DRUGS

The issue of drugs is an excruciatingly complex one because there are so many different drugs with so many different dosages and with so many different effects on so many different individuals under so many different circumstances at so many different times in so many different social situations. I will proceed from easy generalities toward more complex particulars. More people have been killed by drugs than have had their lives saved by drugs. More people have been injured by drugs than have had their lives helped by drugs. Drug discovery, research, manufacture, sale and use is so perverted by profit and greed that more realistic and effective government regulation is required for all drugs that can be harmful and/or deadly. Development and release of new drugs requires better research and better government regulation because of many possible bad side effects. There are many existing drugs that have unknown or poorly researched bad side effects. Existing government regulation is defective because many drugs have been allowed on the market without proper scientific double-blind experimentation and without proper attention to subgroups such as pregnant women. Many drugs are being used (prescription, over-the-counter, and health food store types) that have no good effects at all.

Many drugs are being widely used (such as alcohol, tobacco, pot, caffein) whose complete and accurate positive and negative effects have still not been scientifically determined and for which public education is incomplete. Doctors and others are being miseducated by drug manufacturers about the full effects of prescription and other drugs. As a result, too many prescriptions are being written and not enough effort is being made to prevent bad side effects from multiple drug interactions.

Herbal and other "natural" substances sold in "health food" stores have not been properly researched to determine all of their real positive and negative effects. Because of genetic and social differences between individuals, a drug or food might be good for one person and bad for another.

Misbegotten drug wars against illegal drugs need to be replaced by more humane, more legally just and more effective antidrug tactics based on scientific research, medical realities and intelligent public education. Force, violence and jail cannot stamp out illegal drugs. A compassionate, medically literate and focused program can greatly reduce the problem. Improved social justice in the whole society can greatly reduce the problem. Addiction to drugs and death from drugs need not be a major social problem if valid and effective reforms are vigorously pursued.

© 1997 rsaxton@cyber-dyne.com

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