The issue of drug addiction and abuse of other substances has always been a very controversial matter. One thing is clear: "the use and abuse of drugs creates an enormous toll on our nation's health, its economy, and families and communities" (Belenko & Spohn, 2015, p. 1). Although the negative consequences of substance and drug abuse are well-known to everybody, people differ in opinion regarding drug legalization and whether any individual should have a civil right to abuse drugs.
Some people argue that an individual should be responsible for his/her choices and, therefore, they should have a civil right to abuse substances and bear responsibility for this choice and its harmful consequences. However, "the most common and damaging misunderstanding about drug dependency is that it only concerns the person using the drugs" (Barnard, 2007, p. 9). In my opinion, this perception is absolutely wrong. According to Barnard (2007), "it is a perception that not only places enormous pressure on the individual who is dependent on drugs but it also ignores the pain experienced by families and loved ones" (p. 9).
On the other hand, a lot of people believe that drug addiction and substance abuse are mental diseases that need psychological treatment. Therefore, another important question that needs to be answered within this context is whether drugs should be legalized or not.
"Almost on a daily basis we read or watch stories about drug overdoses, violence, newly emerging drugs, devastated families and neighborhoods impacted by street drug markets" (Belenko & Spohn, 2015, p. 2). My personal belief regarding substance abuse is that substance abuse should be strictly prohibited and that individuals should have no civil right to abuse substances. Consequently, I also believe that drugs should never be legalized or made available to public.
The first reason for this belief is that even occasional substance abuse will inevitably result into substance dependence and psychological addiction. In actual fact, according to the report produced by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (2012), "addiction is a chronic, often relapsing brain disease that causes compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences to the addicted individual and to those around him or her" (p. 1). These negative consequences of drug abuse affect all spheres of an individual's life: from professional career to personal and family relations.
What is more, drugs and other substances abuse causes irreversible negative consequences for an individual's health. It is an ascertained fact "drug addiction and abuse can rapidly destroy the body and mind of the user" (Benavidez, 2013, p. 190). For instance, "over time, marijuana abuse causes damages the respiratory system, causing breathing problems and possibly lung or mouth cancer. It can also suppress the immune system, which protects body from disease and illness" (Edelfield & Moosa, 2012, p. 7). The abuse of highly addictive synthetic drugs, which are made of toxic chemicals, is extremely dangerous and often leads to fatal outcome in case of drug overdose. The majority of drug abusers, even those who stopped doing drugs, are likely to suffer from negative health consequences of drug abuse for the rest of their lives.
Another reason that supports the above statement is that drug addiction and abuse of other substances has a profound impact on the society. According to Belenko and Spohn (2015), psychoactive effects caused by drug abuse "also result in changes in behavior and various social consequences, inevitably impacting society" (p. 3). Numerous studies and researchers prove that individuals who abuse drugs and other substances are more likely to demonstrate violent and aggressive behavior and are more likely to commit aggressive and criminal acts, which results into social instability. It also should be noted that neighborhoods that are negatively impacted by drug markets, become a dangerous place to live in or even visit.
In the majority of cases, drug abuse and addiction is associated with the lack of career opportunities for drug addicts and negative economic welfare of their families. "When addiction is experienced in a family structure, financial stability can be at risk if the drug abuser is allowed access to family assets" (Benavidez, 2013, p. 190). A lot of substance abusers tend to steal from their families and friends in order to but a desired substance.
Another crucial reason for substance abuse prohibition and denial of an individual's civil right to abuse substances may be related to the negative impact of drugs and other substances abuse on an individual's interpersonal relations. Drug addiction of a family member causes pain and suffering for his/her family and loved ones. In fact, "addiction to a drug can cause loved ones to seem alien even to those in their own family" (Benavidez, 2013, p. 190).
Taking into consideration all the above-mentioned reasons, I would like to draw a conclusion that substance and drug abuse is a serious problem that affects not only addicts and their families, but also the communities they live in and even country taken as a whole. Therefore. all the negative impacts and consequences of substance abuse and addiction present a fundamental challenge to the government as well as every to every individual. In order to eliminate or at least minimize the negative effects of substance abuse and addiction substance abuse has to be strictly prohibited on a legislative level and individuals should have no civil right to abuse substances. Consequently, the legalization of drugs should not be permitted.
References
Barnard, M. (2007). Drug addiction and families. London: Jessica Kingsley.
Belenko, S. R., & Spohn, C. (2015). Drugs, crime, and justice. SAGE Publications.
Benavidez, E. J. (2013). Getting high: The effects of drugs. Xlibris.
Edelfield, B., & Moosa, T. J. (2012). Drug abuse. New York: Rosen Pub.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2012). Understanding drug abuse and addiction. Bethesda, MD: National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services.
