Drug Legalization

Essay by Anonymous UserUniversity, Bachelor'sB, November 1996

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Strong drug enforcement in the United States is correlated with the reduction in crime , drug use, and drug addiction growth rates. The impact on tougher drug sanctions has been overshadowed by a myth that U.S. drug enforcement has become too lenient.

This myth has been promoted by the multi-million dollar pro-drug legalization lobby, civil libertarians, and misguided academic researchers to the public with limited review and challenge.

Attacks on drug enforcement efforts often hold law enforcement to impossible and changing performance standards. Law enforcement , treatment , and prevention complement each other. None of the credit for the twelve year decline in drug use among our children is attributed to law enforcement, yet recent increase in drug use are cited as evidence of law enforcement's failure.

Without question, drug abuse in our society has been a major cause of crime and social disruption. The drug problem has been so enormous that some in our society , misguided by frustration , are listening to the arguments to legalize or decriminalize drugs.

The solution to the drug problem is not to repeal the drug laws. The solution requires commitment to a balanced effort on drug education , prevention , treatment, and law enforcement. Softening our drug laws would be a major mistake. Research and data clearly shows the problem is not drug prohibition , but drug use. When drugs are cheap and easily accessible , more people will use them. It is a frightening scenario that envisions more of our citizens, both juveniles and adults, using mind -altering substances that not only affect their own behavior and health, but also endanger innocent people.

Experience has already shown a link between illegal drug use and crime; that even the so called ' victimless ' use of marijuana can cause a disproportionate amount...