End The War On Drugs - Chapter 6

Use and Addiction

EDITOR’S NOTE: A few years ago, I penned a first draft of a short book, “End The War On Drugs” I offer an updated version, in serial form, here on Substack, for my paid subscribers. I will publish a chapter each week.

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CHAPTER 1: A Catastrophic Failure
CHAPTER 2: A Brief History
CHAPTER 3: A Society Rooted in Individual Liberty
CHAPTER 4: Use vs Abuse
CHAPTER 5: Societal Cost

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Is every drinker an alcoholic? Are there such things as "social smokers" of cigarettes and cigars? Has everyone who ever used an illegal drug become addicted?

The answers are obvious.

Some believe that legalizing drugs will lead to massive increases in use and massive increases in addiction. A pharmacological assessment of this question is beyond my expertise and beyond the scope of this piece, given that it would require getting deeply into the question of addiction itself.

It’s also not necessary.

Before I put forth what I consider the germane conclusion, I offer up some anecdotal recollections.