War on Drugs

The war on drugs is not a war that can be fought on the beaches of Normandy or in the jungles of Vietnam. It is a war fought in the backyards of all Americans, every day. This is a war that cannot be won with the aid of nuclear weapons or the help of any other forms of artillery. The number of casualties, however, will be determined by whether or not the legalization of drugs occurs. Many will suffer the same outcome as a soldier killed in battle if drugs become legal.

If marijuana and other drugs are legalized, obtaining drugs will be easier for people of all ages. With the increased use of drugs, there are bound to be more traffic accidents resulting from those who are under the influence of drugs. Also, if more people are lawfully able to use drugs, more people will buy them and the prices of them will go down making them much easier to buy. Drugs will be everywhere, even in the hands of America's youth.

Many drugs, even ones that are legal, cause health problems if they are used too often. Cigarettes and other tobacco products contain nicotine, an addictive substance that can cause illnesses such as lung cancer and other cancers to users. The legalization of narcotics that cause illnesses will mean that people who use the drugs are in danger of becoming sick and dying at an earlier age. If the narcotics fall into the hands of younger children, they will be at risk as well. Because their bodies are still developing, the narcotics will have a more devastating effect on them.

The government spends a great amount of money on centers for the rehabilitation of those who are addicted to different types of drugs. If drugs are legalized, more and more people will become addicted and more rehabilitation centers will be needed for them. The more rehabilitation centers that are built, the more money our government spends which is less money that can be spent on more important things.

Certain drugs are illegal for a reason. They damage the physical and psychological state of the user. If the legalization of drugs occurs, the American public may assume that the government condones the use of drugs. Those who once were addicts and those who may be curious about the drug will be able to buy them. The number of users will increase and so will the number of addicts. An increase in addicts could mean increased amounts of danger in American neighborhoods. The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse was able to explain in simple English why drugs are illegal in America: "Drugs are not a threat to American society because they are legal; they are illegal because they are a threat to American society" (Marbry par. 16). Drugs corrupt the minds of even the most honest American citizens. Making drugs legal could put the life of any American at risk.

Some drugs that are in the process of possibly being legalized for medicinal use are also a threat to American life. Marijuana is the most popular of drugs that can be used for medicinal purposes. Though the dosage prescribed would not be permanently harmful to the patient, it would be very easy for him to become dependent on the drug. Marijuana is known as a gateway drug, meaning that its effects are relatively mild. After a long period of usage, its effects decrease leaving the user in want of a bigger high. This craving leads drug users to heavier drugs such as heroin, cocaine, or LCD. (Schwebel 87). After awhile, even the heavy drugs begin to lose their potency. To deal with the deprivation of bigger highs, users usually begin taking larger dosages, which may lead to an overdose and death. The legalization of even medicinal drugs could easily lead to more deaths from drug related illnesses or overdose.

A major cause for concern in the United States is the number of lives taken by drunk drivers. Another disturbing fact is that many lives are taken by drivers that are stoned. If marijuana or other drugs are legalized, the number of people killed in drug or alcohol related traffic incidents will increase. It is hard to tell if someone is driving under the influence of marijuana. When a person is drunk, normally the odor of alcohol is on their breath. There is no distinctive odor from marijuana that can be tied to its use (Messerli par. 15). Because the signs of marijuana abuse are not very obvious, it will be harder for the police or other officials to prevent an accident from occurring. Legalizing marijuana seems to be a way to increase almost certainly the number of accidents and deaths on the road.

The legalization of drugs will not only cause more deaths resulting from traffic accidents, but more citizens will die each year due to drug use. The effects of narcotics on a person's mental and physical health are devastating and will lead to a premature death. For example, the use of crack physically affects all systems of the body and can cause death in a number of ways including respiratory depression, ventricular fibrillation, coronary heart disease, and immune deficiencies (Allen 24-25). The legalization of drugs will only increase the amount of people that die from diseases and conditions caused by narcotics.

The psychological state of drug users is also affected by drug use. The use of drugs threatens their aspects of life and life itself ("Against the Legalization of Drugs" pars. 1-4). A user may become excessively depressed and only thoughts of getting more of the drug they are addicted to are on his mind.