The use of drugs in society isn't our problem!

Drugs are being scapegoated for the problems in society for years. Sadly, this isn't the problem and as a result our problems continue. Just having the presence of drugs being used in society isn't problematic within itself as use does not harm the user or others. In fact, this use may be beneficial in many ways. In the past society claims that the very use in itself is immoral and a sign of weakness within the person as being "unable" to manage life. The problem with this argument is that lots of very strong people who are brilliant and lead amazingly productive and wonderful lives use drugs. The list is endless but some include John Hopkins (injected heroin daily), Carl Sagan and Stephen King.

What is problematic is when those with past trauma issues or other mental health problems use drugs. Often these people are more prone to the negative effects of these drugs, have a higher desire to use again due to the especially good feelings (aka escape from their problems) as well as they don't learn as well as individuals without these problems. It of course is not their fault but rather the dysfunction of their brain due to damage either by trauma (hit on the head, abuse, neglect), genetic or potentially a current toxic environment such as exposure to chemicals, stress and/or lack of nutrition/exercise.

The attempt at eradicating drugs is not only harming those who end up abusing or addicted to them (including alcohol, tobacco and caffeine) but also those who are simply using the drugs as they are being hunted daily by police even though they are really hurting no person. In addition, when we are simply putting efforts into preventing individuals from using the drugs we are neglecting to acknowledge the real reason why we use drugs and that is for many reasons including beneficial ones.

We all use drugs and this is a fact and it can't be denied. To attempt to prevent individuals from using some but not others that are potentially harmful is not pragmatic and realistic. It is leading to harmful effects as not only are those who use drugs being harmed (some countries kill people for drugs) but it is harming those who don't use drugs as when we are attempting to prevent addiction simply by trying to stop people from having access to the substance, we are not dealing with the real underlying issue of why they are trying to get the drug.

When those with past trauma and other mental health issues are prevented access to psychoactive substances while still having their problems remain unresolved, they will revert to altering their brain or what we call consciousness to escape the pain they are feeling due to their brain disorder. It has been recorded in many places around the world that individuals who are experiencing a great deal of dislocation,trauma, or neglect they will revert to using dangerous methods of altering their brain chemistry and this includes using inhalants such as gasoline or nail polish remover. Some will drink methanol instead of ethanol which is toxic but does give the same type of psychoactive effect as what we drink normally. Methanol is found in mouthwash and hand sanitizer.

We can never get rid of drug us however, we can help these people who have past trauma issues and mental health problems such as anxiety, depression and personality disorders all of which are associated with high rates of drug use. This in itself should decrease drug abuse as the reason for abusing the drug will go away.

People abuse drugs when they are under stress they can't feel they can manage such as a loss (job/passion, loved one, security), neglected (isolated, lack of peer connections or family), abused (sexual, assault, emotional) and deficiency (nutrition, water, exercise). This is because these things hurt they brain, if you want to think about it in the physical sense, it scars it and makes it simply not work as well and as such, the brain seeks out assistance. It is the natural thing for it to do, not a weak thing as sometimes when we are healthy and happy, these same tools can be used for remarkable things.

When the brain is healthy, it can use these tools in a controlled and healthy fashion. Thus, crime, apathy, all of that nonsense that is assocaited with drug use is actually not an issue for these individuals. They are able to remain in control and able to have a good life that is productive in how they see fit and that is good for society. For those individuals however that have an unhealthy brain due to it being scarred by the past like having no legs for some or arms or eyes, it makes these things very difficult to obtain as the brain is in pain and it literally hurts which is something those with healthy brains can not know how it feels as it is not like having a bad day or even losing a person that they loved. It is likely more like being at war but inside the brain.

I would like to encourage people to think of us as brains as that is all we are and we are really not in control even with the conscious thoughts we have. We can't change what the environment does to our brain through abuse, neglect, stress or what genes we are born with that may predisposed us to not being able to handle stress, neglect, abuse or deficiencies as well but what we can do is change how we help those who do struggle. Rather than labels such as lazy or stupid or criminals, we need to think about ways to help these people not want to abuse drugs in the first place rather than trying to prevent them access.

