Legal Drugs and Drug Use: Misuse, Impacts, and Legal Framework

This essay provides a comprehensive analysis of legal drugs and their impact on individuals and society. It begins by defining drugs and differentiating between legal and illegal substances, highlighting the dangers of misusing prescription drugs, including opioids, CNS depressants, and stimulants. The essay explores the reasons behind drug misuse, such as the ease of access and the desire for specific effects, and details the various health risks associated with it, including addiction, withdrawal, and overdose. Furthermore, it examines the effects of drug use on a person's life, encompassing physical, social, emotional, and financial consequences. The essay also discusses drug laws and crimes, differentiating between legal and illegal drug activities, with a focus on the legal framework governing drug misuse and the consequences of drug-related offenses. It touches upon the legal aspects of drug misuse, including the legal regulations at the federal, state, and local levels. The essay concludes by emphasizing the importance of understanding the complexities of legal drug use and the need for effective regulations to mitigate the risks and protect individuals and society.

Running Head: LEGAL DRUG AND DRUG USE
Legal drugs and drug use
Name of the Course
Institution
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LEGAL DRUG AND DRUG USE 1
Introduction
Drug refers to any kind of medicine or chemical that usually changes the normal function
of the body or the normal function of the brain of any individual. There are a lot of legal drugs
which people can buy from a counter or can access from the legalized professionals dealing with
the drugs (Björnsdottir et al., 2013). A large number of drugs in the markets are legal with a
small number of illegal drugs. Illegal drugs are furthermore defined as drugs not licensed to be
sold to the human. When a drug is made illegal it means that they pose a serious risk to human
health and thus are generally forbidden to consumption. Most of these illegal drugs fall under
three different categories such as depressants, hallucinogens, and the stimulants. For the
description of the topic of the research, four major research questions were formulated within the
assignment. The research questions are the guidelines on how to develop arguments on handling
the legal drugs which are commonly denoted as prescribed drugs. The thesis statement of the
essay argues with the facts on how the topics like misuse of prescribed drugs, impacts of drugs,
the issue of drug crimes and drug loss in society affects an individual and the entire society.
Research questions
1. What are the dangers of misusing prescription drugs? Why most of the people abuse
prescribed drugs?
2. How is the use of legal drugs impacts a person and the entire society?
3. How are the legal laws on misuse of drugs related within the different countries?
The misuse of the prescribed drugs
A prescription drug involves the use of the pharmaceutical drug that legally requires apt
medical description for it to be released to the market (Lankenau et al., 2012).On the contrary;
we have over counter drugs which are not regarded as prescribed drugs. Therefore, misuse of
prescription drugs means taking drugs in a dose that is not prescribed or taking ones prescription
for even legitimate health conditions like mild headache and euphoria which means getting high.
There are ablest three classes of medication which are commonly misused by people within the
society. Some of these classes which are misused are the Opioids which are prescribed to treat
but most of the time not used for their purpose.

LEGAL DRUG AND DRUG USE 2
The central nervous system drugs (CNS) or depressants. Some of the drugs in this class
are sedatives, tranquilizers and some hyponatics which are mainly used to control anxiety and
also to treat sleep disorders. The stimulants are prescribed to treat attention in society. Therefore,
the prescription drug can have medical effects. This shows that increase in misuse of prescribed
drug for the last 10 years will result in issues such as death.
Reason for abuse of prescribed drugs
Different sources have indicated that most people abuse prescribed drugs because they
want to be associated with more fun, lose or gain weight and even study effectively. The truth is
that most of these prescribed drugs are easier to get that some street drugs in society. This,
therefore, shows that most of our friends and family can access the prescribed drug. Also, we
have some streets which sale prescribed drugs just like illegal drugs. Different authors have
indicated that more than 14% of research carried out in investigating the effects of prescribed
drugs, more than 50 participants surveyed indicated that they have taken prescription drugs
without the prescription form the doctors (Kleiman et al., 2011). Most of the times prescription
drugs are safer to those people who take it under the instructions of doctors or from the qualified
personnel in the field of pharmaceutical.
Dangers of misusing prescription drugs
Just like any other drugs, using prescription drugs for another reason other than what it
was made for brings a lot of serious risk health issues in human health (Ng et al., 2013).
Some of the dangers associated with classes of prescription drugs include the Opioid abuse can
result in mood changes, decreased cognitive recognition and also decreased respiratory function
thus resulting in coma or death. Most of these effects are high when Opioid drugs are used with
other drugs or substances such as alcohol and CNS depressants. The CNS depressant abuse also
results in serious risk health issues. Reducing the CNS abruptly or too quickly can result in
seizures. Also, taking other drugs with the CNS depressants such as the painkillers, allergy
medicines, and alcohol can result in reduced heartbeat and breathing thus resulting in death.
The stimulant abuse when used with other drugs results in seizures or heart failures. Most
of these effects result when the drug is mixed with other medicine substance like cold medicine.

