РефератыИностранный языкDrDrugs Essay Research Paper The extermination of

Drugs Essay Research Paper The extermination of

Drugs Essay, Research Paper


The extermination of illegal drugs has always been one of our most


important, worldwide issues. Ending the existence of drugs is one of the


toughest and most complicated goals we face. Despite our constant battle


against them, illegal substances continue to exist and thrive in our culture.


With all the effort we put into the war against drugs, why is there little


success? Lack of effort is not a major reason our attempts are failing. It is


the lack of understanding that leads to the misdirection and failure of our


attempts. Obviously a strong desire to use drugs exists, and it is the


prevention of this desire that we need to focus on in order to wipe out drugs


from our lives.


In fact, our focus is strongly on punishing drug users, yet


applying laws against committed drug crimes has not proven to be an effective


solution. Drugs are still produced and distributed everywhere, and are taken by


many. — despite


Obviously our focus is mid-directed. Because all types of people use


illegal substances, pinpointing one specific group to ?bust? is not effective.


Recently, we have tried to track the location of drug use. We find places where


drugs tend to be, and seek to close them down as an effort to decrease the


overall use of drugs.


This has proved to be an ineffective technique because it does not


change people’s craving for drugs. Reasons leading up to drug use still exist.


Arresting people for drugs does not kill their desire to use them. Closing


down a crack house does not end the residents addiction, it just forces them to


move. Reprimanding committed crimes does not eliminate the reason they were


committed. Addressing drug offenses after they have been made is not an


effective deterrent because the desire for the drug’s effect still remains.


Why is this desire more influential than the law? Partly because the


potential benefits of drugs overwhelm us, and turn our focus away from the


potential dangers and consequences. People will go to extreme lengths to be the


best, or better than what they presently are. Culture’s attitudes toward beauty,


money, power as a representation for success drives us to turn to drugs.


Drugs symbolize power, status, freedom, and the ultimate ?high? in our world.


Drugs can help people achieve higher status, more power, as well as the


overwhelming physical and emotional ?escape.? Ultimately, the desire for the


drug high is worth the risk — which we conceive to be very small — of being


caught. In reality, the risk of getting caught is extremely slim. Only a


small percentage of all drug crimes do get caught, so our fear of the law is


minimal. Therefore, we continue to use drugs, and are rarely deterred by the


infrequent actions taken to stop what we so badly want to achieve. In addition,


many people are willing to risk getting caught, because the benefits of drugs


outweigh the risks.


Despite our strong cultural expectations which encourage this rampant


drug use, we continue to rely on the law to solve the drug problem. Today, one


popular technique is closing down high-drug use establishments, the most


prevalent in our country being nightclubs. These exist for people’s pleasure,


and serve as a site of experimentation and enjoyment; in many different ways.


People are interested in all aspects of clubs, and are drawn into being a part


of them. Nightclubs are a combination of many aspects within the entertainment


industry; including music, fashion, beauty/modeling and acting. Along with


working in, and striving to be a part of, these industries comes the pressure to


keep up with the competition. Those involved in these industries compete just


as much as those who are not; generally, everyone strives to achieve what they


do not have.


Our cultural beliefs about success in these areas include the use of


drugs as a means of reaching our goals. Drugs have always been closely linked


to the entertainment industry, and regardless of their illegal status, many of


us succumb to the temptation. This is often a direct result of the pressure


and competition that our culture puts each individual through. We are not


easily deterred from using drugs because we refuse to give up our dreams and


goals, and often are willing to do whatever it takes along the path to success.


These strong values keep laws from stopping our drug use. While the


closing of a nightclub may stop us from using drugs there, it will not stop us


from using them somewhere else. Our desire to reach success and be accepted do


not die because of an these infrequent, insignificant actions. When an


establishment closes down, people can easily find another one which fulfills the


same purpose. For example, when a movie theater or restaurant closes, patrons


locate another one. No one stops seeing movies because one theater closes. No


one stops eating because one restaurant closes. Needs and desires still exist -


- and are no less important because there is one less way to achieve it.


