On July 17, 2016 Creighton Shipman died from a heroin overdose, a nineteen-year-old talented college lacrosse player at Mars Hill University. While playing in high school, Creighton was injured at a lacrosse tournament in December of 2011. He received emergency surgery and was prescribed an opioid pain killer to manage the pain. After years of illicit drug use Creighton passed away chasing the high 5 years later (Yee), along with 130 people on average who die from drug overdoses every day (Volkow). Since 1999 prescription opioid and heroin deaths have quadrupled (Volkow). Although, 207 million opioid prescriptions were filled in 2013, compared to 76 million in 1991 (Volkow).  America accounts for 100 percent of world hydrocodone use and 81 percent of world oxycodone use (Volkow). While opioid pain killers remain legal, America’s most problematic drugs are legal; alcohol and tobacco both neighbor heroin, crack cocaine, and methamphetamine as the most harmful drugs to users and others. Tobacco use kills an estimated 480,000 Americans annually while nearly 90,000 Americans die because of alcohol related instances each year as well (Data Overview, CDC). Every year legal drugs kill thousands more than their illegal counterparts, yet the stigma remains the same; all harmful drugs are illegal, but legal drugs are safe and effective. The question now becomes how can we stop preventable deaths and harness the power of currently illegal substances? America should decriminalize illicit drugs to end the war on drugs, and encourage lifesaving research that can prevent hundreds of thousands of deaths each year. 

 Live science, a reputable science journal lists 6 recreational drugs with medical benefit. Psychedelics are studied to treat PTSD and depression, while Marijuana has been used to treat chronic pain, control nausea and improve symptoms of Chron’s Disease (“Lallanilla”). 

1962 began the beginning of American drug policy, Harry J. Anslinger commanded the Federal Bureau of Narcotics which instituted a strict drug policy in response to sporadic drug usage (“The United States War on Drugs"). Numerous propaganda campaigns, including claims of Marijuana causing murder, insanity and sex crimes were used during the tenure of the federal bureau of narcotics. While the Federal Bureau of Narcotics thrived, so did drugs. “The counterculture of the 1960’s gave birth to a rebellious movement that popularized drug use”, as explained by Stanford University’s explanation on the war on drugs. America’s supply of drugs grew rapidly during the 1960’s, American soldiers returned from Vietnam with heroin addictions, college campuses were havens for marijuana usage and psychedelics became increasingly popular (“The United States War on Drugs”). Due to the steep increase in recreational drug usage in the 1960’s President Nixon declared war on drugs in 1971. President Nixon passed legislation to treat and rehabilitate drug users, fight drug supply in Central America and Mexico and create the Drug Enforcement Agency (“The United States War on Drugs”). Although Drug enforcement policies have differed since 1971, the DEA has remained. Since the beginning of the drug war and the creation of the DEA, US prison population has increased 400% (Durden), illicit drug use has steadily increased (Data Overview, CDC), and drug overdoses are killing more every year. Furthermore, “In 2014, the United states of America imprisoned 2,224,400 or 1 in every 111 adults, the highest incarceration rate in the world. (“Prisons, Jails, and People Arrested for Drugs.”) Likewise, American police arrested 1,488,707 citizens for drug law violations, while 80% of arrests were for simple possession only (“Prisons, Jails, and People Arrested for Drugs.”)  For a college student, the consequences of a simple marijuana possession conviction include: ineligibility for financial aid, barred from military service, discipline and or expulsion from the university (“Prisons, Jails, and People Arrested for Drugs.”). The DEA is not winning the war on drugs by ruining the live of college students, it is creating more problems and issues by targeting the wrong drug crimes. the sharp spike in US imprisonment is an extreme problem for the American taxpayer, the government and every American. The DEA is treating drug abuse like a crime, when the real issue is addiction and public health. If every possession charge ended with a small fine and a rehabilitation program, not only would the American taxpayer save millions of dollars, the offenders will be receiving the help they ultimately need. This of course is a more realistic and simple solution to aiding the War on Drugs failure. To officially end the War on Drugs we must decriminalize recreational drug use and treat addiction and drug usage as a health issue, not a criminal one. By decriminalizing drugs, we can close down prisons, end the long history of U.S mass incarceration, and save the taxpayer millions of dollars. Furthermore, we can stop ruining the lives of college kids who make one simple mistake. Lastly, we can finally make a dent in Americas overdose problem, which is the highest in our history.  Ultimately, the DEA and current American drug policies are unfit to solve the War on Drugs.

