While there are many ongoing topics in the United States, the legalization of drugs is one of the most largely debated in the United States. The common argument of this debate is whether drugs should be legalized or kept illegal. Within this debate, some writers agree that there is a potential profit from taxation, how the war on drugs has been a failure, but disagree on that the legalization of drugs would create a safer country. The first point of agreement among those who agree about legalization of drugs is that there is a large potential profit from the legalization of drugs. For instance Elliott Morse, who is pro-legalization, makes the point that legalization could net in $70 billion (paragraph 29) in taxes annually which he then compares …show more content…
She is a firm believer that drugs kill and very dangerous and should remain illegal. Even if the rich and famous can succumb to the dangers of drugs, what is to stop everyday people to not follow in their steps if all drugs are available at one’s finger tips? She furthers goes on to plead to Progressives to “oppose drug legalization because the people most likely to be killed… the futures most likely to be destroyed are the very people progressives work hardest to help” (paragraph 7). While Joseph Califano too believes “if drugs where legalized, it is the nation’s children who could suffer long-lasting, perhaps permanent damage” (paragraph 1), but father and ex-junkie Tony O’Neill thinks otherwise. O’Neill firmly believes that a relapse is not a problem that would be prevented whether drugs are illegal or legal; but with full legalization, there is no dangers from using laced or contaminated drugs due to their being a standard maintained by an agency such as the FDA. O’Neill often asks himself why he is an advocate for the full legality of drugs, and his answer is simply that his daughter is in a society where it’s easier to obtain illicit drugs than it is to obtain alcohol (paragraph
This is a summary taken from “Saying Yes” by Jacob Sullum; Chapter 8; “Body and Soul”. An ever-present theme in Sullum’s book is what he calls “voodoo pharmacology”—the idea, promoted in large part by the government, that certain drugs have the power to hijack people and enslave them in an inescapable prison of craving and compulsion. Sullum seeks to show that this idea is a myth, that only a tiny percentage of illegal-drug users become addicts, whereas the vast majority of people who use illegal drugs live normal, productive, loving lives. The book is filled with valuable insights derived from deconstructing government statistics about drugs and drug use. Sullum shows how even the most vilified drugs, such as heroin and crack cocaine, are
As director of the National Drug Control Policy, William J. Bennett shares his stance on the drug war in “Drug Policy and the Intellectuals”. He addresses the arguments that American’s have proposed in regard to the legalization of drugs. Bennett goes on to say that the justification behind legalizing drugs lacks the seriousness that a topic like this should have. In addition, the results would likely be disastrous. Rather than “taking the profit out of the drug business”, Bennett’ alternative is to make the usage of drugs a less appealing option.
In “How About Low-Cost Drugs for Addicts?” (1995), Louis Nizer argues that drug addiction is a serious problem and we are losing the ability to gain control over drug addiction. Nizer suggests the government should create clinics that provide drugs free or at nominal cost and be staffed by psychiatrists. The benefits of the new approach will push the mob to lose the main source of its income, the drug dealers will run out of business, and the police or other law enforcement authorities would be freed to take care of other crimes. Nizer also believes that free drugs will win the war against domestic terrorism caused by addicts. On the other hand, Nizer provides some of the opposing arguments that providing free drugs would consign a person to
I believe that the piece “‘The Pills are everywhere’:How the Opioid Crisis Claims Its Youngest Victims” is credible, after examining the article. The piece opens up the argument on the issue now surrounding parents struggling with addiction; their children. Their safety is in question, and this article, written by Julie Turkewitz, brings this issue to light. Turkewitz uses facts such as the total deaths of minors by opioid poisoning since 2015, but she also tells the story of Penny Mae Cormani, 1, and her family's response to the death of their daughter. She hears Penny’s grandmother, who gives her direct quotes for the article.
Ellen Hopkins’ Crank is an epic poem geared toward warning young people of the various consequences of using dangerous drugs. However important its message, it provides a single story, a stereotypical tale influenced by pop culture about addiction and the people it affects. In the poem, the heroine, Kristina Snow, gets addicted to methamphetamines, otherwise known as “crank”. Her life takes a downward turn that includes pregnancy and dropping out of school. The poem depicts just one experience with drug abuse and links it to what is perceived to be the most likely thing to happen if you get addicted to drugs, providing a false single story for the young people it targets.
