Recently the digital media site Vox had an article which used data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to show that the three drugs most responsible for direct deaths are not heroin, cocaine, or meth, but the substances tobacco, alcohol, and opiate painkillers. The discussion around how these three could be considered the “most dangerous” was thorough and comprehensive.
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We’ll spoil the ending for you and tell you the answer – they are the most dangerous because they are legal and readily available. But why are they legal?
Tobacco and alcohol have been part of American culture for centuries. Their production and consumption are intertwined with both the economy and society, so prohibiting them would be impractical and nearly impossible. The consequences of Prohibition showed us that. Some tobacco-growing states have a huge part of their budgets and economies based on the continued growth of tobacco. The anti-smoking laws and public opinion against smoking for the last several decades have had an impact on them, yet tobacco is in no danger of being outlawed.
Opiate painkillers exist because they are so useful medically. Many people are able to continue their lives because they have been prescribed such medicines – and use them responsibly and in line with their doctors’ instructions. Surgeries and other medical procedures are possible to save lives because such drugs exist. They have known benefits.
Still, these substances kill people. They are legal. The conclusion to be drawn from this is that just because a substance has been legalized, it is not a guarantee of its safety. Tobacco and alcohol have basically been “grandfathered” in despite their known dangers. Opiate painkillers are still available because their benefits far outweigh the potential hazard that they may impose.
So-called “controlled substances” which are considered illegal under federal law have shown that their negative consequences and dangers outweigh any possible benefit to individuals or society. Quality of life, detrimental effects on health, and mental impairment issues that result from their use make them substances whose use should be soundly discouraged.
Remember the message from this: Just because a substance is legal doesn’t make it safe or okay to use.
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