A study published by The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease documents the treatment of terminally ill cancer patients. These patients were not given opioid pain killers or anti-anxiety medicines to deal with the pain before they passed. Instead, patients were treated with Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD).  LSD, a psychedelic is known to cause hallucinogenic feelings, transformed perceptions and sensations differing from reality (“Abuse, National Institute on Drugs”) . Recreationally, users often take this drug to trip, in which they experience common LSD symptoms and also develop a “different perspective” on such events in their lives or in the world. Patients in the placebo group of the study reported having continuing anxious and depressing feelings, while patients who received two 200 microgram treatments of LSD reported having severely decreased anxiety levels compared to before the treatment. Treatments like these are happening all over the country, while LSD treatments are currently “experiments” patients have life changing experiences treating mental disorders such as PTSD, depression, and anxiety. LSD is not the only recreational drug with medical benefits, according to Live Science, at least 6 recreational drugs show continuing promise to treat chronic illnesses (Lallanilla).  Marijuana, which is now legal for medical use in 21 states, has been shown to treat a number of illnesses including treating chronic pain, control nausea, improve symptoms of Chron’s disease and “relieve intra-ocular pressure associated with glaucoma” (Lallanilla). Ecstasy an amphetamine commonly referred to as MDMA produces “hallucinations, feelings of emotional warmth, and high levels of energy” according to Live Science. In studies, Ecstasy was found to release oxytocin and prolactin. By releasing these hormones, the brain is able to trust and overcome certain instances, making this an effective treatment for PTSD and anxiety (“Powerful Results, Promising Futures.”).  83% of PTSD patients treated with MDMA no longer met the criteria for PTSD 2 months after treatment (“Powerful Results, Promising Futures.”). Cocaine is used as a “topical anesthetic for surgical procedures due to its rapid numbing properties” (Lallanilla). Cocaine is also a vasoconstrictor and can treat skin lacerations, cocaine is also used topically by doctors before minor surgery (Lallanilla). Although cocaine is used medically, it is unclear if there are still medical uses undiscovered. Lastly, Ketamine is a fast acting animal tranquilizer used to quickly attack symptoms of depression and anxiety. Ketamine, used by festival goers to enhance the experience, is used by EMT’s and emergency rooms to treat people in mania or attempting suicide (Lallanilla). Ronald Duman, professor of psychiatry and neurobiology at Yale believes that ketamine is the “biggest breakthrough in depression research in a half century.” Ketamine is used medically now, and is currently being studied for long term use in the future. At the moment research is very new and unclear but becoming increasingly promising. If recreational drugs like these can cure numerous diseases with reported minimal side effects, what is the point in not using them? It is unfortunate, but decriminalization and medical implementation will not come for many years. Pharmaceutical companies refuse to fund medications they cannot patent and are afraid of public backlash. How many more people will have to die before a change is made? Currently, Marijuana, LSD, MDMA, and psilocybin are listed as schedule 1 substances under the Controlled Substances act. The clarifications for schedule 1 substances are: high potential for abuse and addiction and no accepted medical use. These substances all have medical purpose and none of these drugs have addictive qualities. Likewise, Benzodiazepines (Xanax, Klonopin, Valium) and tramadol, an addictive drug similar to oxycodone, are listed as schedule IV drugs. These drugs have limited potential for addiction or abuse and have an accepted medical purpose. There is no question that these drugs have a medical usage, but the addictive qualities of these drugs are second to none. Along with alcohol, Benzodiazepine addiction will trigger cardiac arrest if stopped suddenly. Withdrawal symptoms include “psychosis, sleep disturbance, anxiety, dry retching and nausea, panic attacks, memory problems, hallucinations, seizures and possibly suicide”. Benzodiazepine abuse is estimated to account for 35% of all emergency room visits (Data Overview, CDC) currently caused on an extremely high over prescription rate and foolishness by our “top American doctors”. Alternative treatment to Benzodiazepines include Marijuana and MDMA/psychedelic treatment which are clinically proven to reduce anxiety symptoms with no addictive qualities (figure 1). 

