Our War On Drugs Essay

A do drugs can be described as a chemical substance that influences how an individuals ashes and mind workings (Rees 2005 p. 5). It is uncommon today to hear the countersignature drugs on televisions and read them in magazines. do drugss ar virtually everywhere and on that point is continual development of these drugs. They argon uptaked by people for motley reasons ranging from medicinal to recreational purposes. Drugs that atomic number 18 interpreted as medicines let in antibiotics and penicillin among an different(prenominal)s. just some drugs be under-the-counter. They include cocaine, ecstasy, ganja, cannabis, heroin, crack, methamphetamines, LSD (acid), alcohol and magic mushrooms.These under-the-counter drugs ar excessively known as recreational drugs and many are gotten from plants growth in various(a) parts of the world. Amphetamines are drugs that can be inhaled, or eaten in form of tables. diacetylmorphine is smoked or taken as an injection. Marijuana on the former(a) afford consists of a chocolate-brown resin. It is mostly smoked in cigarettes and it can also be eaten (Rees 2005 p. 30). corrupt of drug use is known as drug addiction. When a psyche constantly takes these illegal drugs for recreational purposes this addiction develops as a operation and not instantly.Addiction to drugs affects individuals of multicultural, geographically diverse, across gender and racial classes. The initial steps are very moderate but their increased use results to a state of life threatening situation. Withdrawals are hardly achieved as the issue becomes of medical concern. Those who abuse drugs put one over their various reasons. They argue that drugs table service them alleviate stress, boosts their morale and confidence, makes them feel good about themselves among many other things. Drug abuse has various adverse effect.Some of the effects include rises in blood pressure, vomiting, impairs memory and judgment capability of an individual . Other effects are poor decision fashioning, accidents, impaired health and poor relationships. The consequences of these are physical, psychological and stirred up instability on the drug abuser. The individual and so suffers from depression (Rick 2005 p30) A large number of people who abuse drugs mold to quit at some point but this is often knockout since once a person is addicted to drugs, it is almost impossible to subdue taking them as they mostly experience withdrawal symptoms.The symptoms are for pillow slip body aches, sweating, and flu in the case of heroin. Nicotine on the other hand results to fatigue and premature aging affecting the skin, body shape and body weight. On the other hand, fast withdrawals could result to dangerous impacts. For instance tranquilizers could be dangerous resulting in high blood pressure, vomiting, temperature and stomach cramps (Rees 2005 p. 42) Our War on Drugs The war on drugs is a move undertaken by the unify States including enc ourage from other participating countries whose priority is to eliminate trade in illegal drugs.It traces its origin way back in 1880 where there was a account of understanding between join States and China to prohibit trade in opium between the two countries (http//www. nh-dwi. com/caip-213. htm). Today in the States, mostly the young experiment with these illegal drugs and they do it for various reasons. Some do it for recreational purposes whereas others are simply addicts as they cannot do without them. The United States presidential term and the general common have become concerned about drug abuse and addiction.The government became more concerned about the issue in the 1960s when the jejuneness mostly college students protested against the Vietnam war and in the 1960s and 1970s they began using legitimate and outlaw(a) drugs on a large scale for the first sentence (Fleckenstein Hanson & Venturelli 2005 p. 125). As a starting point the United States government introduced newborn strategies for tackling this issue of drug use and abuse. These strategies include enquire reduction, inoculation, affix reduction, interdiction and drug courts. The use of drug courts has become a common strategy.The fork over reduction is a strategy fetched at reducing and keep in lineling supply of illegal drugs. Demand reduction aims at reducing the individuals tendencies to abuse drugs specially the youth. It places emphasis on reforming behaviors. Inoculation on the other hand attempts to harbor drug users by informing them on their responsibilities. Drug courts on the other hand integrate incentives, sanctions, treatment and ensure that nonviolent drug addicts are placed in rehabilitation programs.Lastly interdiction is a form _or_ system of government aimed at stopping the supply of these illicit drugs (Fleckenstein, Hanson & Venturelli, 2005 p. 25). In the United States of the States, there are quite a number of rectitude enforcements sets on drugs that have been established to restrict drug abuse. They include Harrison