Mostly commonly in today’s society the word ‘drug’ is commonly associated with any substance that is harmful to the human body. However, there are major definitions that certain individuals have developed to clarify what entails something to be a drug. According to Kramer (2012), a drug can be defined as any substance that has the ability to change how an individual feels or behaves based on the chemical properties that constitute that substance. That implies that the drug has the ability to affect an individual positively or negatively. Drugs have the ability to enter the bloodstream and cause certain effects to occur in the body and mind (Kramer, 2012). Gossop (2007) provides a number of definitions of drugs. One of these definitions is mostly linked to the chemical properties of a substance and its medical value. Mostly this definition is traditional. Another definition that is provided is that a drug is any chemical substance that is either synthetic or naturally extracted from plants or animals which can be used to cure diseases (Gossop, 2007).
In the various definitions, a similarity is that a drug has a unique characteristic of having chemical properties. The chemical properties may be either known or unknown. The chemical properties are more responsible for any alteration in the mind or body of individuals who indulge in the drug use. Furthermore, it is vital to note that even legal drugs if abused can tend to have similar effects as illicit drugs have on individuals. The problem in defining drugs is that they are substances that have acquired properties that necessary are not intrinsic to their nature (Gossop, 2012). Other substances have the ability to produce psychological effects that drugs do. For instance, people can get high on the inert material (Gossop, 2007).
What defines a legal drug?
A legal drug can be defined as a drug that is not covered or listed as an illicit drug, which is stipulated in the Misuse of Drugs Act (Plant, 2002). Laws may change from time to time and drugs that were considered as illegal can be classified as legal. In the recent past, there has been the case of some states legalizing marijuana use. According to Thompson and Gibbs (2016), about 24 states have legalized the use of marijuana for medical use. However, the federal government has still not yet recognized and legalized this aspect. Furthermore, some states have gone even further to legalize recreational use of marijuana (Thompson and Gibbs, 2016). In every state, one can be subject to paying fines and even jail term for illegal drug possession. That means even covers possession of some legal drugs without a prescription. However, it is important to note that the specific penalties for drug possession tend to shift from state to state (Lostocco, 2004). The USA prohibits the use of certain drugs based on the abuse potential the drug poses to the society. According to Croft (2000), drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and LSD are considered to have a high abuse potential and their effects on the society are costly. The federal government has the responsibility of ensuring its citizens are protected from the effects of such drugs by instituting policies that can ensure order.
Opinion
One has to agree on the fact that a drug has to have chemical properties whether intrinsic or not. The chemical aspects are the main part that causes changes whether physical or psychological in drug users. What makes the difference between illegal and legal drugs is what the federal government defines in legislation. However, this becomes an issue where different states have their own definitions of what constitutes a legal and an illegal drug. The laws on drugs that are developed seem not be effective as more illegal drug trafficking continues to increase. A more active solution needs to be sort. Legalizing some of the illicit drugs can be helpful but the question remains if the government will be able to cope with the repercussions of legalizing such drugs that are considered detrimental to the society.
References
Croft, J. (2000). Drugs and the legalization debate. New York: Rosen Pub. Group.
Gossop, M. (2007). Living with drugs. Aldershot [u.a.: Ashgate.
Kramer, A. (2012). Drugs. Chicago: Britannica Digital Learning.
Lostocco, A. H. (2004). US internships for international students and young professionals. Coral Springs, Fla: Llumina Press.
Plant, M. (2002). Risk-Takers: Alcohol, Drugs, Sex, and Youth. Routledge.
Thompson, W. E., & Gibbs, J. C. (2016). Deviance and deviants: A sociological approach.