James Q. Wilson, a respected sociology and political science professor at the University of UCLA and Harvard, along with many others believes legalizing” drugs make matters worse”. Wilson believes that that legalizing drugs will increase use as well as generating a harmful effect on society. Wilson first points out that drug prices will lower, which in turn will inspire more people to use the drugs. Then Wilson points out, with a decrease in price, drug quality will decrease as manufactures aim to make the drugs in an inexpensive way. Lastly, Wilson points out the issue that society would become less of a “pleasant place” as he says “you could buy heroin in a CVS”. Wilson explains all of these points and expects them to increase the number of users, increase welfare usage and cause traffic deaths and ruin marriages. Comparing marijuana prices between dispensaries and street values, on average street price were extremely lower than the dispensary price. Yet, the legal marijuana market made an estimated 6.7 billion dollars in 2106. Recreational users are more likely to pay more for the same drug as long as quality is ensured. On average it seems the common user is more likely to pay slightly more in return for quality. Just like the average consumer would pay an extra couple dollars for a higher quality shirt. Secondly, drug quality would not decrease. By decriminalizing these drugs, reputable pharmaceutical companies would be able to manufacture these drugs in safe, sterile laboratories and ensure quality and serving size. This would not only have numerous effects on health, but would prevent overdoses by having every single dose measure correctly and accurately. Furthermore, heroin would never be sold at a CVS, and essentially it already is with a prescription from your family doctor. Drugs like heroin would be sold at dispensaries and would be safer, cleaner and more accurately dosed. No average American is going to pick up a heroin habit just because its decriminalized. These would be strictly for heroin addicts, would have a quota and would be sold along with clean needles. This will prevent overdoses, stop the spreading of diseases like AIDS and keep users alive long enough to get help. Lastly, there is no proof that this will create more traffic accidents, based on the fact that there is no proof more people will do drugs after decriminalization. Also, most of these drugs do not badly impair driving compared to alcohol, Benzodiazepines and other drowsy legal drugs. Simply, Wilson’s claims are based on unsubstantial social arguments, and he has little facts to back up his claims. Currently, we have no more time to wait on the DEA and the War on Drugs failure. The fix to this problem is the decriminalization of drugs. First, we remove the schedule 1 tag on drugs with positive medical benefits and non-addictive or abusive properties. These drugs like Marijuana, LSD and MDMA have actual benefit that can save many lives. By removing the tag of schedule 1, this will allow government funding, remove quotas and allow pharmaceutical companies to research and develop safer drugs. Secondly, we will lower US imprisonment rates massively, at the moment we imprison more than 25% of the worlds prisoners, but hold only 4.3% of the worlds people (Zero Hedge). Almost 2.5 million people in jail is costing the American taxpayer billions of dollars. Lastly, by decriminalizing these drugs, we can treat victims and abusers, rather than incarcerating. Incarceration is not substantial rehabilitation or punishment for addicts. For example, Portugal decriminalized drug 14 years ago and now has the second lowest drug induced death rate in all of Europe (Ingraham).  Instead of jail time and an arrest, getting caught with drugs leads to a fine and a “referral to a treatment program” (Ingraham). Ingraham goes on to explain that although it’s not specifically clear why drug deaths are so low, he points out that low quality drugs are being eradicated. “Why mess with the bad stuff when you can get the good stuff?” The real issue is a health one, decriminalization of drugs will allow the United States to get recurring users the rehabilitation they desperately need. 

Decriminalization is not a push forward or a call for change. It is a way to prevent and fix and ongoing epidemic and America’s next disaster. The war on drugs has incarcerated more people than ever, spent billions of dollars and ruined countless lives. Yet, drug overdoses are at an all-time high and more people are using drugs than ever before. To stop the drug epidemic and save lives such as Creighton Shipman’s, we must decriminalize, end the war on drugs and harness the power of schedule 1 substances. 
