Question

Do you believe in the legalization of drugs? All drugs or certain categories? Do you believe there would be an increase in the number of people reporting use? If DARE does not work, what intervention may work better?

Answer 1

The legalization of drugs stands for the removal of government-driven restrictions on the distribution and personal use of all or specifically banned drugs. Yes, I do believe in the legalization of drugs, but regulated legalization, as drug laws believed by the 'Law Enforcement Against Prohibition' group, fail to fulfil the said aims and heighten the problems related to the use of prohibited drugs. More specifically, I support regulated legalization of certain categories of drugs. Regulated legalization will ensure that drugs, which exhibit the potential of causing harm might only be available for sale at licensed premises. At such spots, the use of drugs can be monitored and emergency medical care is readily available. Some of the drugs with regulated distribution are caffeine, nicotine and ethyl alcohol.

I believe that there can be an increase in the number of people reporting the use of drugs. This is because of the increase in stress levels induced by emotional problems, work-related problems, troubled relationships, etc, which motivate an individual to depend on harmful substances or drugs to attain relief and relaxation.

Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) fights against drug abuse. but if this intervention does not work, then standardized family-based interventions can be used. Family-based prevention programs help in positive youth development by nurturing appropriate parenting and family relational skills. Such programs also help in reinforcing responses or actions that promote parent/child attachment or love, effective monitoring and discipline skills, and effective communication.