Illicit Drug Use Should Not Be Legalized

• NCJ Number: 136439
• Journal: New York State Journal of Medicine Volume: 92 Issue: 2 Dated: (February 1992) Pages: 59-62
• Author(s): F Rosner; J Wolpaw; P H Sechzer; P Rogatz; H M Risemberg; F V Ona; P J Numann; R Lowenstein; L Loeb; A B Landolt; P Kark; V Kanick; J B Henry; A L Halpern; P B Farnsworth; E J Cassell; A Buscaglia; A J Bennett
• Date Published: 1992
• Length: 4 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The Committee on Bioethical Issues of the Medical Society of the State of New York opposed, by a vote of 12 to 2, the legalization of the use of non-prescriptive, potentially dangerous drugs such as heroin and cocaine.

Abstract

The Committee passed a resolution stating that illicit drug use poses a serious health threat to individuals and society. In countries where drug use has been legalized, such use has increased. The use of potentially dangerous drugs can lead to limited reasoning ability, antisocial behavior, and an increase in many medical diseases and fetal health problems. The Committee reviewed arguments made by the proponents of legalization, which focus on the failure of criminal justice policies in terms of curbing drug abuse and the potential cost savings of calling off the war on drugs. Opponents of legalization argue that current policies have at least stabilized the number of heroin addicts and that legalization will lead to increased use and concomitant costs for drug treatment programs. The experiences of the Netherlands and Great Britain, where there were schemes for the semi-legalization of illicit drugs, are outlined. The Committee also reviewed physicians' views toward drug legalization and the philosophical arguments regarding legalization before making their recommendation which supported the official position of the Medical Society of the State of New York. 13 references