How Dangerous Are Illegal Drugs?
The violence associated with illegal drugs is certainly real, but how great is the medical danger of the drugs themselves? Each year, over 50,000 Americans die from alcohol abuse. Over 400,000 die from cigarette-related illnesses. Less than 3,000 die from illegal drugs. Unlike tobacco and alcohol, marijuana – the most commonly-used illegal drug – is not addicting, and there has never been a case recorded of anyone dying from an overdose. Illegal drugs cause far less medical harm than alcohol and nicotine. The desire to “get high” seems to be as fundamental as the sex drive – and nearly as pervasive. Given human nature, the most humane policy would seem to be to honestly educate people about the risks of drugs, encourage moderation, and make sure that intoxicants are as safe as possible. But such policies are made impossible by the demonization and criminalization of drugs. Criminalization is also the cause of the vast majority of “drug overdose” deaths. Because drugs are illegal, there
