The United States should decriminalize drugs.

Drugs, and HealthIt's a well-known fact that drugs (meaning recreational drugs) are extremely dangerous to ones health--this is both in terms of addiction and the fact that each person, can react differently to the presence of drugs in their system, and oftentimes this 'reaction' can warrant emergency treatment and be fatal in some cases. The National Institute of Health reported that since 2012, deaths related do the recreational use of cocaine have risen in the U.S; with more than 7000 people dying from direct overdose in 2015. [1.] https://www.inspiremalibu.com...Additionally, the National Center for Health Statistics found that drug deaths related to heroin have also increased. In 2015, they were triple the percentage that they were in 2010 [2.] https://www.inspiremalibu.com...This increase, has not gone unnoticed by health officials within the U.S--given how large the mortality rates are. Opioids (which are illegal) also make the top of the list in drug-related deaths over the last few years [3.] ahttps://www.usnews.com...In order to get an accurate idea of why drugs can kill; we need to actually understand what happens to the body upon taking drugs. Even in moderate amounts, recreational drugs, come with an extraordinarily high-risk. I will list four drugs (that are the most popular among recreational drug users) and provide a brief description of their effects, and the dangers that they present to the system. CocaineOne of the most popular drugs, cocaine use can lead to many negative side-effects, long-term addiction, and of course, death. When a person takes cocaine (the most common method being to snort it through the nasal passages), it rapidly enters the system, primarily effecting the heart rate and the brain. Cocaine stops neurotransmitters like norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine from being 'reabsorbed' into the brain, which is what creates the so-called high and feeling of euphoria. [4.] Naturally, though, this is not normal, nor is it necessary. Serotonin in particular is an absolutely vital chemical, as it regulates the mood and anxiety levels. Low or inconsistent serotonin levels are strongly associated with depression and other mental health problems. [5.] Now, in terms of what cocaine does to the heart, it can be even more damaging. According the American Heart Association, cocaine use (both long-term and short-term, and including direct cases of overdose) is responsible for 15,000 each year. [6.] http://luxury.rehabs.com...Chest pain itself is incredibly common among cocaine users, with 40% having to be admitted to emergency rooms each year. [see above link.] Arrhythmia, which is an abnormal heart rate, is very widely-developed among cocaine users, and can be serious. [7.] http://www.thepoisonreview.com...As source #6 states, issues with the heart as a result of cocaine use occur because the heart becomes over-stimulated when cocaine enters the system, thus, it damages the valves and inner lining; which in addition to an irregular heartbeat, can cause blood clots in the heart.First-time users, are in fact among the most vulnerable group when it comes to health issues related to cocaine use; which is pretty damning for young teenagers or people within their 20's who may be offered the drug. And if it was legalized, this would surely happen at a greater rate. One could argue that upon legalization, cocaine could potentially be as popular as alcohol among youths. Research from Australia suggests that even casual cocaine-use, can risk heart damage. [8.] The research also showed that cocaine-users had higher blood pressure than people who do not use cocaine, as well a higher pulse; which means they have developed tachycardia--an abnormal heart rhythm. Heroin Upon using heroin, the neurotransmitters within the brain (similarly to cocaine and other drugs) are severely impaired, resulting in poor mood regulation [9.] https://www.drugabuse.gov... and therefore inevitable chemical imbalance. [10.] http://www.pbs.org...Other vital parts of the body, such as the kidneys and intestines, are also badly impacted. [11.] http://www.narconon.org...Other organs that can be damaged are the lungs, and as with cocaine, it can cause blood clots to develop in them. [12.] https://www.sovhealth.com... Other issues such as Empyema (the formation of pus between the lungs and chest area) can also easily be developed among heroin users. In addition, Pneumonia and Bronchial-type infections are also a danger. [see above link.] Once again, if a drug like heroin was to be legalized, I see no reason why use related to it would decrease--if anything, legalization would be a suggestion to the general population that using heroin is safe, thus, it would likely increase. EcstasySimilarly to cocaine, ecstasy and other pill-based highs are relatively common among recreational drug users. [13.] http://m.health24.com...The detriments of these particular drugs are, again, pretty severe. Even minor Ecstasy use can cause seizures. [14.] http://pmj.bmj.com... and heart attacks. [15.] https://www.sciencedaily.com...The effects of ecstasy on the brain (as with cocaine) are also rather alarming. People can develop psychosis/paranoia, and severe anxiety. [16.] http://m.talktofrank.com...CannabisIndeed one of the more mild drugs, but certainly not without its detriments. Cannabis can also cause severe anxiety and paranoia. [17.] http://m.talktofrank.com...And in terms of physical effects, it can increase your heart rate by up to 3 times, lower your blood pressure, and interfere with your blood sugar levels. [18.] http://www.webmd.com...Moreover, cannabis impacts lung-functioning, making people more susceptible to bronchial infections and subsequent lung-abnormalities. [19.] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov...Moral ImplicationsLaws exist in the first place to prevent and protect. It's abundantly clear that illegal drugs are dangerous and can cause extensive damage to people--therefore, they should stay illegal. The government has a moral and practical obligation to ensure the safety of its citizens and to minimize the damages to health that each individual can essentially incur; this is mainly why under 21's in the U.S cannot legally purchase alcohol, why tobacco use is being made illegal in public places around the world, and why medically-trained physicians are reponsible for our health care and are the only people who should make the decision as to whether we can take a certain drug; excluding minor drugs like paracetamol, etc. The point here is that drugs are not supposed to be for recreational use, but are there to treat issues which physicians see fit to treat. Your average citizen doesn't have the medical knowledge or practical experience to decide whether a drug is suitable for them or whether it is indeed safe. And after all, there's enough pressure on physicians to treat problems relating to pre-existing 'legal' drugs like alcohol; with there many cases of alcohol-abuse, alcohol-related hospital admissions, and alcohol-related deaths within the U.S. [20.] https://www.cdc.gov... So, the question is: why should we compound this? If anything, alcohol shows that if a drug is legal, the more widely used and abused it can actually be.