Drugs And Illegal Possession And Trafficking - 1409 Words

Believe it or not, drugs have been around for thousands of years. In the medical field, drugs are any type of medicine (or other substance), which has a physiological effect when it is ingested or otherwise introduced into the body. Drugs can produce both harmful and beneficial effects once it is consumed and, â€Å"decisions about when and how to use them therapeutically always involve balancing the benefits and risks† (Rang 1). Drugs approved for human use are available through prescription and can be bought freely over the counter. Although drugs have been a great addition to the medical world and its advancement, not all drugs are legal and available for use. The government bans certain drugs, and illegal possession and trafficking of these†¦show more content†¦It is an undeniable fact that illegal drugs do more harm than good, which is why Canada should not legalize all drugs. The growing concern in many communities is how easily accessible drugs are to young adu lts. At least 42% of Ontario students surveyed have admitted to consuming an illegal substance in the past year. According to Statistics Canada, 60% of illicit drug users in the country are between 15 and 24 years of age. This is a rising crisis due to the health problems that teens who abuse drugs are likely to develop such as, â€Å"short-term memory loss, anxiety, depression†¦ cardiovascular disease, liver damage and etc.† (Canadian Centre for Addictions). Furthermore, â€Å"Science Daily found that youth in 12th grade who use marijuana, alcohol, and other illegal drugs are likely to drop out of school† (Canadian Centre for Addictions). Supporters of the legalization of drugs â€Å"believe that making drugs legal will take away the temptation to use them† (Novelguide). However, this idea would be far from logical as, if drugs were to be legalized then they will be ultimately available for young adults to consume. This poses a threat to the health of the young drug consumers, as these substances are likely to be mass-produced and mixed with other substances that are not exactly safe for consumption. For example, Levamisole, an anthelmintic drug used to kill parasitic worms â€Å"became a very popular cocaine adulterant† (Gosmer 1). The drug was previously used to deworm both humans