Acts that looks into the production, sales agreement, importation and distribution of opium. The other Act is the Narcotic Drug Import and Export Act aimed at alleviating use of narcotics but it is exceptional for medicinal and other legitimate use. Heroin Act of 1924 prohibited the manufacturing of drugs. The Marijuana Tax Act also controlled the production, sale and distribution of marijuana.The Opium Pappy Control Act restricted the cultivation of opium poppies in the United States except if one is licensed to do so. Narcotics control act on the other hand intended to establish suffer penalties to individuals who broke the marijuana or narcotics laws. Drug Abuse Control Amendments (DACA) was established to adopt bar controls over barbiturates, amphetamines, LSD among others moreover the Narcotic Addict Rehabilitation Act (NARA) was established to rehabilitate drug addicts in the three programs that is volunta ry, sentencing to death addicts who are convicted and the pretrial civil commitment.In 1988, the Anti-Drug Abuse Act introduced the office of subject area Drug Control to oversee policies on research controlling drug abuse. Lastly the 2000 Drug Addiction Treatment Act gave a go ahead to physicians to prescribe narcotics for the treatment of oploid addiction (Fleckenstein, Hanson & Venturelli, 2005 p. 135). The white House topic Drug Control Strategy in 2006 declared it stand and need to balance the reduction in supply and demand of illegal drugs in the United States of America. It also outlined programs intended to curb abuse of drugs.In the same year, the matter Drug Control Strategy pointed out its aim of supporting random student testing, intervention, screening, prevention, treatment and support for drug courts examining methamphetamines and making the United States southwest border secure (uninfo. state. gov/xarchives/display. gtm/? p. ). Another regulatory law enforcement body concerning drug abuse in the United States is the Drug Enforcement disposition (DEA). Its mission is to control drugs and provide laws and regulations regarding drug abuse. The National Drug control Strategy established a ten year plan to slenderise drug abuse.It also aims at reducing Americas demand for drugs by offering treatment and supply through law enactments (http//www. usembassy-mexico. gov/bbfbfdossier-combDrogas. htm). The higher up drug laws indiscriminate use of drugs and it is through the legislation that licit and illicit drugs are determined. The government of the United States tries to meet public needs and control pressure through these rules and regulations. Due to the advancement in technology in todays society, trained experts and government agencies provide information and auspices on drug abuse.Are we winning the war on drugs? In my opinion, I do not believe that we are winning the war on drugs. I have based my judgment according to various reasons. Si nce the prohibition of drug abuse in 1937 in the United States of America marijuana once considered for Mexican immigrants has been actively used by 20-37% of the youth in the United States. The same applies to the use of cocaine, ecstasy and methamphetamines (World Drug Report, 2000). The continual trade in drugs is also another factor that has severely impact efforts by the government to prevent drug abuse and addiction.The United States of America is largely affected more so because of its population and largest budget that focuses on enforcement. President George W. Bush in February 2002 established a National Drug Control Strategy based on the Principles of stopping the usage of drugs, disrupting the grocery store and curing Americas drug addicts (Policy and Program Development, 2002). Evidence also shows that the criminal law in the United States has had only small mastery in preventing drug abuse. It is approximated that in 2004, 39% of students in the 12th stray used an illicit-drug, 34% was marijuana, cocaine 5% and LSD 2%.Also, those aged 12 and above who use illegal drugs as estimated by National Survey is 19. 5 million in the United States (Fleckenstein, Hanson & Venturelli, 2005 p. 140). In the United States, family structures have changed considerably having half of all women working outside household and the divorce rate is quite high. This has affected the nurturing of children by all these case-by-case parents.Family and friends have also contributed to the increasing drug abuses since they are ready to chemical bond out and offer excuses for those who have been convicted (Fleckenstein, Hanson & Venturelli, 2005 p. 40). To conclude, it is therefore evident that the war on drugs is still far from being over. It is therefore essential that the society works hard to stop abuse of drugs which is causing deaths on a colossal scale. It is essential for individuals to know that the effects of drugs on the social life, economic life, emotional and spiritual life are adverse. The extreme case of addiction to these drugs is the icon of the individual person to death.