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Illegal and Legal Drugs

Essay by   •  March 31, 2011  •  Essay  •  1,330 Words (6 Pages)  •  1,166 Views

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Illegal and legal drugs, what is the difference between them besides the legalization issues? Why are they illegal in the first place and what does each of them do? What is one of the biggest issues in the US that involves with drugs? There are millions of drugs sold in the United States each year. It can range from Legal to Illegal Drugs such as Marijuana, Cocaine, and Alcohol. What are these drugs? How are they made? Why is it illegal? I ask myself this and state the answers.

One of the biggest selling illegal drugs today is Cannabis, also known as Marijuana. This drug is a psychoactive drug from the cannabis sativa plant. Psychoactive drugs are mostly used to alter consciousness in the same way as stimulants like coffee and alcohol. Marijuana is usually dried and mixed with a female pistillate plant. This drug is usually wrapped and smoked. Marijuana has been around throughout history mostly used for religious, recreational, and spiritual reasons. To this day, it is abused by billions of people around this world to get "high". This drug is also used for medical uses for relief of many diseases or as a pain reliever.

Another issue to the illegal drug industry lately has also been

Methamphetamine. Crystal Meth was used during World War I to heal depression and fatigue in the German Military. This drug can be made at home for cheap which causes "Meth" to be a problem. These places are called Meth Labs. There are many side effects when taking meth. Some side effects can be dilated pupils and increased attentiveness, and meth mouth. Meth addicts may also have a side effect called meth mouth, which causes your teeth to rot.

Opioid is a chemical that has morphine like substances inside of it. It is mostly used for medical uses, but can be used illegally. You might not have heard of opioid but I am certain you have heard of the semi synthetic drugs that involve opioid such has heroin and opium. Opium is a narcotic made from opium poppies. It is usually harvested by using a sharp blade to scratch off the white milky, latex that dries brown.

Heroin derives from the drug morphine and is used for medical or recreational uses. When used for recreational purposes it usually causes a problem of an addiction and may change the personality of one. It is usually injected using a needle when used recreationally. In the 1900s, it was marketed as a child cough syrup and non-addictive morphine. This drug was soon taken off the shelves, as the effects on the brain were very critical.

Stimulants are one of the most common drugs that are found in stores all over the world and is illegally sold for recreational use only. Recreational uses are mostly for the drug, Cocaine also known as crack.

Cocaine is made from the plant coca, which is grown in South American Mountains. Although cocaine can be used clinically, it isn't recommended because of its effects. Coke is used to stimulate the central nervous system and for an appetite suppressant, to increase energy and happiness. Coca leaves was once used to make a leading brand of soda, Coca-Cola. This was changed after finding out about the drug in the beverage. The appearance of the drug is usually a white powder. Cocaine is usually inhaled through the nose, smoked, injected, orally rubbed on the gums, or chewed and eaten. It is sometimes used in surgery to numb the part of the body. The drug is used for its numbing abilities.

Most of these drugs that I have just listed are just some of the illegal drugs that are used recreationally. There are many more that haven't been brought up and are a big issue in the illegal drug trades. These are the most common illegal drugs that are known to many in the world. Most illegal drugs are deadly if overdosed but it is not only the illegal drugs that are deadly. Many legal drugs are also deadly and can be used recreationally such as stimulants.

Stimulants such as caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine have been a big problem in our society for centuries. These three stimulants are huge in the market and are sold daily in our lives.

Caffeine is a huge drug that you might not think is a problem in our society today. It is found in most beverages we drink with our meals daily. Soda, tea, and coffee have small amounts of caffeine but it is a drug that increases your alertness. Children of all ages love to drink soft drinks but it is still a drug used for alertness and can be used for different uses as well. Too much caffeine

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