Drugs themselves can be neither good nor bad. In fact, research indicates that drugs are actually more involved in the preservation of lives than they are in death, although some may argue that culture seems to suggest otherwise. When prescribed by a physician, (or taken over the counter in the prescribed doses), drugs can be wonderful, life-saving tools. Outside of these stipulations, however drugs are strictly regulated— for many of the same reasons that guns and exotic animals are. In the wrong hands, they can lead to illness, injury, or death. While it’s easy to understand the difference between the two uses on paper, many people have trouble defining the line between safe and unsafe drug use, with many even going so far as to advocate for what they believe to be “good” drugs. The reason drugs are fundamentally illegal is because they have the capacity to alter the human brain and body in a way that is incredibly damaging. In fact, many of the addictive components in drugs are comprised of chemicals found in household cleaners and other harmful substances. And so-called “natural drugs”– aside from their inherently devastating properties– are often synthesized with even more of these kinds of chemicals for the purposes of mass production. In the knowledgeable hands of a physician, these effects can be measured and manipulated to achieve positive outcomes. For example, marijuana, when prescribed, can act as soothing relief for those that are terminally ill. But in the hands of a user looking for nothing more than a quick high, even the most seemingly mundane of drugs can have a lethal impact. A huge component to consider when addressing the “good drug” debate can be framed in a simple question: is it addictive? While drugs themselves are the neutral party in most cases, there’s no mistaking the effect they have on the brain– particularly when used incorrectly! The addictive nature of drugs makes them wholly unsuitable for safe, casual consumption. Additionally, the unregulated nature of their production for recreational markets means there’s no real way to know just what else they could be laced with that could spell danger, which is why you’re required by law to stay away from recreational drugs entirely. To conclude, while drugs themselves aren’t good or bad, their use outside of a prescription couldn’t be worse. Consuming drugs incorrectly can lead to irreversible consequences that affect both you and your loved ones!
