The topic of drug abuse is something everyone is familiar with. It exists in cities all over the world. In 2010, drug related deaths were estimated to be between 99,000 to 230,000 people. Although not everyone may have a close friend or relative who is or has been addicted to drugs, it is a problem that we are all aware of. Many believe that legalizing drugs in the United States would help control the problem. However, legalizing drugs will only aid in death, crime, and destruction of our society.
             Drugs affect different people in different ways. Not every person has the same personality type, background, or family situation. Therefore, there is no one answer as to why people begin to use drugs. Some may start to use drugs as a result of death, divorce, depression, or sheer curiosity. Whatever the reason, many people become addicted to drugs and destroy their lives as well as the lives of those who surround them. Legalizing drugs will only help to ensure those who are addicted that this behavior is accepted because there would be no legal punishment to be concerned about.
             Depending on the person, when an individual is taken under arrest for a drug related charge, it can cause a realization that this behavior is unacceptable and can have serious consequences. If someone causes a car accident and kills a child because they were intoxicated, can we say that this person should not be punished because the drug they were using is legal? Would the mother of this child feel that no punishment is necessary? The answer to both questions is no. The accident most likely would have been avoided had the person not been under the influence of drugs that had obviously impaired their judgment. An innocent person should never have to suffer the consequences of another person's drug use.
             The side effects of drugs are endless. They range from nausea, impaired vision/speech, loss of consciousness, and so on. But, what about the so-called minor sid...