Powerfully Addictive Drug Of Abuse example essay topic

Is the Government Morally Justified in Declaring Some Drugs Illegal? There are all kinds of drugs. Whether or not the drug is illegal or not depends on what drug we " re talking about. It is important to look at both the bad effects and long-term effects, such as addiction, when determining legality.

Certain drugs, such as prescription drugs like Ritalin, are illegal to the people who abuse them. They are designed for people who need the drug and can be dangerous if taken without seeing a doctor first. Other drugs, such as marijuana and cocaine, are illegal to everyone. The government has put a block or law on these. These drug laws are supposedly for your own good. It is the type of drug and its effects that determines whether or not it should be illegal.

When it comes to drugs, there are various aspects that need to be considered. Cocaine is a powerfully addictive drug of abuse and is currently illegal. Individuals who have tried the drug describe it as a powerful experience that gave a "high" and a feeling of dominance. Because cocaine is so highly addictive, once someone starts taking it, one cannot predict the extent of drug abuse or the continual ity.

The ways to take cocaine include: sniffing, snorting, injecting, and smoking. Health risks are present regardless. Smoking has slightly higher health risks. It allows extremely high doses of cocaine to reach the brain much quicker, resulting in an immediate, intense high. If injected, the drug user has a risk of contracting HIV / AIDS if needles or other injection equipment is shared. Physical effects are what make this drug illegal, and so highly dissuaded.

The effects include constricted peripheral blood vessels, dilated pupils, and increased body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure. It's also said that you will have a feeling of restlessness, irritability, and anxiety (both during use and in between periods). Once addicted, it is difficult to be broken out of the habit and death is very likely a possibility. High doses of cocaine, or just lengthened usage, can trigger paranoia.

Smoking crack cocaine increases aggressive behavior. Alcohol mixed with cocaine compounds the danger each drug poses and causes a complex chemical interaction within your body. The human liver combines cocaine and alcohol to produce a third substance, coca ethylene. This enhances cocaine's euphoric effects and possibly increases the risk of sudden death. When addicted users stop abusing the drug, many times, depression is followed. This then motivates re-addiction in the user to suppress the cravings.

However, prolonged use has severe deterioration's on the body. Long-term effects include ulceration of the mucous membrane of the nose and can damage the nasal septum enough to cause it to collapse. Many cocaine-related deaths are due to cardiac arrest or seizures followed by respiratory arrest. When referring to cocaine and its legitimacy, the government strictly enforces the illegality of its use. Cocaine is not only highly addictive, but also deadly.

In this case, the government is, for the most part, justified in declaring it illegal. The only argument is banning something that only affects the person at hand. A more familiar, and highly debatable, illegal drug is marijuana. It doesn't have nearly the same health risks or addiction rates. The main active chemical in marijuana is THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocaccabinol). Short-term effects of marijuana use include problems with memory and learning.

There may be a difficulty in sight and problem solving, along with loss of coordination and increased heart rate. Researchers have found that THC changes the way in which sensory information gets into and is acted on by the hippocampus. This is vital for learning, memory, and the integration of sensory experiences with emotions and motivations. It is a component of the brain's limbic system. Learned behaviors that depend on the hippocampus deteriorate. Someone who smokes marijuana may have developed a cough, similar to tobacco users.

Continuation of marijuana use can lead to abnormal functioning of lung tissue, either injured or destroyed. Babies born to women who used marijuana during pregnancy have altered responses to visual stimuli, increased tremulousness, and a high-pitched cry. This all indicates problems with neurological development. Marijuana's legality is highly argumentative because of the low risk fact that there is no physical addiction. It can be mentally addictive where you think you need it, but this is extremely different from the cravings experienced when desiring cocaine, or even nicotine in cigarettes. However, it is still a drug and this keeps it in the illegal category.

Some states today are looking into allowing marijuana. It is about as dangerous as drinking milk. However, many studies have shown that it has lead to cocaine use along with other powerful drugs, thus giving it the name as a gateway drug and also reinforcing it's illegality. Though studies have shown loss in brain cells, there are many things in daily life that destroy brain cells, such as heading a ball in a simple game of soccer. Though a cough may develop, this is from heavy smoking and when inhaling, holding the smoke longer in the lungs. Medication is also dangerous if used incorrectly.

Ritalin, for example, is a medication prescribed to children with an abnormally high level of activity or with attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It is occasionally prescribed for treating narcolepsy. Ritalin stimulates the central nervous system, having effects similar, though less potent, to caffeine. Ritalin is the trade name for methylphenidate.

