• By Koen de Clereq There are masses lonely people hemmed in A common miscon- to a social system in Iception about drug which their job gives them use is that it is abnor- no feeling of purpose and mal, automatically where they have little dewrong and so a criminal cision making power. It is offence. no surprise that people turn to drugs as a way out.
Drugs are not "abnorIt is the kind of "solumal" - they are present in tion" to problems over every society. Across the which the state still has world they are used for a control though. means of survival or reHave you noticed how lief.
In South America, the suddenly there will be great flurries of activity. leaves of the coca bush against drug use whereas are chewed and workers at other times it goes everywhere smoke toquiet and oddly tolerant? bacco. Drug use as a part This shifting of position of ordinary life goes on all the time, so criminalising allows rule - makers to choose between keeping it on the basis ofabnorLa healthy workforce and mality is a bit of a nonraking in money from the sense.
drug sectors of industry. Escape Route This manipulation would Where it is a problem, be able to go on whether though, is if it is the cen- or not drugs remain crimitral activity in a person's nalised, and shows the life, substituting as an es- limitations of drug use as cape route from the mess an escape route from a of their life. system which can profit A drug user sums this up from such an activity. when he says: "I'd always Decriminalisation gone along with the Decriminalisation ofre straight line and suddenly drugs is a goal worth they started to let me achieving because withdown...Social problems out doing so, the drug kept me on drugs... like user continues to get in to not getting on too well deep financial and legal with people, not feeling problems whilst pushers comfortable with people.
can make huge profits This remark gives us charging what they like. first-hand evidence of the way capitalism prevents At the sone time though, we have to enpeople expressing themcourage people to look at selves freely.
what underlies drug use All the time we are hamas the central activity in pered by poverty, by prejutheir lives and to say 'no' dices all around against to the system that causes maybe our sexuality, our and then profits from gender or class so that we do indeed feel let down. such a dependence. e in Wes! in alcohol was once a well used method by many northern European ployers, preventing thinking and fights for working class people's rights.
De-criminalisation will lower crime rates such as burglary and robbery. But crimes like rape, murder, violence, very often committed by or to people under alcohol or other drugs, will not be fewer: when people can afford being on drugs more often, perhaps fewer.
More importantly: legalising or de-criminalising drugs is not the same thing as helping a drug user to get free from their needs.
You give up when you say: 'we cannot do anything about it, all we can do is making it easier'.
That is definitely not the way to solve the real problems. come addicted and longterm use causes liver damage.
CANNABIS
Promotes relaxation and a feeling of wellbeing. Non-addictive and almost impossible: to overdose on. May cause psychotogical" addic tion. Smoking cannabis in joints exposes users to the risks of smoking tobaeco.
CAFFEINE
Found in ta tabe, cola and tablets such as Pro-Plus. A stimulant that can keep you alert. It can also keep you awake at night and if taken in excess can cause dependency.
ECSTASY
Can be a stimulant, especially in a club situation, or relaxing in a calm environment. The biggest danger in dehydration, and exhaustion.
SPEED
keep you awake, cheer you up and give you tons of stamina. They can also make you paranoid, gives you the shakes and leave you depressed when you come down.
rettes is a mild stimulant Smoking can also be used to calm nerves and as an appetite suppressant. Nicotine is addictive and the long-term effects of smoking include heart disease and lung cancer.