Taking Sides : Clashing Views in Drugs and Society

PART 1. Drugs and Public Policy

ISSUE 1. Are Laws Against Drug Legalization Effective?

YES: Asa Hutchinson, from “An Effective Drug Policy to Protect America’s Youth and Communities,” Fordham Urban Law Journal (January 2003)

NO: Sanho Tree, from “The War at Home: Our Jails Overflow with Nonviolent Drug Offenders. Have We Reached the Point Where the Drug War Causes More Harm Than the Drugs Themselves?” Sojourners (May/June 2003)

Asa Hutchinson, a former administrator with the Drug Enforcement Agency and a current administrator with Homeland Security, maintains that better enforcement of drug laws has resulted in a decrease in drug use and reduced the availability of illegal drugs. Hutchinson contends that drug legalization would not eliminate drug-related violence and harms caused by drugs. Author Sanho Tree states that one-fourth of all prisoners are incarcerated for nonviolent drug offenses. Stricter law enforcement may reduce the availability of drugs, states Sanho, but the stricter enforcement exacerbates the problem by increasing the cost of drugs and, subsequently, the need to commit more crimes. Focusing only on drug use overlooks the reasons that resulted in a prisoner’s drug use in the first place.

ISSUE 2. Should the United States Put More Emphasis on Stopping the Importation of Drugs?

YES: Office of National Drug Control Policy, from The National Drug Control Strategy (February 2005)

NO: Cathy Inouye, from “The DEA, CIA, DoD, & Narcotrafficking,” Z Magazine (July/August 2004)

The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) argues that the importation of drugs must be stopped to reduce drug use and abuse. If the supply of drugs being trafficked across American borders is reduced, then there would be fewer drug-related problems. The ONDCP maintains that a coordinated international effort is needed to combat the increased production of heroin, cocaine, and marijuana. Cathy Inouye, a human rights volunteer for NGO SEDEM (Seguridad en Democracia), feels that the corroboration of numerous U.S. leaders with leaders in foreign governments has resulted in continued human rights abuses and has enriched those leaders in countries where the drug trade is prominent. Inouye notes that the federal government should re-examine its role of cooperation with other governments, especially those involved in the drug trade.

ISSUE 3. Will a Lower Blood Alcohol Level for Drunk Driving Reduce Automobile Accidents?

YES: Thomas S. Dee, from “Does Setting Limits Save Lives? The Case of 0.08 BAC Laws,” Journal of Policy Analysis and Management (vol. 20, no. 1, 2001)

NO: General Accounting Office, from “How Effective Are ‘.08’ Drunk-Driving Laws?” Consumers’ Research Magazine (August 1999)

Thomas S. Dee, an economics professor at Swarthmore College, supports a .08 blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Dee maintains that alcohol-related fatalities are lower in those states that adopted the .08 BAC. Dee concludes that an estimated 1200 fewer deaths would result from the adoption of such a limit. The General Accounting Office (GAO) states that the evidence supporting the beneficial effects of establishing a lower blood alcohol level for drunk driving is inconclusive. The GAO maintains that the government’s methods for determining the effectiveness of instituting a lower blood alcohol level are faulty and that rates for drunk driving have declined regardless of changes in BAC legal limits.

ISSUE 4. Should We Be Concerned About “Club Drugs”?

YES: Office of National Drug Control Policy, from Club Drugs (Office of National Drug Control Policy, January 12, 2005)

NO: Jacob Sullum, from “Sex, Drugs and Techno Music,” Reason (January 2002)

The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) states that the nature of rave parties may encourage the use of club drug because party-goers dance and remain active for long periods of time. Drugs such as Rohypnol and GHB, which are colorless and tasteless, are used to sedate unsuspecting victims who are then sexually assaulted. Other club drugs discussed are ketamine (Special K) and Ecstasy. Jacob Sullum, a senior editor at Reason magazine, contends that the effects of drugs such as Ecstasy are exaggerated, particularly with regard to sexual behavior. Sullum refers to the history of marijuana and how it was deemed a drug that would make people engage in behaviors in which they would not typically engage. Sullum maintains that the public’s reaction to club drugs is unjustified.

ISSUE 5. Should Pregnant Drug Users Be Prosecuted?

YES: Paul A. Logli, from “Drugs in the Womb: The Newest Battlefield in the War on Drugs,” Criminal Justice Ethics (Winter/Spring 1990)

NO: Carolyn S. Carter, from “Perinatal Care for Women Who Are Addicted: Implications for Empowerment,” Health and Social Work (August 2002)

Paul A. Logli, an Illinois prosecuting attorney, argues that it is the government’s duty to enforce every child’s right to begin life with a healthy, drug-free mind and body. Logli maintains that pregnant women who use drugs should be prosecuted because they harm the life of their unborn children. He feels that it is the state’s responsibility to ensure that every baby is born as healthy as possible. Carolyn Carter, a social work professor at Howard University, argues that the stigma of drug use during pregnancy has resulted in the avoidance of treatment. Carter asserts that the prosecution of pregnant drug users is unfair because poor women are more likely to be the targets of such prosecution. To enable pregnant women who use drugs to receive perinatal care, it is necessary to define their drug use as a health problem rather than as a legal problem.

