Introduction.

Drugs, are defined as a chemical substance that affects the processes of the mind or body. Drugs were originally used for medical purposes. For example, morphine was once used in the battlefield as a pain killer for wounded soldiers. The prohibition of drugs have not been around for a long period of time, so it is not hard to guess that more number of people was addicted to drugs than there are today. Drugs sometimes may be extremely expensive, cost for heroin in New Zealand is as high as $1300.00 USD for one gram, (Havoscope, n.d.) so people who are addicted to it, or any other addictive non-medicinal drugs, will have no choice but pay for the market price, which may result in problems like criminal activities, family violence and cost to society resources. Some people believe that there are medicinal use for prohibited drugs like marijuana and heroin. However there are also more extreme arguments saying that it is exactly the prohibition of drugs that drove the price of drugs up, and gave people no choice but gaining access to drugs via black market, which drives the price of drugs up. If drugs are made accessible publicly then the price shall fall, which will resolve problems stated above.

Havoscope. (n.d.). Heroin Prices. Retrieved October 14, 2011, from http://www.havocscope.com/black-market-prices/heroin-prices/

The Good

Drug does have its own negative effects, but maybe these effects can be put into good use, and become a substitute for some extreme cases of medical emergency. Class A drug, heroin, is a fast acting opiate, a drug that comes from opium, and is a refined product of morphine. (National Drug Intelligence Center, 2003) We already know that morphine was and still is used as pain killers for severe or terminal illnesses such as cancer. However morphine does not always works, depending on individual patient's response to morphine. If heroin is a refined form of morphine, it is logical to give patients heroin when morphine does not respond to the particular patient.

National Drug Intelligence Center. (2003, March). Heroin Fast Facts. Retrieved October 15, 2011 from: http://www.justice.gov/ndic/pubs3/3843/index.htm

The Bad

We know that drugs have addictive nature, and drug addicts have strong physical and psychological dependence on the drug they are taking. It is exactly the reason why non-medicinal drug dealers can charge as much as they like for the item which they like, literally because they can.

Addicts that cannot afford to buy drugs sometimes resolve to extreme actions like criminal activities like robbery and steal. On top of that family violence may occur. Because "drugs lower inhibition and impulse control" (Hartney, 2011) so addicts will often be in an unstable mental condition and may beat up people close to them like family members. Even if their head is clear they may still beat up family members and force them to hand over their money so that the addict can buy drugs.

Drug addiction is also a burden to the government, as the government will have to allocate their already scarce resources, both time and money, in enforcing the prohibition of drugs. This socio-political issue has been such a heavy burden that even some politicians in New Zealand, i.e. Dr. Don Brash of Act Party are considering the possibility to withdrawing government resources, such as police force, from prohibition of cannabis. (Young, 2011) Dr. Don Brash's statement does not make taking drugs a right thing. It only proves the point that drug addiction in the country is such a big issue and it is difficult to deal with, even for the government.

Hartney, E. (2011, July 15). Connection between substance use and family violence. Retrieved October 14, 2011, from http://addictions.about.com/od/familyrelationships/a/domesticviolence.htm

Young, A. (2011, September 26). Chasing cannabis users a waste of police, says Brash. Retrieved October 15, 2011, from http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10754366

The Nuts

There will always be people trying to make some argument to legalize drugs, and choose to believe that government and general public is just making a big deal for nothing over the issues on drugs. Some people makes arguments like "legalizing drugs will decrease the price for drugs along with amount criminal activities", "legalizing drugs will free up police force, unclog court system and solve prison overcrowding." and "legalizing drugs will cripple drug related criminal organizations". (The Pragmatist, 1988) To me these comments are like utterly pathetic attempt to legalize drugs, so the writer themselves can get access to cheap and legal drugs.
Even if drugs are legalized criminal activities will still be high because drug addicts simply does not have the physical ability to work due to the effect of the drug. Therefore when they actually spent all their earning on drugs, they will still have to steal or rob so they can buy drugs, so the police force will still be busy, the prison will still be crowded and the court system will be still clogged. Criminal activity will be just as bad, or even worse, since more people are doing it now.

The Pragmatist (1988, August). Twelve reasons why drugs should be legalized. Retrieved October 18, 2011, from http://www.bmstahoe.com/Drugs/

Conclusion

For conclusion, I believe that drugs are dangerous thing, and should be prohibited, so the government can keep general public away from such dangerous substance. However the strong medical effect of drugs can be used for medical purposes as well, under government supervision of course. As for the statements for fully legalizing drugs is simply impossible and not practical, and the benefits been list were nothing more than irresponsible and unverified statements acting as an excuse to gain easy access to drugs.

Reference List

Hartney, E. (2011, July 15). Connection between substance use and family violence. Retrieved October 14, 2011, from http://addictions.about.com/od/familyrelationships/a/domesticviolence.htm

Havoscope. (n.d.). Heroin Prices. Retrieved October 14, 2011, from http://www.havocscope.com/black-market-prices/heroin-prices/

National Drug Intelligence Center. (2003, March). Heroin Fast Facts. Retrieved October 15, 2011 from: http://www.justice.gov/ndic/pubs3/3843/index.htm

The Pragmatist (1988, August). Twelve reasons why drugs should be legalized. Retrieved October 18, 2011, from http://www.bmstahoe.com/Drugs/

Young, A. (2011, September 26). Chasing cannabis users a waste of police, says Brash. Retrieved October 15, 2011, from http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10754366