There are many types of illegal drugs and they all are dangerous to human health in some way. For example, heroin is a widely feared and an extremely addictive drug. It is made from the opium poppy flower. Heroin is commonly referred to by nicknames such as “junk” and “smack”. It alters the body’s natural painkillers and how they work. It has both mental and physical withdrawal symptoms, and it is a very hard habit to break (Condon 12-13). Cocaine is another harmful and deadly drug. There are two main types of cocaine: powdered and crack. Powdered cocaine is nicknamed “snow” a

The national government plays a very important role in the nation’s battle against drugs. Since drugs are such a major problem, the national government is pressured to find a solution. The national government spends billions of dollars each year trying to control drugs. Over fifty percent of this money is spent on law enforcement. Very little is spent on treatment and prevention. Many people urge the government to spend more on prevention and treatment instead of using the majority of the money on law enforcement (Alter 43). The national government also deals with drugs by passing and enforcing laws. Americans have opposing ideas about drug laws. Many think that drug laws should be liberalized and certain drugs legalized. Others think that drugs should be completely prohibited and laws made stricter. Those for liberalization think that legalizing some drugs would stop illegal trade, which would cause crime to diminish. The government could also distribute clean needles to prevent diseases from spreading. “Eliminating all drugs is unrealistic and the government should instead focus the nation’s resources on minimizing the harm resulting from the inevitable continued use of drugs (Eldredge 84-85).” Those opposed to liberalization claim that drug legalization would increase the supply of drugs, which would create a greater demand. This would cause drug abuse to rise. Many other people think prohibition would be more effective. “The enforcement of drug laws is the most effective way to fight drug abuse (Marshal 18).” Statistics show that drug use declines during times of strict enforcement. If nations in the Western Hemisphere work together they can eliminate much of the growing, trafficking, selling, and use of illegal drugs (Marshal 19). Opponents to prohibition point out that it costs America billions of dollars each year and has failed to make any significant difference. While enforcing drug laws, citizens are harassed and their constitutional rights are violated (Eldredge 88). These opposing views both have pros and cons.

Illegal drugs have been, and continue to be, a major problem in America. They cause an enormous numbers of deaths, yet more people continue using them. The government spends countless hours, and billions of dollars, trying to help America overcome this problem. Despite the multiple theories, nobody knows the most effective method to

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