ISSUE 6. Should Drug Addiction Be Considered a Disease?

YES: Lisa N. Legrand, William G. Iacono, and Matt McGue, from “Predicting Addiction,” American Scientist (March/April 2005)

NO: Jacob Sullum, from “H: The Surprising Truth About Heroin and Addiction,” Reason (June 2003)

Psychologists Lisa LeGrand, William Iacono, and Matt McGue maintain that certain personality characteristics, such as hyperactivity, acting-out behavior, and sensation-seeking may have their bases in genetics. LeGrand, Iacono, and McGue acknowledge the role of environment, but they feel that genes play a substantial role in drug-taking behavior. Jacob Sullum, a senior editor with Reason magazine, contends that drug addiction should not be considered a disease, a condition over which one has no control. Numerous individuals who have used drugs extensively have been able to stop drug use. Sullum maintains that drug use is a matter of behavior, not addiction. Classifying behavior as socially unacceptable does not prove that it is a disease.

ISSUE 7. Do Steroids Pose a Large Risk to Athletes and Others Who Use Them?

YES: Drug Enforcement Agency, from Steroid Abuse in Today’s Society (U.S. Department of Justice, March 2004)

NO: Charles E. Yesalis, Michael S. Bahrke, and James E. Wright, from “Societal Alternatives,” in Charles E. Yesalis, ed., Anabolic Steroids in Sport and Exercise, 2nd ed. (Human Kinetics, 2000)

Officials from the Drug Enforcement Agency warn that anabolic steroids produce numerous harmful side effects, many of which are unknown to those people using steroids. With the exception of their masculinizing effects, the long-term consequences of anabolic steroid use have not been sufficiently studied. In addition, it is estimated that more than 1 million U.S. adults and a half million 8th to 10th grade students are using steroids. Pennsylvania State University professor Charles Yesalis and his colleagues feel that anabolic steroid use would be easier to regulate if users could acknowledge taking these drugs. Also, if individuals admitted to taking steroids, they could be approached regarding the harmful side effects of these drugs. The pharmaceutical quality steroids received by athletes and others could be assured if they were legal. In the final analysis, Yesalis and others feel that legalizing steroids would end the hypocrisy associated with their use.

PART 2. Drugs and Social Policy

ISSUE 8. Are the Adverse Effects of Smoking Exaggerated?

YES: Robert A. Levy and Rosalind B. Marimont, from “Lies, Damned Lies, and 400,000 Smoking-Related Deaths,” Regulation (vol. 21, no. 4, 1998)

NO: Centers for Disease Control, from The Health Consequences of Smoking: A Report of the Surgeon General (Centers for Disease Control, 2004)

Robert A. Levy, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute, and Rosalind B. Marimont, a mathematician and scientist who retired from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, claim that the government distorts and exaggerates the dangers associated with cigarette smoking. Levy and Marimont state that factors such as poor nutrition and obesity are overlooked as causes of death among smokers. They note that cigarette smoking is harmful, but the misapplication of statistics should be regarded as "junk science." The 2004 Surgeon General’s report on smoking states that the evidence pointing to the dangers of smoking is overwhelming. The report clearly links cigarette smoking to various forms of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, reproductive problems and a host of other medical conditions.

ISSUE 9. Should Laws Prohibiting Marijuana Use Be Relaxed?

YES: Ethan A. Nadelmann, from “An End to Marijuana Prohibition,” National Review (July 12, 2004)

NO: Office of National Drug Control Policy, from Marijuana Myths and Facts: The Truth Behind 10 Popular Misconceptions (2004)

Ethan Nadelmann, founder and executive director of the Drug Policy Foundation, argues that law enforcement officials are overzealous in prosecuting individuals for marijuana possession. Eighty-seven percent of marijuana arrests are for possession of small amounts of the drug. The cost of marijuana enforcement to U.S. taxpayers ranges from $10 to $15 billion. In addition, punishments are unjust because they vary greatly. The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) contends that marijuana is not a harmless drug. Besides causing physical problems, marijuana affects academic performance and emotional adjustment. Moreover, dealers who grow and sell marijuana may become violent to protect their commodity.

ISSUE 10. Are Psychotherapeutic Drugs Effective for Treating Mental Illness?