Ruth Dreifuss, the former president of Switzerland, is an activist of preventing heroin throughout the world. Recently, she wrote an article in CNN fighting the heroin epidemic that plagues the U.S. Her tactic employs “Policies that are people-centered, focused on health and most importantly keeping people alive all while respecting human rights” (Dreifuss). Dreifuss’s tactic, which she used in Switzerland, is very similar to the ideas used by medical professionals, but there are some differences. Her tactics are also slightly controversial, utilizing “opiate substitution therapy” (Dreifuss).
Overall, Gore Vidal’s argument of legalizing drugs is very compelling. The style of writing is unique and keeps the reader interested. Vidal takes a popular argument (in 2016) and provides a sound argument in support of
People are using drugs either because they are depressed, in pain, or have a struggle they don’t want to face. Because these drugs are so addictive, people need money and resources to break the habit. This epidemic is a major social problem. Trump talks about how he wants to bring back Nancy Reagan’s idea about the “Just say no”program.
For example, agencies have been established with the sole intent to manage drug use and distribution and technology has been exclusively developed to detect the presence of drugs. Yet, evidence has indicated that such exhaustive efforts have been relatively unsuccessful. First, it has been assumed that drugs have perpetuated violence in society and based on this rationale, it was believed that by the suppressing the pervasiveness of drugs that incidents of violence would simultaneously diminish. However, reality has failed to align with the expectations that had initially been anticipated. Research findings have suggested that the decriminalization of drugs would result in a less adversarial drug market in which conflicts have tended to arise among dealers as well as between dealers and buyers (Common Sense for Drug Policy, 2007, p. 21).
In his article, “Toward a Policy on Drugs,” Elliot Currie discusses “the magnitude and severity of our drug crisis” (para. 21), and how “no other country has anything resembling the American drug problem” (para. 21). The best way to describe America’s drug problem is that it is a hole continuously digs itself deeper. America’s drug issues were likely comparable to other country’s at one point in time, but today it can be blamed on the “street cultures” (para. 21) that continue to use and spread the use of illegal drugs. These street cultures transcend the common stereotype of drug users, such as low income communities in cities or welfare recipients, and can be found in every economic class and location. They are groups of people who have
The use of narcotics like cocaine, claimed many lives and earned widespread coverage by media and news. Following this Nancy Reagan began the “War on Drugs”, a campaign to combat pre-existing drug usage and prevent future
Upon reading Gore Vidals "Case for Legalizing Marijuana" one may wonder why drugs are not legal in the United States of America. Afterall, several valid reasonings were made throughout the article. There is a demand for drugs and many people are supplying them, while also making a small fortune. If drugs were made legal and sold for high prices, their market would decrease because many people would not be able to afford them. Most people involved in the drug world do not know the consequences of that which they consume.
Would the decriminalisation and / Legalisation of controlled substances improve or hinder the economic, health and social circumstances of drugs users, their families, communities and society? This essay will briefly outline the current policies on drugs in Ireland and will examine the policies and substance misuse from a European and international perspective; then it will discuss how decriminalisation of drugs and substances can improve or hinder the economic, health and social circumstances of drug users, their families, communities and society in general. Examples of controlled substances in Ireland include cocaine, heroin, methadone, cannabis (full list of controlled substances found in the schedule Misuse of Drugs Act 1977).
Cons of Legalizing Recreational Marijuana Marijuana legalization, for whatever reason, has been a topic of heated debate for years now. Different people express different opinions about why or why not it should be legalized for recreational use. The American FDA categorizes marijuana as a Schedule I drug meaning that its benefits are not guaranteed as many people claim. Although the drug has been said to contain medical benefits, the reality is that further research on how and when to use it is needed. Different states have legalized the use of Marijuana for medical reasons.
As of recent, the war on drugs has been a very often discussed topic due to many controversial issues. Some people believe the War on Drugs has been quite successful due to the amount of drugs seized and the amount of drug kingpins arrested. I believe this to be the wrong mindset when it comes to the war on drugs. The war on drugs isn’t a winnable one so we must do all that is possible to assist those who struggle with drug addiction and decriminalize small amounts of drugs. These minor changes in the way we combat drugs will create significant change and have lasting effects.