Today

Today people have many different feelings and beliefs on drugs and if they should be used or not and if they should be legal or not. Some people believe that it is a self esteem issue as to why people use drugs other people believe that it is within a persons values and that their values will determine if they will become addicted or not. There are others, some are users others are not, who believe that drugs should be legal because it will help bring down the crime rate.

“The individual becomes addicted to a substance because it fulfills essential intrapsychic, interpersonal, and environmental needs” (enotes.com). This belief is that people become addicted to drugs because they have personal issues and they feel as though when they take the drugs they become a better person and the drugs enhance their personality. When someone is under the influence of drugs or alcohol they loose some of their realization as to what is going on and what they are doing causing them to do things that they wouldn’t normally do if they were sober. However there are casual drug users who don’t become addicted. These are the people who have a high self confidence and they don’t feel as though they need the drugs to become a better person so they don’t need the drugs they just want them. In both cases people feel as though drugs are bad and that something that alters your personality and changes who you are shouldn’t be used because they can be harmful to others. Under certain drugs some people who are naturally un-violent may become violent under the influence of drugs.

Although many people disagree with the use of drugs they do however think that they should be legal. With drug being illegal you have things like the drug wars. Because drugs are illegal people must be very secretive of the use and selling of them. Drug dealers usually carry some kind of weapon on them to not only help themselves stay out of trouble but from being hurt by the people that they sell to. However if drugs were legal people would be able to go to specific stores to be able to purchase it, there wouldn’t be as much stealing or violence to obtain the drugs.

The common thought through everyone’s mind is that drugs are bad. That they are harmful and enervate the body and potentially dangerous to others if people make poor decisions while under the influence (i.e. driving). Even people who use drugs acknowledge that they are harmful and choose to not care and use them anyway.

Sources:

"Values and Beliefs: Existential Models of Addiction: Encyclopedia of Drugs, Alcohol, and Addictive Behavior." ENotes - Literature Study Guides, Lesson Plans, and More. Web. 13 Oct. 2011. .

"War on Drugs - Pros And Cons." Men's Movement and Men's Rights - Fathers For Justice. Web. 13 Oct. 2011. .

History

Drugs are something that people have used for as long as they have been on the Earth. Humans are attracted to anything that makes them feel better and happier. As the government realized that drugs were something they needed to control the use and abuse of them started to become out of control. As time went on different types of drugs started to appear and more serious effects.

At the start of the 19th century is when the United States started to really see drugs like heroin and cocaine and the effects that they have on people. At first the drugs had no regulation and drug like heroin and cocaine were used for medical needs and were given out without and sort of restriction. Coca-cola got it’s name because it originally contained syrup from the coca leaves that people also used to make cocaine.

During the 60’s is when people we introduced to drugs like LSD and other hallucinogenic types of drugs. This was also when people started to use cocaine, marijuana among other drugs at a much higher rate and the DEA attempted to create laws against drugs. There are still drugs that you can get for severe pain (i.e Vicodin

, oxycontin ect.) that with a perscription are still available and some people believe are just as harmful and addicting as other drugs that are completely illegal. Although many people disagree, the DEA considers alcohol a drug. Alcohol is a drug that is most commonly used and abused however it is the one that is completely legal once you are of age.

Drugs today are used for many different reasons. Some people use them to feel high and have highs they alter who they are. People use them to enhance their fun and to make everything better. There are also people who use all sorts of drugs for medical reasons. To rid their pain or to make them feel like they aren’t sick anymore.

Sources:"History of Drug Abuse." Forensic Toxicologist Provides Expert Services on Drugs, Alcohol and Toxic Substances. Web. 08 Oct. 2011. .

"The History Of Drugs." Drug Rehab Alcohol Drug Rehabilitation Addiction Treatment Programs. Web. 08 Oct. 2011. .

"History of the War on Drugs - War on Drugs History and Timeline." Civil Liberties at About.com - Your Guide to Civil Liberties News and Issues. Web. 08 Oct. 2011. .

"Why Are Drugs Illegal?" Opposing Views | Issues, Experts, Answers. Web. 08 Oct. 2011. .

Drugs

Why do people use drugs? Why are drugs illegal? Are drugs as bad for you as people say? These among other questions are what I hope to answer in this blog. Everyone tells you drugs are bad and that you shouldn't do them but I want to explore the reasons why. We know that they are harmful to the body but are they really as harmful as people make them sound? Basically, I want to see if drugs are really what people think they are and if people really use them for the reasons that people think they do.