There have been continuousdebatessince the1970s whenRonald Reagan, President of the United States, declared a 'war on drugs' and this was supported by the United Nations.The latest debate in Australia...

Drug Legalisation
Running Head: DRUG LEGALISASTION
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DRUG LEGALISASTION
Drug Legalisation
Name
Institution
Drug Legalisation
Introduction
Research indicates that more than 400 Australians die from the use of illegal drugs. Thousands of other users are left suffering from various health conditions caused by the drugs. There are many cases of people injecting themselves and the result is dangerous infections. Families bear the full weight of their loved ones addictions and the consequences that result from the use of illicit drugs. Australian laws and political arena have avoided the issue of modifying drug policies. The focus in Australian drug policies is tougher laws on drugs and drug users (Douglas & McDonald, n.d.).
The drug issue is controversial not only in Australia but also globally. Many government agencies maintain strict laws on drug use and especially illegal drugs. However, despite the “war on drugs”, illegal substances are widely distributed in the market and streets. Research indicates that many young people are in Australian prisons because of the use of illegal drugs. Parents and the society are afraid of illegal drugs, the culture surrounding them, and the consequences that result. New tougher drug policies raise fears for many and solutions need to be realised in order to contain the situation (Dettmer, 2012). As a result, many debates on legalizing drugs have taken place in all parts around the world. The question is if, drugs should be legalised or not.
Arguments in Support of Legalising Illegal Drugs
The Existing “War on Drugs” Policies have failed
The war on drugs has been ongoing for over 40 years in Australia but the results are not encouraging. The government, society and other countries at large can attest to this revelation. A lot of money has been allocated to the war against drugs with over 75% expenditure channelled to get drugs from the market. Drug law enforcement has been increased in areas like customs, police, courts, and prison system. Over the years, the global debates on cultivation, manufacture, number of people using drugs, and the introduction of new drugs has grown tremendously. It is evident that drug prices of substances like cocaine dropped on the streets of U.S. and Europe. However, the quality and purity of the street drugs have increased within these streets (Bean, 2010).
The main aim of drug prohibition policies in Australia is to ensure street drugs are more costly, less pure, and difficult to access. Research conducted from 80% of drug users in Australia indicated that access to illegal drugs like cocaine, amphetamine, cannabis and heroine within the streets is quite easy. The prison system is crammed with drug users and crimes associated with drug use. In this way, it is extremely costly for the government, businesses and the society to curb the drug problem (Beith, 2012).
Many young people who depend on illicit drugs are criminalised by the existing policies of prohibition. The prisons in Australia are crowded with young people arrested for non-violent drug use. The current laws that prohibit drug use do more harm than good for drug users. These laws need to be reviewed in Australia and research indicates that some countries are accessing these policies. For instance, over a decade ago Portugal chose to decriminalise the ownership of small quantities of illegal substances with regular personal consumption (Hanson, Venturelli & Annette, 2011).
Health Benefits
Debates and research conducted over the years indicate that both heroin and marijuana have medical benefits. However, it is difficult to use these drugs on patients since they were prohibited in Australia and many other countries despite the fact that international agreements permit medical as well as scientific utilization of otherwise prohibited drugs. The use of cannabis is being facilitated in some countries while heroin addicts are treated with controlled prescribed heroin, which is accepted medically. This good social move improves the health of addicts and avoids crime. Heroin had always been legal and prescribed to users in a controlled environment within Australia until 1953. The problems associated with prohibition began in 1953 and this move was widely criticized by medical leaders (Douglas & McDonald, n.d.).
In 1973, the USA included cannabis in the authorized list of medical substances. The problem with prohibition is the importance placed on law enforcement and criminalisation instead of focusing on health and social benefits of these drugs. Australian governments use harsh expressions towards drugs and drug users. This is unlike expressions on psychoactive drugs that are widely used in Australia like nicotine or alcohol. These drugs have far more serious health, social and economic costs to individuals but they are legalised. These drugs have regulations and controls, which are relaxed in the society. They are legalised and controlled by government rather than organised cartels. The government should regulate other illegal drugs for the sore benefits of health to drug users (Douglas & McDonald, n.d.).
Prohibition of Drugs increases Diseases and Corruption
The global prohibition of drugs from the society has resulted in greater consequences for...