Section 2 - Unit 4: To Control Drugs , Legalize |
The idea of legalizing addictive drugsconjures up images of crack being sold like cigarettes at corner newsstands or heroin like whiskey at local bars. But legalization need not be anything like those frightening images. Indeed, a carefully controlled legalization could be the keyelement in a strategy to put drug pushers out of business.
Legalization would not mean that addictive drugs would be legally available to every one.
The purpose of legalization would be to place better controls on access to such drugs.Addiction would be recognized as a disease or physical affliction. For people who have that disease, the substance would be legal.
Licensed clinics would be allowed to provide drugs to such addicts – and only to them – in the same way that many addictive prescription drugs now are legally provided to specific categories of patients. For non-addicts, the substances would remain illegal in the same way that it now is criminal to sell or use prescription drugs without aprescription.
Legalization would not mean that pushers would be given free rein.
The basic strategy of controlled legalization would be to deprive pushers of their steady and most lucrative customers – namely, addicts. If the strategy could be executed successfully, there would be far fewer pushers, because the smaller market would not support so many.
At the same time, police and other law enforcement officials could concentrate on reducing availability to non-addicts. (Curing addicts of addiction is a medical problem, not a law enforcement one.)
Legalization would not have to work perfectly in order to be beneficial.
Even if some addicts continued to seek drugs from pushers rather than licensed clinics, controlled legalization could have great benefits. If a large portion of addicts used clinics rather than pushers, the number of pushers would decline.
Moreover, in the long term, fewer pushers would mean fewer new users starting and, thus, ultimately fewer addicts.
Legalization would reduce drug-related problems, not increase them.
Opponents of legalization often emphasize emotionally laden tragedies, such as infants born of addicted mothers, often with severe physical and mental problems.
These opponents seldom ask the relevant questions.
For example, are there likely to be more “crack babies” if addicts get their drugs from licensed clinics that would take all possible steps to ensure that users do not become pregnant? Or is it likely that there will be more crack babies under the current system in which addicts get no advice or assistance with birth control?
Legalization would not condemn addicts to oblivion.
Controlled legalization would be the best way to ensure that addicts get all possible assistance to help them get off drugs. It is unlikely that anyone can give up any addictive substance, whether it is cigarettes or alcohol or heroin or crack, unless he or she first decides to do so.
Until that time, however, addicts would be better off getting drugs from licensed clinics, in the safest possible form and under circumstances in which they would be encouraged to try to quit and helped to do so.
Legalization would not condone use of addictive drugs.
Controlled legislation would amount to a recognition that addiction is a disease, rather than a crime. Under the current system, in which addicts are regarded as criminals, the drug culture attracts people who are alienated by mainstream society. This is an especially severe problem among the inner city poor, but it also strikes suburban youth of the middle and upper classes. Many adolescents pass through rebellious stages in pettycriminality may seem desirable. Very few, however, aspire to be diseased.
Controlled legalization of addictive drugs would not be a panacea for American’sepidemic. But it would offer the hope of putting drug pushers out of business.
It may be that this kind of controlled legalization would not work. But the policy debate should not be based on so many false assumptions. Legalization is not necessarily “surrender”.
It may be that this kind of controlled legalization would not work. But the policy debate should not be based on so many false assumptions. Legalization is not necessarily “surrender”.
(By Frederick B. Campbell)
• EXTRACTING MAIN IDEAS
Check the statement that summarizes the author’s viewpoint
1. Drug legalization could begin to control the U.S. drug problem.
2. The legalization of drugs is a surrender to the drug war.
3. Drug legalization is an imperfect solution to a difficult problem...
Answer Key: Extracting main idea: 12. The legalization of drugs is a surrender to the drug war.
3. Drug legalization is an imperfect solution to a difficult problem...
• DEALING WITH UNFAMILIAR WORDS
Find boldfaced words in the passage that have similar meanings to the following
| 1. creates a picture in the mind | |
| 2. most important | |
| 3. dependency on the drug | |
| 4. suffering | |
| 5. profitable | |
| 6. overlook, forgive | |
| 7. drugs | |
| 8. remedy for all trouble or disease | |
| 9. doctor’s written order for medicine | |
| 10. prevent from enjoying | |
| 11. small and unimportant | |
| 12. great freedom | |
| 13. state of being forgotten | |
| 14. estranged; cut off from society | |
| 15. disease spreading rapidly among many people at the same time and in the same place |
Answer Key:
Dealing with unfamiliar words:
1. conjures up
2. key
3. addiction
4. affliction
5. lucrative
6. condone
7. substances
8. panacea
9. prescription
10. deprive
11. petty
12. free rein
13. oblivion
14. alienated
15. epidemic
2. key
3. addiction
4. affliction
5. lucrative
6. condone
7. substances
8. panacea
9. prescription
10. deprive
11. petty
12. free rein
13. oblivion
14. alienated
15. epidemic
Read the following statements. Do you think the author would agree (A) or disagree (D) with them? Write A or D next to each statement.
| 1. Legalizing drugs means crack will be sold like cigarettes. | |
| 2. Legalizing drugs would begin to end the drug pushers’ business. | |
| 3. Addictive drugs should be legally available to addicts. | |
| 4. With legalization, drug pushers would disappear. | |
| 5. If drugs were legalized, police officers would be able to spend more time stopping drug pushers. | |
| 6. Drug legalization will be beneficial only if no addicts continue to buy their drugs from pushers. | |
| 7. If there were fewer drug pushers in the world, there would be fewer drug addicts in the world. | |
| 8. There would be more crack babies if drugs were legalized. | |
| 9. Drug addicts should be allowed to get drugs to help them overcome their addiction. | |
| 10. Drug addiction should not be treated as a crime. | |
| 11. Adolescents may get involved in drugs because the idea of crime is attractive. | |
| 12. The legalization of drugs will solve most of our drug problems. | |
| 13. Even though we don’t know whether legalization will work, we should try it. |
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• UNDERSTANDING WRITER’S STYLE
1. How would you describe the style of the author? (more than one answer)
| A. personal | B. impersonal | C. argumentative | D. literary |
2. How would you describe the tone of the passage? (more than one answer may be possible)
| A. emotional | B. persuasive | C. analytical | D. critical |
3. The writer’s attitude toward the legalization of drugs can be described as ... (more than one answer may be possible)
| A. disinterested | B. concerned | C. supportive | D. indifferent |
Answer Key:
Understanding writer’s style:
1. C 2. B 3. B, C
Discuss your answers to the following questions. Answers should be posted in the discussion area.
1. In your country, is there a problem of drug abuse? Are there government policies to control the sale of drugs? Do the policies work well, in your opinion/
2. What is your reaction to the proposal to legalize drugs in the U.S.A? Do you share the proponents’ views or the opponents’ on this proposal? Give reasons to justify yourself.
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