In terms of how to handle those who are abusing or addicted, we need to provide a respectful and empowering distribution system that still provides the individual with the drug of choice in known doses and safer administration routes (swallow rather than smoke or inject) as regardless, these people will be at different places in their treatments for their brain disorders and as such to help on their path to recovery, drug use can be done even by those whom are addicted or abusing by helping them use in ways that does less harm to them as well as others.

Illicit drugs are extremely expensive and having to pay for these if abusing or addicted is very expensive and this cost society not just the individual.

It is not going to help use to try to prevent those who have a drive to use from access especially since there is always a way of altering consciousness and they do include much more harmful ways then the currently illicit psychoactive substances.

It has been disappointing the coverage of the media on this topic as it is still sprouting the same crap it was decades ago when science knows this not to be true. In fact, it is really irrelevant as to the harms of the drug as the currently legal ones are much more harmful than the illicit and this includes cocaine and heroin. Yes, alcohol is worse. Nicotine itself likely isn't too harmful but the current distribution routes are such as through our chemical laden cigarettes that include formaldehyde and hundreds more. Why are we arguing about the harm of cannabis when it is nothing in comparison to the current cigarette products available?

The argument really should be that we have control over our autonomy and this includes consciousness. The choice to use cannabis, cocaine, heroin, MDMA, amphetamines, and the hallucinogens to alter my consciousness is my choice and as long as this choice is conscientious it is not in the true sense of what the law should define be wrong and thus it should not be illegal to either buy or sell.

The argument of decriminalization is still not allowing those who choose to use the drug to do so in a safe fashion as what they are buying still exists on the black market and as such, this is causing great problems as it currently does. In other words, it is changing nothing. In addition, I heard that in Portugal that they are forcing those given a ticket for possession into treatment. This is not confirmed, (if you know for sure, please let me know) but if this is true, this is very bad and again, does nothing to address the fact that drug use in itself is not wrong however, abusing and addiction leads to harm but still in itself is not immoral but rather a sign of illness.

Drug use is normal while drug abuse and addiction is the exception. Only about 5-15% will abuse or become serious addicted to any drug and it doesn't matter which one except tobacco is shown to be about 35% addiction likely due to pharmacological reasons. The other 85% of users shouldn't be attacked as they are being today. This is causing an extremely harmful allocation of funds in terms of governmental spending.

To paint a picture of a world with a legal drug market. This market would of course be regulated which means that to produce, sell and buy you need to qualify for permits to do so meaning that those who make the product, distribute it and purchase it who can do this as a restaurant may need permits for operation in terms of health regulations. This could be called the Non-Medical Psychoactive Drug Regulation Department.

It would include individuals that are trained and knowledgeable in psychoactive drug use and this doesn't necessarily mean the pharmaceutical drugs. It would be ideal if the government hired people to control the distribution based on the amount of harm the drug may pose when used. This means that those drugs with potential for more harm require individuals with more training and knowledge and also higher controls on distribution which also means not everyone may be able to just walk into a store and buy it if over a certain age (as alcohol is currently). For the drugs that have potential for more harm, licenses may be required such as a "drivers license". These drugs can result in harm just as driving may and as such, it isn't a right but rather a privilege.

For psychoactive drugs that are currently illegal, many have potentially excellent medical uses and as such a department needs to be established that distributes separately from the recreational department called the Medical Psychoactive Drug Regulation Department. This includes currently what would be called prescription medications. As some overlap obviously as is currently the case, the two departments are linked but have different missions. It is important to recognize the seperation within the regulated market as it could be very helpful for scientific purposes in terms of maintaining the ability to keep track of why and how people are using drugs as it is the way the drug is used that makes the difference as well, if the person has either physical or brain issues, it might could help how we study people with specific conditions using particular medications (including of course the currently illegal drugs including heroin, cocaine and heroin).

Regulated market including how to help those best when they begin to abuse or show signs of potential addiction issues is best for society and not preventing the simple sue of drugs as that is a basic constitution issues. WE have the right not only to our consciousness but also our medicines. Many currently illegal drugs provide medical benefit. Please help end the drug war as it is nothing more than a war on people!!!