Drug Prohibition Kills People

      Page one of the July 24 – 30, 2024 edition of The Epoch Times featured an article entitled “Mothers Blame China, Cartels,” with the subtitle of “Fentanyl is ‘weapon of mass destruction,’ destroying American families.”  Of course there are many people in the world who will try to make easy money by selling contraband.  For openers, just remember people like Al Capone who took advantage of our nation’s policy of Alcohol Prohibition.  But it is the laws of Prohibition that actually cause there to be market for drugs like fentanyl.  And, the mothers’ thoughts notwithstanding, very few people have died from a fentanyl overdose; they die from a fentanyl poisoning!  What’s the difference?  Because there is no quality control in an illicit market.  So the people taking these drugs either don’t even know that fentanyl is present or, if they do, they don’t know its strength.  What is the answer to save lives?  Repeal the policy of Drug Prohibition.  That will result in quality control in their preparation as well as accurate labeling of the end product. 

      In addition we should put these often dangerous drugs under the control of medical doctors who are knowledgeable about their benefits and hazards.  That way the doctors who are qualified and choose to be involved can monitor the health and welfare of the users.  And, importantly enough, the medical professionals can provide the users with honest counseling about the reduced harms of using less dangerous drugs.  If people are going to use these mind-altering and sometimes addictive drugs anyway, and there will always be people who do, at least let them do so more safely!  In addition, if adults are using these drugs, they could very well be directly harming no one but themselves, which makes this a health issue.  However, if the users are stealing our stuff to get money for those purchases, or putting our safety at risk by, for example, driving a motor vehicle under the influence of those drugs, that would be a matter for the police.  Implementing this realistic change will in itself will save thousands of lives per year, and also reduce crime.  Remember, during Alcohol Prohibition many people went blind or even died from impure alcohol, which was called “White Lightning” or “Moonshine.”  But when Alcohol Prohibition was repealed, those problems went away – almost overnight.  So why are we perpetuating them again with Drug Prohibition?

      In addition yes, the mothers are right that China and the drug cartels are pushing these drugs in our country, which results in large losses of lives.  But think of it this way, if we were to make fried chicken illegal there would still be a market for it.  And that market would be filled by people like those in China and the drug cartels.  They do it for the money!  And also remember when you read that the Mexican drug cartels seem to have as much money and guns as the Mexican government, it is our drug money that makes that outcome possible!  How does that make you feel?  Of course life is complicated, and repealing Drug Prohibition would bring some new problems.  But when people realistically understand the facts and weigh the alternatives they will want to repeal Drug Prohibition.  Think of the lives and harms that this logical change would save!

Thought for the week: “Boarding School taught me how to get on an airplane. . .”