why is alcohol technically classified as a legal drug?
Question by someone: why is alcohol technically classified as a legal drug?
why is alcoholism considered to be a disease?
Best answer:
Answer by Tango
It’s a legal drug because when they tried to outlaw it during prohibition people could still make it at home using yeast. As they say “if you can’t beat them, join them”. It’s better that the government allow controlled access to alcohol, instead of the really low grade stuff made at home, which can have high levels of methanol, which makes you go blind and possibly die.
Alcoholism isn’t really a disease, medical people say that to help alcoholics cope and try to remove fault. Reality, alcohol addiction starts off as a personal choice and then becomes an addiction. Once it’s an addiction, it can have the same consequences as a disease, like organ failure (liver), shortened life span, etc. At this point it needs some form of treatment or the patient with die.
Answer by Jared
While I agree that Tango’s analysis (of why it’s legal) is technically correct, I don’t think it answers the true question. By this logic most illegal drugs would be legal, for instance why not legalize Crystal Meth…ohhhh right…it is legal but only for kids with ADHD…look it up.
I also agree with the Tango on the disease analysis. While I disagree, in that, I think some people are more prone to addiction (which can be, but is not limited to, alcohol) I think that ultimately it is a choice that a person makes. The absolute bottom line is that no matter what you CAN choose not to take a certain action, even though it might be easier for person A to refrain than for person B (this is basically what they mean when they say someone “has the alcohol” gene).
Now the true answer to you question:
The reason alcohol is legal is because Alcohol is a relatively harmless drug (yes you can overdose and abuse it but if used in moderation poses no serious health risks). Of course, there are lots of illegal drugs that fall into this category (cocaine and marijuana come to mind…yes I think cocaine is on par with alcohol…of course marijuana is far LESS dangerous than alcohol). So the reason that Alcohol slipped through the cracks is because “old white men” (I am white, but not old) decided that this was OK but other drugs weren’t primarily due to race reasons. Marijuana, specifically, was outlawed as a way to alienate Mexicans and Blacks (very few people dispute this fact). Since “everybody” drank alcohol it’s kinda just OK to drink unlike the other drugs. Also there hasn’t been anywhere near the smear campaign against alcohol like there has been against other illegal drugs.
The bottom line is that ALL drugs can be safe if used properly (yes even Heroin). Am I for legalizing all drugs, yes, will I throw a fit if they don’t, no. I know that Heroin, Crystal Meth, Crack, etc. are extremely addicting and therefore very hard to quit so I can see the argument. But the argument can’t be made for less harmful drugs, specifically marijuana…I think cocaine as well (yeah I know crack is cocaine, but it’s a more concentrated form, just like cocaine is a more potent form of the coca plant which peruvians use to survive the the high altitudes).
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