4% for methamphetamines; and 2.3% for heroin (Abrams).
It is estimated that by 2010 there will be 35 million teens in America (Levinson). This is a significant demographic to be concerned about. There would also be an increased chance of illicit drugs falling into the hands of children, just like cigarettes and alcohol now that are prohibited from being sold to kids. A greater availability, in general, would increase the likelihood of children being able to obtain them (Messerli).
Harm reduction is one of the primary benefits of legalizing illicit drugs; however, opponents feel that this theory is fatally flawed. Although the suffering of drug users should be reduced, their destructive habits shouldn't be tolerated. "Harm Reduction advocates forget the thousands of impressionable teenagers for whom the law is a reminder that society considers drugs dangerous. Remove the penalties of the law and the message changes. Now young people hear society saying drugs aren't dangerous" (Burden). Although human costs may be reduced through the Harm Reduction plan of proponents, it does not facilitate reduced use.
Although the War on Drugs, as it stands, may not be the perfect solution, legalization does not remedy the problem either. The Netherlands has implemented hemp bars, providing a form of legalization, and as a result has seen a startling high increase in substance abuse. Switzerland implemented 'needle parks' where users could shoot up without fear of the police, in hopes of containing the problem to an isolated area. However, use simply spread. Although proponents of legalized drug use cite the fact that the Netherlands have an heroin use level below the European average (Schuster), Holland, one of the most drug-friendly countries, has become a smuggling center for the countries nearby (Forbes).
In conjunction with the fact that drugs and crime are so interrelated, the illegal status of drugs also serves to further protect the public. By arresting people who have committed drug offenses, law enforcement has arrested an individual who is more likely to commit a more serious crime. In this way, they have reduced the likelihood of other crimes on the street, as well and made the community safer (Messerli).
As noted previously, drug use is almost always a factor in criminal behavior. In one survey of state prisons, it was discovered that "28% of prisoners that were convicted of murder, 20% of inmates convicted of sexual assault and 23% of inmates convicted of assault were under the influence of drugs when they committed their crimes" (Eldredge & McCollum).
Eldredge and McCollum further cite another study that showed drug users were 10 times more likely to commit a violent crime than non-drug users. In California, when the state attempted to legalize marijuana in 1976, arrests for driving under the influence skyrocketd 71.4% among juveniles and 46% among adults, in the first six months alone.
Legalizing drugs would be a drain on the American economy. Although proponents often mention the revenue that could be had from legalized sales of illicit drugs, there are greater economic concerns. Billions of dollars would be spent on the treatment of societal ills brought about by drug use. In addition, it is estimated that legalization would cost the country between $140 billion and $210 billion each year in lost productivity and job-related accidents. One only has to look at the statistics for alcohol to begin to picture the costs to society if drugs were legalized. Total tax revenue from alcohol...
Drug abuse of both legal and illegal substances has a devastatingly negative impact on American society as a whole. Definition of Drug Abuse Legal Drugs Illegal Drugs Prevalence of Drug Use Impact of Drug Use Financial Costs Impact in the Workplace Costs of Incarceration Health-Related Issues Homelessness Lost Potential Family Life Pregnancy and Health of Children Death Alcohol and Traffic-Related Injuries Initiatives to Combat Drug Use Legalization and Decriminalization Prevention Drug abuse of both legal and illegal substances has a devastatingly negative impact on American society as a whole.
Over the years, marijuana abuse has continued to be regarded as being damaging to the well-being of our society and, in most countries, it is illegal to possess marijuana. In spite of being generally rejected by the public, marijuana also has numerous supporters. Its supporters usually claim that the plant is not dangerous for its consumers and that it actually shouldn't be called a drug. For several decades, the drug
Drug Use and Abuse Drug abuse Caetano (1997, 58) in his studies describe drug abuse as the poor pattern of substance or drug consumption that results to harm on one's health and when you think about the word drugs, what comes to mind? It's in our human nature to instantly think about someone using crack or codeine. So therefore; we just stereo-typed someone we knew nothing about, it's what makes us humans.
Economists are concerned with the impact that the sale of drugs has on both individual and economic freedoms and frame their argument from this perspective. Others argue that reliance on the criminal justice system has not produced significant results and that it is time to reframe the argument to focus on the education, prevention, and treatment of drugs. From the economic perspective, there are apparent differences between government prohibition and
Impact of Drug Abuse on School Children Aged 10 To 18 in Developed Countries (U.S., Canada, France, England, Germany, Italy, Russia, Australia, Japan and China): Narrative Literature Review Introduction The problem addressed in this literature review is that in developed countries around the world, drug abuse among school children between the ages of 10 and 18 is on the rise (UN, 2018). School children are particularly vulnerable because their bodies and minds
Education to both addicts and non-addicts is important since it discourages those people who have not started taking drugs and informs those who are addicted on the consequences they are likely to face. The government should facilitate the setting up of more businesses so us to provide employment opportunities for ex-addicts who are undergoing treatment and those who have completed treatment. This will make their minds to be occupied with
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