The Unbeatable War on Drugs

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Recommended: analyze the history of the war on drugs

Society’s view of drugs has vastly changed based on the sociological imagination of the times. Sociological imagination basically means that we are able to view ourselves as a part of one large group rather than individuals. Human’s behavior and attitude have evolved based on the social forces that have adjusted around them. This changing of ideas has been clearly apparent in the Americas and is a prime example of the prohibition of alcohol from 1920 to 1933. The illegality of alcohol provided the Mafia with an opportunity to produce liquor and therefore it had considerable control over those who wanted their alcohol and service. The part that the Mafia played in the 1920's has been developed into the drug dealers and drug cartel of this century. The justification they used to legalize alcohol under Amendment 21 in 1933 should be just cause to legalize most Narcotics today. With the legalization of Narcotics, many deaths related to drugs would decrease and the price would also decrease because big businesses could produce large amounts of Narcotics at less cost. Thus reducing crime that was once committed to support illegal drug habits. Another drug that has played a large role in American society is Nicotine. For hundreds of years, cigarettes have been a very popular and legal drug within the United States. Only through research and education has the popularity and the use of cigarettes declined within the past decade. Physically, the actual consequences of using illegal Narcotics are much less than those of commonly used drugs like alcohol or cigarettes. Illegal Narcotics can and will be made safer than they currently are in the present system. Economically, the production of drugs in the United States would greatly bene... ... middle of paper ... ...aused by the war on drugs. It would respect the right of individuals to make personal choices about what they consume, while still holding them responsible for the harm they cause others. It would free up real money for prevention and treatment programs that currently enjoy more lip service than funding. And it would encourage the deviant to seek help rather than force them underground. Clearly, there will be some increase in drug use if Narcotics are made legal and accessible at a reasonable price. Yet the benefits of legalization will outweigh the negatives: less crime, more funding available for greater rehabilitation efforts, fewer jail cells and prisoners, better utilization of law enforcement personnel, greater respect for the law and fewer deaths from impure substances. When today’s sociological imagination catches up with reality progress can be made.

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