YES: Bruce M. Cohen, from “Mind and Medicine: Drug Treatments for Psychiatric Illnesses,” Social Research (Fall 2001)

NO: Charles L. Whitfield, from The Truth About Depression: Choices for Healing (Health Communications, 2003)

Medical doctor Bruce M. Cohen maintains that psychiatric medicines are very beneficial in enabling individuals with a variety of illnesses to return to normal aspects of consciousness. Cohen points out that people with conditions such as anxiety, depression, and psychosis respond very well to medications. These types of drugs have been utilized successfully for hundreds of years. Medical doctor Charles Whitfield questions the effectiveness of psychiatric drugs, especially antidepressant drugs. Whitfield maintains that the increase in the use of psychotherapeutic drugs results from their promotion by the pharmaceutical industry. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the government agency charged with protecting the public from harmful drugs, has an advisory committee consisting of members wo are paid by drug companies.

ISSUE 11. Do the Consequences of Caffeine Consumption Outweigh the Benefits?

YES: Men’s Health, from “Start Me Up,” Men’s Health (October 2004)

NO: Harvard Women’s Health Watch, from “Coffee: For Most, It’s Safe,” Harvard Women’s Health Watch (September 2004)

The writers from Men’s Health describe caffeine as an addictive substance whose use results in withdrawal symptoms. The stimulating effects of caffeine are muted by tolerance that develops to the drug. In large amounts, caffeine consumption can cause anxiety and panic. The writers from the Harvard Women’s Health Watch discuss the benefits of coffee. Although caffeine may have addictive qualities, its dangers are overstated. Caffeine’s effects on the cardiovascular system are modest. Benefits of caffeine include reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes and developing gallstones, liver disease, and Parkinson’s disease. In addition, caffeine improves cognitive functioning and physical performance.

ISSUE 12. Is Ritalin An Effective Drug for Treating Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)?

YES: Michael Fumento, from “Trick Question,” The New Republic (February 3, 2003)

NO: Farhang Khosh and Deena Beneda, from “Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder,” Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients (January 2003)

Writer Michael Fumento disputes the idea that Ritalin is overprescribed. He notes that there are many myths associated with Ritalin. Its use does not lead to abuse and addiction. Fumento argues that Ritalin is an excellent medication for ADHD. It is possible that the drug is underutilized. Writers Farhang Khosh and Deena Beneda contend that Ritalin addresses the symptoms, but not the causes, of ADHD. Moreover, Ritalin has short- and long-term side effects such as appetite suppression, weight loss, and stunted growth. Khosh and Beneda state that Ritalin may cause paranoid symptoms in individucals who take large amounts chronically. In addition, Ritalin inhibits emotions. They recommend exploring alternative treatments like nutritional therapies, herbs, and homeopathy.

ISSUE 13. Do Consumers Benefit When Prescription Drugs Are Advertised?

YES: Merrill Matthews, Jr., from “Advertising Drugs Is Good for Patients,” Consumers’ Research Magazine (August 2001)

NO: Katharine Greider, from The Big Fix: How the Pharmaceutical Industry Rips Off American Consumers (Public Affairs, 2003)

Merrill Matthews, Jr., a health policy advisor with the American Legislative Exchange Council, feels that the advertising of prescription drugs directly to consumers will result in better-informed consumers. Concerns that the cost of prescription drugs will rise due to the cost of advertising drugs are unfounded. Instead, advertising drugs creates competition among manufacturers, resulting in lower costs. Additionally, communication between doctors and patients may improve because patients are more knowledgeable about drugs. Writer Katharine Greider notes that drug advertising has increased the number of visits by patients to their physicians as well as the number of prescriptions written at the request of consumers. Also, many consumers may not have the clinical or pharmacological background to comprehend information in drug advertisements.

PART 3. Drug Prevention and Treatment

ISSUE 14. Does Secondhand Smoke Endanger the Health of Nonsmokers?

YES: Georgina Lovell, from “Secondhand Smoke—Firsthand Pollution: Tiny Smokestacks Poison a Room,” You Are the Target. Big Tobacco: Lies, Scams—Now the Truth (Chryan Communications, 2002)

NO: J. B. Copas and J. Q. Shi, from “Reanalysis of Epidemiological Evidence on Lung Cancer and Passive Smoking,” British Medical Journal (February 12, 2000)

Author Georgina Lovell argues that secondhand smoke is the third-leading cause of preventable disease, disability, and death in the United States. Secondhand smoke, according to Lovell, is never totally removed from any indoor room. Moreover, secondhand smoke has greater levels of poisons than the smoke inhaled by smokers through a filtered tip of a cigarette. Statisticians J. B. Copas and J. Q. Shi argue that research demonstrating that secondhand smoke is harmful is biased. They contend that many journals are more likely to publish articles if secondhand smoke is shown to be deleterious and that the findings of many studies exaggerate the adverse effects of secondhand smoke.

