In the Wake of Singer Whitney Houston’s Death, Legalization of Drugs Is Not the Answer

 

In the Wake of Singer Whitney Houston’s Death, Legalization of Drugs Is Not the Answer
 
Following the recent death of singer Whitney Houston, there has been much discussion on the topic of drugs and the prescription drug abuse epidemic in our country.  Many of the participants in this debate are arguing that legalizing all drugs would somehow alleviate this epidemic.  However, in a recent CNN.com article, William (Bill) Bennett, former Director of the Office of National Drug Control, eloquently articulates why legalization will not prevent the abuse or misuse of drugs. 
 
Bill Bennett takes issue with a recent statement by recording artist Tony Bennett who, in response to Houston’s death, addressed attendees at a Beverly Hills party by making the following statement:   “I’d like to have every gentleman and lady in this room commit themselves to get our government to legalize drugs—so they’ll have to get it through a doctor, not to some gangsters who just sell it under the table.” 
 
In his article, Bill Bennett states why legalizing drugs would not prevent abuse.  He points out that thousands of drug-related deaths each year are caused by legally prescribed drugs.  Indeed, according to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, prescription drug abuse is the fastest growing substance abuse problem in the nation-more than heroin and cocaine combined.  Knowing this, do we really want to legalize other addictive, harmful and potentially deadly drugs? 
 
Bill Bennett also disputes the notion that the Amsterdam experiment and the decriminalization of drugs in Portugal have been successful.  In Amsterdam, there has been an increase in drug addictions, dependency and illegal drug trafficking.  In fact, drugs have become so prolific and problematic, foreigners will be banned from The Netherlands’ pot shops beginning in 2013.  Portugal leads all nations in cases of injected drug related AIDS cases.  Bill Bennett also pointed out that Portugal has one of the worst records with regard to deaths by drug overdose, with more than one death every two days. 
 
Lastly, this is perhaps one of the most important points in the article; “Illicit drugs are not harmful because they are illegal, they are illegal precisely because they are harmful.” 
 
Hollywood is not the only community suffering the consequences of drug abuse and addiction.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 26,000 Americans die of drug overdoses each year and, as citizens, we pay the price in loss of lives, increased crime and increased healthcare costs.