United States. Although, pro-advocacy groups claim decriminalization of drugs will lower incarceration rates and boost the economyRead MoreDrug Legalization1579 Words   |  7 Pagesget their drug, being able to get drugs for which they re sure of the quality. Isn t it a gateway drug to harder substances? The effect of criminalization is to drive people from mild drugs to strong drugs... Crack would never have existed in my opinion if you had not had drug prohibition. It was drug prohibition- why was crack created? Because cocaine was so expensive. [Cocaine was so expensive  because of drug prohibition.] But what about the morality of legalization? It sRead MoreLegalization Of Drugs911 Words   |  4 Pages The legalization of illicit drugs has been a popular topic of debate. While there is often concern about the potential toxicity and the habits that may form, drugs are not necessarily the problem. In fact, the legalization of illicit drugs may be the answer to some of society’s problems. 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ProhibitionRead MoreDiscussing Drug Legalization1821 Words   |  7 Pages â€Å"Drugs are bad, mkay.† That’s what we’ve come to learn from Mr. Mackey in South Park (Ike’s Wee Wee). While that is known, what is the best way to combat drug use in society today? It is true the government is spending billions of dollars on the â€Å"War on Drugs,† but if they were to be legalized would that be replaced with money being spent on healthcare due to drug related incidents, or drug treatment programs? It is true that a large amount of crime and the prison population are drug related offendersRead MoreLegalization Of Ilicit Drugs1236 Words   |  5 PagesLegalization of Illicit Drugs The debate of the legalization of illicit drugs has been around for some time. It is a fairly wide spectrum, with two varying opinions. While one side argues that illicit drugs should be legal, the other side stick to the more conservative side of the spectrum and argues that illicit drugs should remain illegal and have no place in our modern society. This paper will attempt to side with the legalization of illicit drugs for various reasons. It will make the communityRead MoreLegalization of Drugs Essay1305 Words   |  6 Pages The current hot-topic debate about the legalization of marijuana for medical exposes the long lasting debate about the economic viability of prohibiting certain kind of drugs considered illicit. Many social costs to society are attributable to illicit drugs, along with tobacco, alcohol, and guns. In fact, each of these vices is allegedly responsible for $200 billion annual expenditure in social costs of the USA (Donohue, 2010). Interestingly, all these commo dities mentioned above have common characteristics:Read MoreAgainst The Legalization Of Drugs1671 Words   |  7 PagesAgainst the Legalization of Drugs Legalization of drugs is an increasingly hot topic in today’s society. It is one of that needs vast advancements in research and treatment for addicts to prevent the moral and legal obligations, as well as the severe health ramifications that come along with addiction of these powerful drugs. To legalize drugs would be detrimental to the family unit as well as our youth and have serious health consequences at an alarming rate. James Q. Wilson, author of, â€Å"Against