LEGAL DRUG AND DRUG USE 3
Also, taking high doses for a short while will lead to paranoid. In general, stimulant abuse might
lead to withdrawal and physical dependence (García-Gollarte, Baleriola-Júlvez, Ferrero-López,
Cruz-Jentoft, 2012).
The dangers of prescription drug abuse can be worse if someone takes the drug in a way
that is not intended for. The highest common risk of using prescription drugs includes the aspect
of drug addiction.
Effects of using legal drugs
Drug use can affect a person's life from multiple points of view. Illegal use of drugs can
likewise prompt issues with the law. An individual sentenced for a drug offense will get a
criminal record and this can prompt troubles in finding a new line of work, credit or visas for
abroad travel (Bachman, Wadsworth, O'Malley, Johnston & Schulenberg, 2013). The expense of
obtaining drugs can prompt budgetary issues and drug misuse can prompt social and passionate
issues that negatively impact strong relationships with family and companions.
Physical health issues includes the following
Overdependence - Standardized misuse of drugs can prompt reliance implying particular drug
ends up integral to an individual's life and they believe they can't work legitimately without it.
Withdrawal - At the point when the utilization of a substance is diminished or halted, withdrawal
manifestations may happen. These side effects includes weariness, hunger, sadness, diminished
vitality levels, fractiousness, fomentation, a sleeping disorder, suspicion, animosity, tension or
desires for the medication (Cunningham, Bojorquez, Campollo, Liu & Maxwell, 2010).
Overdose - An overdose happens when the dimension of inebriation from the medication
achieves a point where it starts to create physical and additionally psychological harm.
Psychological wellness issues -The connection between drug use and mental health issues is
normal. Contrasted with the overall public, individuals who have issues with their drug use
additionally have an expanded danger of psychological wellness issues.

LEGAL DRUG AND DRUG USE 4
Anxiety -Uneasiness is something a great many people will involvement with some point in their
life, normally when you wind up in a circumstance that is new, troublesome or startling. Thus
drugs usually result in anxiety problems and eventually sleep disorders.
Problems in finances as an effect includes the cost of unlawful drugs changes contingent
upon accessibility and market patterns. Drug use usually brings about various social and
emotional challenges thus affecting the existing relationship between family members and
friends. This contribute to the relationship issues. Drugs usually affect users in multiple ways.
Some become depressed, angry, sleepy and also paranoid hence negatively affecting how people
relate to others and society.
Drug laws and drug crimes
Legal drug use of prescribed drugs is not deemed as a crime in various nations. However,
the possession, distribution, manufacture, and sale of non-controlled drugs are restricted by
various strict laws put in place and considered as drug crimes (Cunningham, Bojorquez,
Campollo, Liu & Maxwell, 2010).Various drug crimes related activities have been discussed
showing the government is strict in imposing laws that counter these crimes. These include
passion, manufacture, and sale of an uncontrolled drug substance.
Drug laws
Drug laws and drug crimes have been researched on as a result of continuous attention
over the years. Laws exist in each state and also at the federal level which normally prohibits
personal handling, production, and sale of specific regulated drug substances. Some of these
legal prescription drugs that are commonly misused and hence controlled by law include Opioids
that are used to relieve pain, depressants like valium, and stimulants like Ritalin. Some use bhang
as a legal drug deeming it to have medicinal purposes
Legal drugs
It's evident that the legality of a particular drug mainly depends on a person issuing it or
the purpose which it is being used for. However, un-prescribed and unsupervised utilization of
these particular drug substances is seen to bring danger to people and the entire society in
general. Thus, over the years, lawmakers have designed laws in order to regulate the use, abuse,