Nightclubs apply the same way. People attend to party, relax, socialize,


and be accepted. These desires are not lessened because one place of achieving


them is unavailable, they simply need to be fulfilled elsewhere. And they can


be — because drugs produce the same effects regardless of where they are


ingested.


Our world is full of nightclubs and other establishments that attract


and contain high amounts of drugs. New establishments open constantly. If


one closes, the activity which would have taken place there moves elsewhere.


Recently, Manhattan’s busiest nightclub, Limelight, was closed by the police.


The weekend after its close, three other top Manhattan nightclubs recorded a


significant increase in attendants. The approximately one-thousand regulars


from Limelight dispersed throughout the other three clubs. Regardless of the


closing, the same people still went out. The same people still did drugs. The


only change was their location. Results proved that intended activity was not


stopped, it just occurred somewhere else.


The weekend Limelight closed, I spent time at each of the other three


main alternative Manhattan nightclubs. After years of attending Limelight, as


well as these other clubs, I felt knowledgeable enough to determine what the


results of Limelight’s close were. I observed change in people’s attitudes and


actions, drug use, and overall events of each night. What I saw proved that the


closing of one nightclub did not end or change the events of the night. The


other clubs were twice as packed, contained significantly more drug use, and


served as new locations for former Limelight patrons. I saw the same faces


continuing to use drugs, their determination to do this obviously unaffected by


the closed club. I also saw the negative effects of this overcrowding due to


the close of Limelight. I saw people passing out from extreme heat and fights


occurring, direct results from the massive overcrowding. Many reports of


accidents, illness, and physical problems at nightclubs are result of the


overcrowding and social conflict, but are seen through the media as a result of


illegal drug activity. Despite Limelight’s closing, the amount of drug use


remained the same, the place where it occurred was the only thing changed.


As a frequent club-goer, I have experience and knowledge about what


occurs in these clubs. I have seen what draws people to them, and have observed


their actions to achieve the desired goals; whether they be social, mental,


physical, or financial/career related. From my experiences, I have learned that


nightclubs exist to help people reach these goals, but are not the only way they


can be attained. People who attend clubs to seek out drugs do so for many


different reasons, all of which still exist even if the nightclub does not.


I have seen models addicted to drugs, flocking to nightclubs to be seen


and to enjoy the euphoric effects of the music, people and attention. Yet they


have another reason for using drugs; to stay thin for their career (which


demands this look). The majority of models use drugs consistently for this


reason alone, regardless if nightclubs are a part of their lives or not.


Cultural beliefs about beauty ideals — not anything related to night life –


causes this use of drugs.


I have seen teenagers influenced by older people, introduced and


sometimes hooked onto drugs by them. The lure of the physical ?high? as well as


peer pressure and the need for acceptance all contribute to their drug use.


These reasons do not exist solely within the confines of nightclubs, rather they


are present everywhere — in schools, on streets, basically anywhere children


are. Some children find the physical effects of drugs so wonderful, that they


will do anything to get it again. I know of children as young as 14 using


drugs alone, in their homes, in school — many places other than nightclubs,


because their only goal is to feel the physical ?high.? They are unaffected by


the closing of a nightclub because they are only focused on the drug, not the


surroundings. Children struggling towards adulthood, independence, and


confidence – without wisdom or knowledge to make educated decisions, often go to


extreme lengths (drug use)to fit in.


A lot has been written about nightclub’s role in our drug problem.


Many have described clubs as ?drug headquarters? where anyone can go to get any


drug they want. Without these sources would drugs be harder to find? Certainly,


it would not effect the amount of drugs produced. With the same quantity to


sell, dealers (formerly inside clubs) would then be on the streets, seeking out


customers. This way, the product is more available to the general public. In


addition to those who look for drugs, those who wouldn’t ordinarily want them


often end up trying them. They are introduced into drugs by are intrigue and


curiosity, as well as the clever coercion of dealers who have no qualms about


approaching anyone and everyone they can find. A drug addict always knows where


and how to get what they need. And as long as there is someone who wants a drug,


there is someone else there to supply it

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