Mr. Seemy’s class was discussing whether illegal drugs such as heroin, cocaine, and marijuana should be legalized to help reduce drug-related crime. For homework, Mr. Seemy asked students to do some background research and use evidence to take a position on the issue. Juwon, David, and Chaley each took a different position.

Juwon is opposed to legalization because she thinks these drugs are too addictive. Once people try them, they tend to want more. She also believes people do dangerous things when they’re on drugs, even if the drug doesn’t kill them.

David thinks our current laws about drugs and alcohol are incompatible. He says that alcohol and nicotine are at least as addictive as other drugs, but they are both legal. Prohibition did not work for alcohol when it was tried temporarily decades ago, so why should drugs be illegal?

Chaley thinks that a unified policy for all drugs that are currently legal is a bad idea. She thinks that marijuana should be legalized, but using cocaine and heroin should remain a violation of the law. She knows of people who have ruined their lives because they were addicted to heroin, but she’s never heard of anyone dying from using marijuana.

The three students looked for evidence that would help them decide whose argument was strongest. They came across an article by Dr. Jack Henningfield of the National Institute on Drug Abuse and Dr. Neal Benowitz of the University of California in San Francisco that contained data about the addictive qualities of different drugs.

• Dependence is how difficult it is for the user to quit, the relapse rate, and the percentage of people who become dependent on the drug.
• Withdrawal refers to the symptoms a person has after they stop using the drug.
• Tolerance is how much of the substance is needed to satisfy increasing cravings for it.
• Reinforcement is the substance’s ability to get users to take it again and again, and in preference to other substances.
• Intoxication indicates how much personal and social damage a drug may cause.

All three students claimed that the data support their position. Look at the data carefully. How might the data support each student’s position?

Discussion Question:

What surprised you about these data? Which addictive quality do you think is most important when considering whether drugs should be legal or illegal? Why?