Friedman’s 5th reason, “Compounding the harm” makes one stop and think (569). When drugs are prohibited it makes them “exorbitantly expensive and highly uncertain in quality” (569). Anytime something is hard to get, it drives the price skyward. As a result it leads many users to commit crimes in order to substantiate their expensive habit. Illicit drugs also have no oversight over production and are often poor quality. With no oversight, drug makers can substitute or cut the drug with extremely toxic chemicals. Which can compound the effects of the drug or lead to accidental
