Over twenty million people in the United States currently are suffering or have suffered from drug abuse or addiction. (DA) Many of the twenty million have had their lives and their families ' lives affected forever by the labels and restrictions put on addicts. The individuals that are affected legally are often prevented from working certain jobs, going to school, or using social services. The cycle of treating drug addiction as a criminal issue rather than a public health issue prevents the abusers from obtaining the tools to break patterns that lead them to drug addiction. Drug addiction and abuse are no more out of hand than in years past but now that we live in the age of social media and instant news twenty-four hours a day, it seems
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It is commonplace to see movies depicting or referencing heavy alcohol abuse and other illegal substances. A few examples of popular movies that glorify drugs and alcohol are 21 Jump Street, The Hangover, Pineapple Express, and Ted. Some songs do try to cleverly hide their meaning, "A Team" by Ed Sheeran, “I’m in Love with the Coco” by O.T. Genasis, and “I Can’t Feel My Face” by The Weeknd. All of these popular songs and movies promote the popularity of drugs. They don’t show the negative effects of them, and rarely show or talk about what happens after the high is over. It is unlikely that Hollywood or the music Industry will stop producing pro drug abuse propaganda therefore it is up to the parents to control what is presented to their children and to teach what is acceptable …show more content…
It boggles my mind that anything could possibly be so great that people are willing to throw their lives away. The severity of the punishment administered if you are caught under the influence or in possession of some substances should truly be a method to deter experimentation. Some people like the thrill of taboo and are willing to gamble. On the other hand, many feel it is an unjust system and are willing to take the risk because they feel it is their right to put whatever they choose into their body. How can taking something that makes a person relaxed and calm warrant a longer prison sentence than a murderer or rapist? There are many people using drugs under the noses of the authorities to help cure their diseases on their own. In this case, I would promote using drugs, as long as they did not start abusing
It is commonplace to see movies depicting or referencing heavy alcohol abuse and other illegal substances. A few examples of popular movies that glorify drugs and alcohol are 21 Jump Street, The Hangover, Pineapple Express, and Ted. Some songs do try to cleverly hide their meaning, "A Team" by Ed Sheeran, “I’m in Love with the Coco” by O.T. Genasis, and “I Can’t Feel My Face” by The Weeknd. All of these popular songs and movies promote the popularity of drugs. They don’t show the negative effects of them, and rarely show or talk about what happens after the high is over. It is unlikely that Hollywood or the music Industry will stop producing pro drug abuse propaganda therefore it is up to the parents to control what is presented to their children and to teach what is acceptable …show more content…
It boggles my mind that anything could possibly be so great that people are willing to throw their lives away. The severity of the punishment administered if you are caught under the influence or in possession of some substances should truly be a method to deter experimentation. Some people like the thrill of taboo and are willing to gamble. On the other hand, many feel it is an unjust system and are willing to take the risk because they feel it is their right to put whatever they choose into their body. How can taking something that makes a person relaxed and calm warrant a longer prison sentence than a murderer or rapist? There are many people using drugs under the noses of the authorities to help cure their diseases on their own. In this case, I would promote using drugs, as long as they did not start abusing