It has a calming effect on hyperactive children and a "focusing" effect on cases of ADHD. When taken prescribed, and correctly, Ritalin is a valuable medicine. Research has shown that people with ADHD do not get addicted to their stimulant medications at treatment dosages. However, it is considered illegal to people for whom it is not medication. Its stimulant properties create cases of substance abuse. Some stimulant users mix Ritalin with heroin (similar to the hazards of cocaine), or with both cocaine and heroin for a more dramatic effect.

Users in middle and high school crush and inhale the drug or take the pill orally. Another common case is parents abusing the drug from their children's prescriptions and having to be admitted into treatment programs. Because stimulant medicines such as Ritalin, and also others like Valium (a potent painkiller), have potential for substance abuse, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has placed stringent controls on their manufacture, distribution, and prescription. It is important to keep these drugs prescribed because of their misusage. Though there is also no addiction rate of the prescription drug alone, it is the dangers of mixing that divides this drug from others.

It is hard to determine which drugs, if any, should be legalized. Though many are harmless alone, they are commonly used with other potent drugs. Some people argue whether or not it is even up to the government. Normally, a person should be able to decide on his or her own life and decide what's good and bad.

Some argue that this is a violation of their freedom and rights. Mill says that people have the right to be free as long as actions don't harm anyone. You can do what you want to yourself, but only as long as you don't cause harm to anyone else. However, if you harm yourself, this harms your family. This is not okay. You can compare this with suicide.

Suicide is a very selfish act because you hurt everyone who cares about you. He says this is pretty much the only exception. However, he does go on to say that drugs are harming yourself and no one else. He says there is no direct effect on anyone or on society and so it's ok. He doesn't take into consideration, however, that serious drugs such as cocaine and heroine can kill you and this does affect others. Mill wants to respect the freedom of the individual.

The bad effects and the long-term effects can decipher the differences between drugs. Friedman thinks drugs are causing problems for society. He thinks stricter laws aren't going to solve the problem either. To stop drugs we need to have an extreme that pushes away freedom.

In order for actions to make effect, you would need a police state where freedom is restricted. He says that we need to give up some freedoms in order to have effect. It would take a major action. Even if it could be stopped, it's always going to be snuck in.

Drugs are such a cash maker that no law enforcement is strong enough. He says that drugs lead to violence because drugs are so wanted that you go to extreme to get them. If drugs were made legal, there wouldn't be violence to get them. Also, once drugs are legalized, prices would drop. We wouldn't have extreme prices that drug-dealers are getting. This would hurt the dealers and they wouldn't be able to make the money they are now.

Also, if drugs were legalized, we could get taxation. This would help the economy. However, is it worth the population's health? Friedman says to legalize drugs, even the stronger ones.

The problem of stopping drugs is that we " re focusing money on police but it would be a better use of money on rehab and helping people who are addicted. However, drug addicts don't want to be put in rehab. If we legalize, more drugs are brought in and we can't force people to go to rehab and thus rehab is not used. The only people in rehab are the ones who are forced to be there. Bennett says we should keep drugs illegal.

Drugs affect people. We will have increased health care costs, hospitals crowded, and people over-dosing. We need to avoid legalization. He says that sure maybe less violence and less dangerous because the government controls it (not mixing or putting unknown stuff in it). Bennett says we will always have a black market and there are still going to be people doing stuff to drugs, hidden dangers.

He thinks we will not get rid of the crime. Most criminals were criminals in something else before drugs. They " ll still have the criminal element. Taking away the drugs doesn't stop the crime. I agree with Bennett in that drugs should be illegal. However, not all drugs.

I think the serious, stronger drugs should be illegal, but less severe drugs, such as marijuana, should be legalized. It is not exactly the drug itself in these cases of marijuana and Ritalin, but instead what will be mixed or started after. Prescription drugs may have the same argument as marijuana, but they are doctor recommended for illness. There is no need to take the drugs if you don't have a problem.

Marijuana can be used for headaches or for sleep. One problem I see is that it will lead to other stronger drugs such as cocaine. Another problem is that, once legalized, the thrill will be gone. One of the reasons to try it and then, in most cases, continue with drugs is the thrill of getting caught or the fact that you know you " re doing something illegal. Also, drugs are so readily available today that basically if you want them, you can have them. There is not much the government can do.

The government might as well legalize marijuana and make money off of it. It is going to be done illegal or legal. If it were to be legalized, the government could watch over it (no mixing of drugs). Also, since there seems to be an age limit and everything, such as alcohol and cigarettes, an age limit could be put on marijuana.

As I stated above, there are many factors that are contributed to the legality of drugs. It is the government's decision to determine which, and though some disagree, it is for the welfare of the country. This topic is high in discussion today and it's a hard decision to make considering all of the pros and cons. I think the way things are is fine, but for now only. A decision has to be made. You can't allow it in certain areas and not everywhere.