HaCKeRz Kr0nlcKLeZ 1/HaCKeRz Kr0nlcKLeZ.iso/drugs/wrong.message

Internet Message Format | 1996-05-06 | 3.8 KB

From: Neil Johnson <[e-mail]>
Date: Mon, 20 Mar 95 09:36:18 EST
Message-Id: <9503201436.AA17855@pokey>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: PDFA takes a stand against Legalization.

Wrong Message of Leagalizing Drugs

[e-mail]
18-Aug-94


The Wrong Message Of Legalizing Illicit Drugs


A new publication that discusses that any policy discussion that includes
consideration of legalizing illicit drugs reflects either a complete
misunderstanding or ignorance of the key factors that affect trial and use of
these substances. Legalization sends the societal message of public approval,
eroding the anti-drug attitudes of our youth and encouraging them to try and
use illegal drugs. What we need is the reverse -- establishing the unequivocal
message that our public behavior standard and social norm is 'no-use,"
continuously reinforced through the attitudes of harm/risk and social
disapproval that are prevent inhibitors to our youth trying and using these
substances.

First, it is critical to recognize that drug abuse is, at its core, the result
of the
demand we as individuals and society create for these drugs. Prior to drug use
becoming the disease of addiction, all drug trial and use is the result of
decisions/choices we make to use or not use. The primary determinant in these
decisions are the attitudes of 1) perceived harm/risk and 2) social
disapproval.
This is true across ethnicity, demography and geography. All progress in
reducing drug use and, ultimately, addiction, is the result of increasing
anti-
drug attitudes in order to change the behavior.

The message of legalization is precisely antithetical to everything we've
learned about preventing the demand for illegal drugs. The epidemic of illegal
drug use over the past three decades was the result of these substances, their
use, and their users becoming "normalized" -perceived as benign and an
accepted part of normal social behavior. Normalization has led to nearly 80
million Americans having tried illegal drugs. Because we did not understand
the
impairment and harm that results from using illegal drugs, we passively and
actively moved away from the behavior standard and social norm of no-use.

The reverse process of "denormalization" that began with the death of Len
Bias in 1986 has resulted in a decline of more than 50% in the number of
Americans using illicit drugs. This fact is not well known, and probably is
responsible for much of the sense of hopelessness and helplessness that often
surrounds the issue of drug abuse. As a nation, we began to recognize the
harmfulness of drug use, and we began to re-establish the social norm of no-
use. All the declines in trial and non-addicted use of illicit drugs are
directly
correlated with the increase in the attitudes of perceived harm/risk and
social
disapproval.

Importantly, however, most recent trends among young teens indicate an
erosion in their key anti-drug attitudes of risk and disapproval, resulting in
higher usage rates of marijuana, LSD, cocaine and inhalants. Further confusion
in the behavior standard and social norm of no-use, especially consideration
of
legalizing (read 'normalizing") illicit drugs, will surely accelerate this
disturbing
trend and put us back into the drug epidemic of the 1970's and early 1980's.

Courtesy:  Partnership for a Drug-Free America


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