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You and Your Body
You and Your Body
ed?
Should taking drugs be legalis
How dangerous is drugtaking? Some people argue that all
Should
Drug use can never be 100 per cent ● Not being used to drugs. ● What people are doing while drugs should be made legal
safe. It always involves risks, but it is Somebody new to drug use may be they are on drugs can be risky. and given the same legal
not always as dangerous as some anxious, unsure of what to do or Driving a car or bike or operating
status as alcohol and
cannabis
people make out. How dangerous it is expect and be more likely to get into machinery while on drugs can greatly
depends on the drug itself, the person
tobacco. Others argue for
problems or have a bad experience. increase the chances of accidents.
taking the drug and how and where Having sex while on drugs can make decriminalisation, which
the drug is taken. THE DRUG would mean that possession
be legalised?
remembering safer sex – like using
The risk will also depend on: Different drugs carry different condoms – much more difficult. would not be a criminal
● How much is taken. risks. offence, but might be
● How strong the dose is, for Drugs such as heroin, alcohol or SO WHAT DOES ALL subject to penalties like
example two ecstasy tablets which tranquillisers can lead to physical THIS MEAN? those for speeding or
look the same may have very different
doses in them.
dependence or withdrawal
symptoms.
It means that it is impossible to
make simple statements like ‘If
parking illegally. Yes… No…
■It would immediately ■It would be a
● How often it is taken. Drugs like amphetamine, ecstasy and you take this drug then this will Surveys suggest that most
take the supply of the first step to more
● What else might be mixed in cocaine are uppers – they speed the happen.’ people would be in favour drug of the hands of widespread, and
with the drug, especially the rubbish body up – and can be particularly We are all individuals – what of seeing the personal use violent criminal potentially disastrous,
that is often mixed with illegal drugs. dangerous for people who have heart might be safe for one person of cannabis decriminalised. syndicates. liberalisation of other drugs.
● How a drug is taken; injecting is or blood pressure problems. could be dangerous for the next – But the majority of the ■ Compared to alcohol ■ It would lead to a great
the most dangerous way to use drugs Drugs like heroin, alcohol and solvents or even dangerous for the same public is firmly against and tobacco, which are increase in use, which
– the dose is taken all at once so are downers – they slow the body person in a different altering the restrictions on freely available, might put people on a
there is a danger of overdose – and if down – and can be very dangerous if situation. heroin and cocaine. cannabis is not very ‘slippery slope’ to harder
injecting equipment is shared, there is mixed because the body can stop harmful anyway. drugs.
the danger of passing on infections altogether. This is an overdose and ■ Any increased use of ■ Some forms of cannabis are
like hepatitis and HIV (the virus that can be fatal. the drug would be very harmful and have
leads to AIDS). Others are hallucinogens (LSD, greatly outweighed by been implicated as a cause
magic mushrooms) and can the benefits gained. of mental health problems.
THE PERSON lead to people freaking out
If you drink when you feel miserable, and doing dangerous things.
you will often feel worse; if you are Anybody with a mental
anxious and depressed before taking
LSD, you are more likely to have a
illness should steer well
clear of these drugs and
The benefits of
bad experience. Also the following
factors may influence the experience:
● Physical health problems. Drug
cannabis as well.
THE ENVIRONMENT
legalisation In groups
You and your body drugs and drugtaking