Legalization Of Drugs In Colombia

Páginas: 5 (1224 palabras) Publicado: 16 de febrero de 2013
Legalization of Drugs in Colombia

The illegal or harmful use of drugs is a major threat to the world and to future generations. Drugs are substances that are becoming more common in our communities as each day goes by. The demand for drugs is also increasing daily. People need to act and play a part in the combating of drugs starting in their own homes. Every individual needs to be aware ofthe consequences of drug abuse and to help spread the word starting at young ages.

In our country is recurrently discussed whether to legalize drugs that produce physical or psychological dependence in humans. The Colombian government is opting for the decriminalization of drugs. With the decriminalization what is sought is to reduce the rate of drug use in Colombia and throughout Latin Americaand end the monopoly of the drug, since the drug is the source of power for them. The problems associated with drug use are not simple and will not respond to simple solutions. I believe that there have been victories and successes in the fight against drug trafficking and drug use and abuse; however in my own view, we can and must do more. The legalization question played a key and controversialrole in Colombia and I disagree with that because it hasn´t any benefit to society, since drug use can influence the crime rate.

The legalization of drugs would definitely not benefit a society. First of all, there are drugs (such as cocaine) that are illegal for a very good reason. For example, crack/cocaine can make a person very irritable and violent, even violent enough to commit murder.There are the tragic consequences when people under the influence of drugs like muggings and theft, those are commonly linked with addiction, and women who ordinarily would never consider prostitution often compromise their convictions to support their drug habits. Second, there is also the harm that drugs cause to the user’s family: family resources are depleted; children are neglected and evenforced by their parents into prostitution or drug running to boost the family income. Many children of drug-addicted parents end up homeless.

Another harm that results from drugs is that involving the illegal drug trade itself. The business of dealing in drugs is a particularly dangerous one, and the high murder rate in large cities owes much to feuding between dealers disputes over distributionterritory, payback for dishonest negotiation, retaliation for the killing of a gang member. The danger also extends to members of the community where dealers do their business. Residents are held hostage to the dangerous drug trade that infiltrates their streets.

In addition to the impact of expanded availability, legalization would have a devastating effect in how our children see drug use.Youth drug is driven by attitudes. When young people perceive drugs as risky and socially unacceptable youth drug use drops. Conversely, when children perceive less risk and greater acceptability in using drugs, their use increases. If nothing else, legalization would send a strong message that taking drugs is a safe and socially accepted behavior that is to be tolerated among our peers, loved onesand children. Such a normalization would play a major role in softening youth attitudes and, ultimately, increasing drug abuse.

Cannabis is the most prevalent drug abused in Colombia. Annual abuse is estimated at 0.4 per cent, according to a 1993 study of the Santa fe Foundation and the Direccion Nacional de Estupefacientes (DNE). Cocaine is the next most abused drug (0.2 per cent). Other drugsabused are "basuco" (coca paste) with prevalence estimated at less than one percent and heroin (0.01 per cent) (U.N. 1992).

According to a national household survey, "ever" abuse prevalence of cannabis, cocaine, "basuco" (coca paste) and opiates is estimated at 5.9 per cent (or 1.4 million persons). The highest level of ever abuse is higher for men (11.4 per cent) than women (1.9 per cent)...
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