ISSUE 15. Is Alcoholism Hereditary?

YES: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, from “The Genetics of Alcoholism,” Alcohol Alert (July 2003)

NO: Grazyna Zajdow, from “Alcoholism’s Unnatural History: Alcohol Is Not a ‘Health’ Issue, But One of Personal and Existential Pain. Recognising This Would Force Us to Acknowledge One of the Most Successful Methods of Dealing With Alcohol Addiction,” Arena Magazine (April/May 2004)

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) contends that heredity plays a large role in the development of alcoholism. Family environment may play a role in whether one becomes an alcoholic, but individuals inherit characteristics that increase the possibility of developing alcoholism. The NIAAA notes that identical twins are twice as likely to become alcoholic as fraternal twins. Grazyna Zajdow, a lecturer in sociology at Deakin University, maintains that the concept of alcoholism results from a social construct of what it means to be alcoholic. Because alcoholism is a social stigma, it is viewed as a disease rather than as a condition caused by personal and existential pain. Environmental conditions, especially consumerism, says Zajdow, are the root cause of alcoholism.

ISSUE 16. Should Moderate Alcohol Consumption Be Encouraged?

YES: Kenneth J. Mukamal et al., from “Roles of Drinking Pattern and Type of Alcohol Consumed in Coronary Heart Disease in Men,” The New England Journal of Medicine (January 9, 2003)

NO: National Institue on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, from State of the Science Report on the Effects of Moderate Drinking (National Institutes of Health, December 19, 2003)

Kenneth J. Mukamal, a physician at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, and associates report that men who consume alcohol at least three to four times a week have less risk of coronary heart disease, regardless of the type of alcohol consumed. Binge drinking, not moderate use, increases the risk of coronary heart disease. The report from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) cautions against the moderate use of alcohol because individuals vary in their response to alcohol. In addition, the benefits of moderate alcohol consumption may be overstated because people who drink alcohol moderately may engage in healthier practices such as eating more nutritiously and exercising more regularly.

ISSUE 17. Should Schools Drug-Test Students?

YES: Office of National Drug Control Policy, from What You Need to Know About Drug Testing in Schools (2002)

NO: Fatema Gunja, Alexandra Cox, Marsha Rosenbaum, and Judith Appel, from Making Sense of Student Drug Testing: Why Educators Are Saying No (American Civil Liberties Union and the Drug Policy Alliance, January 2004)

The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), an agency of the federal government, maintains that it is important to test students for illicit drugs because academic achievement is impaired by drug use. Use of drugs such as marijuana impedes memory and learning, and Ecstasy use may result in long-term brain damage. Fatema Gunja and associates maintain that drug testing is ineffective and that the threat of drug testing may dissuade students from participating in extracurricular activities. In addition, drug testing is costly, it may make schools susceptible to litigation, and it undermines relationships of trust between students and teachers. Drug testing, according to Gunja and others, does not effectively identify students who may have serious drug problems.

ISSUE 18. Does Drug Abuse Treatment Work?

YES: Office of Applied Studies, from Services Research Outcomes Study (SROS) (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, January 28, 2004)

NO: United Nations, from Investing in Drug Abuse Treatment (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2003)

The Office of Applied Studies, a research branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, contends that individuals in drug treatment are less likely to use drugs following treatment and are less likely to engage in criminal behavior. Moreover, the longer a person stays in treatment, the more effective it is. The report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime argues that drug abuse treatment does not cure drug abuse. Most people who go through drug treatment relapse. Drug abuse treatment does not get at the root causes of drug abuse: crime, family disruption, loss of economic productivity, and social decay. At best, treatment may minimize drug abuse.

ISSUE 19. Do Tobacco Advertisements Influence People to Smoke?

YES: Georgina Lovell, from “Women and Children First: Tobacco Targets the Vulnerable,” You Are the Target. Big Tobacco: Lies, Scams—Now the Truth (Chryan Communications, 2002)

NO: Alyse R. Lancaster and Kent M. Lancaster, from “Teenage Exposure to Cigarette Advertising in Popular Consumer Magazines,” Journal of Advertising (Fall 2003)

Author Georgina Lovell maintains that the tobacco industry purposely targets women and children with advertisements. Cigarette advertisements appeal to women by emphasizing the independence that comes from smoking and by showing that smoking helps to keep one slim. To illustrate the effectiveness of cigarette advertisements, smoking by high school girls increased dramatically throughout the 1990s. One of the most successful advertising campaigns was the use of Joe Camel to get adolescents to smoke. Alyse R. Lancaster and Kent M. Lancaster, communication professors at the Universities of Florida and Michigan, respectively, argue that the vast majority of teens are exposed to cigarette advertisements yet only a small percentage actually take up smoking.

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