How drugs are affecting our lives - Essay Example

? How drugs affect our lives Introduction Human beings tend to face a lot of challenges that rob them their loved ones. Not to mention accidents on roads and diseases. However, amongst all these, drug abuse stands out to be slowly cutting down generations. Many people especially youth have become enslaved in it. The government has to play a role before the situation gets worse. The number of school dropouts has increased not forgetting the high rate of social crimes. These issues call for enlightenment of both the young and old, not to allow their lives to be ruined by this killer activity. Should drugs be legalized? However, as much as it may be easy or difficult to describe arguments in relation to legalization of drugs, there are still some critics over the issue (Bernnett7). It is believed that there is still some worthiness in researching a position that shows concern over both the legalization and the current policy. According to an editor Dary Frezell who works for St. Petersburg Times, he lays forth some suggestions. Even though depressed by the current drug situation, Mr. Frazell is afraid that the government might take on board one of the two extreme approaches of either involving the military to bar the circulation of drugs from abroad, or alternatively giving legalization to drugs. He goes ahead to caution that even before thinking over taking on either of the two approaches, there is a need to try a third approach, which he perceives to be less of a risk; to change our notion and attitude to drugs in that there use is guaranteed not chic, but instead, a matter of shame and disgrace. Frazel is of the belief that in the same way the attitude towards cigarettes and drunken driving was changed, so can the bad influence on drugs be changed (Bernnett14). It has proven to be a mission impossible to control and address the countries drug calamity. In light with this, Frazzel compares it to just like trying to dam the Mississippi River by throwing rocks at it (Bernnett 15). Indeed, people are getting impatient to see something done to end this issue in any relevant way, but then the distinct measures being advocated for are much of an inconvenient and risk. The depressed public is swiftly moving in two directions in its bid to get some sort of balm for its anguish of, which one faction would deploy the military forces in a persisted effort to stop the supply of drugs from abroad and the administration and the congress seems to be initiating this idea. In a bill supported by the senate, the armed forces have the green light to make civilian arrests but only special trained troops would be used. In the entire mission, the military would observe civil rights, but then smugglers would be given a different treatment because they are invading enemies. The army, sailors and airmen are never trained to be lenient to enemies. Their mission is to coerce and when need be, kill. Frazzel is disturbed by the wrong- house raids committed by various police units in the past and acclaims that no man is perfect and even the highly trained drug enforcement officers make mistakes. They force their way into wrong residences and mishandle innocent people and he questions if that is the kind of power that the military wants to be given upon the American citizens (Bernnett 17). Frazel looks out on how far the United States has moved since the times when they were unprepared for war. The American army was small and weak and was always calm to avoid getting to war. That has taken a drastic change ever since the World War II, and now the U.S. military is always ready to fight both internally and externally. This army is ever present to protect America’s national interest against foreign invasion. The entry of their intervention into law enforcement program that is domestic should be a worry to everyone who minds about civil liberties. There is a caution Frazzle puts across that, no piece of legislation will solve the drug issue though it can be improved as senator Sam Nunn (Democrat, Georgia) is quoted saying in relation to the senate bill. He is concerned of the extent it has to be improved and the capacity length of freedom to give in to protect ourselves from ourselves. From the other end, there are those who support that the marines be send in to curb drug abuse; a view that was considered irresponsible until recently. Another argument is raised by Baltimore Mayor Kurt schmoke on page 1-D, that its legalization would bring the drug trafficking crime machine to a standstill by shading off its fuel and money. Schmoke is of the opinion of treating drug abuse as a health issue and not a crime because the use of tobacco stimulates other people to work efficiently. However, in the current setting of modernity, things have changed and people have reserved places and corners for smokers. A practice previously looked as evil is now socially acceptable. If drinking habits have been changed in relation to driving ethics, then the same can be extended to drugs. Case for legalization of marijuana. Stopping the influence of drugs in United States in a short stint of time is not easy. There is a need to put clear descriptions on every drug, which includes both the positive and negative effects of using it (Vidal 4). This process requires a lot of honesty, whereby people should not say bhang or a certain drug is addictive or harmful when it falls in either of the categories being a different version from what people understand of it. Like, for instance, people know heroin as highly addictive and difficult to get away from it. So to say as a matter of prove, I have used almost all this drugs but fallen addict of none thus disproving the famous FU Manchu theory that a single puff of opium will corrupt the mind. Even though a lot of drugs are dangerous for certain people to get involved with, they should be advised against them in a sensible manner. Besides, the elaboration and warning, it is better for the nation to remember each person has a right to do whatever pleases him in life without interference as long as it does not infringe on the freedom of others to have happiness (Vidal 8). This is totally different with the present generation of Americans who base on our curriculum of public education, which has made the bill of rights, literally and quite unacceptable to plenty of secondary graduates who culminate to the silent majority. It is now clear that everyone can hear the alert warning rumble take centre stage. If each person is allowed to intoxicate drugs, then all people will and it will lead to a decrease in GNP. These commies will hinder from having everyone free and surely go down to a race of zombies with no one to direct the other. It disturbs more that every normal person will go under the influence of drugs if they are informed of what effects the drugs have after use (Vidal 10). The question raised is whether everyone is reasonably sane? In the same way some people become drug addicts, some get involved with alcohol, which actually is terrible. However, every person has the right to either make or destroy his life. However, limiting people on what they may want to do just increase their desire to use them. Alcohol and other drugs should be used, but should not be an avenue and excuse for crimes and irresponsibility. The government has to come up with measures to control this. It is notable that, drugs are causing a number of deaths in the state (Vidal 12). Yes, there is money in drugs, but the number one priority remains to preserve the lives of citizens. Social and economic impact of drug abuse The high rate of social, economic impact of drug abuse in the society has really affected the family set up. Though many view a family as a source of support in times of tragedy, the vice has proven to be diluting such views. Most of the family members suffer from traumatization after the loss of a close family member or even what they might be going through. Drug abuse amongst teenagers and even older people has led to an experience of” unnecessary” deaths. For instance, in “A Family Story from Southie” the narrator narrates painfully how he lost his sister at a young age due to violence based on drug related case (MacDonald 24). It has also been noted that women who are not drug addicts have in most cases been abused by their husbands. Three quarters of the children living in that estate had been orphaned through drug abuse. This shows that drug abuse has become a killer activity apart from other causes of death. Due to drug abuse social crimes have also been on the rampant (MacDonald 31). For instance, a boy from Southie is crushed for allegedly selling cocaine in Southie without having paid taxes. These among others are the many effects of drug abuse in the society. Works cited: Bernnett, William. Should drugs be legalized? Web 04 Dec 2012. MacDonald, Michael. All souls: a family story from Southie. Boston: Beacon Press, 1999. Print. Vidal, Gore. Drugs: Case for Legalizing Marijuana. New York Times. 1970. Web 04 Dec 2012. Read More