LEGAL DRUG AND DRUG USE 5
production and the sale of drugs without legal permission or without prescription by a qualified
physician.
Federal, State, and Local Drug Laws
Despite of existence of a long-term federal policy enacted in order to fight the abuse and
continuous distribution of these controlled drug substances, each particular state has its own
series of drug laws. One critical distinction between these is the fact that, while the highest
percentage of federal drug convictions result from trafficking, the highest percentage of both
local and state arrests are usually carried out on chargers regarding possession of these drugs.
Federal state drug laws also differ from those of state and local in terms of sovereignty of their
consequences faced immediately after being convicted. Federal drug laws have heavy
punishments and longer jail sentences. State arrest for possession without intending to distribute
the drug and also involve various probations, short term jail or little fines (Kleiman, Maiwald,
Conzelmann, Lauffenburger, & Sorger, 2011). An example is Drug prohibition law which
government prohibits a drug except under cases where it's prescribed by a professional physician
or license
Legal laws on drug misuse
According to both the government and state criminal justice frameworks, the greater part
of the cases come from charges of ownership, assembling, or dealing of controlled substances.
Others include narcotic drugs and psychotropic act, misuse of drugs act, decree-law, opium law,
controlled drugs, and substances act.
Distribution and Trafficking - Drug trafficking alludes to the unlawful deal and additionally
conveyance of a controlled substance (Werb et al, 2011). The results of a conviction for
appropriation and dealing fluctuate altogether relying upon the type and measure of the
controlled substances included, the area where the respondent was captured and the respondent's
criminal history. Jail sentences for drug distribution and trafficking usually range from 3 years or
life imprisonment.
Manufacturing of drugs -Under bureaucratic and state medicate laws; the administration can
charge an individual for having an influence in the development or assembling of a controlled

LEGAL DRUG AND DRUG USE 6
substance (Fraser & Moore, 2011). An individual can likewise be charged for delivering or
making unlawful controlled substances through synthetic procedures or in a research center.
Possession -The most well-known drug charge - particularly in arrest carried out under regional
drug laws - includes ownership of a controlled substance. Conversely, for an ownership
conviction, the legislature must demonstrate that the blamed individual knowingly and
purposefully had a controlled substance, without a substantial remedy, and within an amount
adequate for individual use or deal.
A possession charge can be founded on genuine or "helpful" ownership of a controlled
substance. The constructive passion of a drug implies that regardless of whether the respondent
doesn't really have the medications on their individual, a possession charge is as yet conceivable
if the litigant had access and command over where the medications were discovered. This is
essential to note on the grounds that, dissimilar to DUI/DWI laws, the administration does not
need to really demonstrate that somebody is utilizing a controlled substance so as to accuse them
of ownership(Web et al, 2011).
Search and seizure laws -The most widely recognized defense to a drug charge - particularly
sedate belonging charges - is a case that a cop exceeded arrest and seizure laws in keeping an
individual and getting proof. In the event that a defendant in a criminal case (generally through a
criminal guard lawyer) can demonstrate that the police abused the respondent's Fourth
Amendment rights in finding and catching medication proof, that evidence may not be allowable
in a criminal body of evidence against the litigant.
Conclusion
To sum up the issue of legal drugs and drug use clearly illustrates the prescribed drugs,
the use of laws to control drug misuse and also the crimes associate with drug use. Prescribed
drugs are always misused because they are available and most of the people usually ignore the
instructions from the experts. The legal framework in every country should emphasize on aspect
of drug use so as to control the dangerous health effects associated with drug misuse. The same
concept applies to crime cases whereby more strict rules and principles need to focus on crime
control under the drug use in the society.

LEGAL DRUG AND DRUG USE 7
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