The Toulmin Method
Claim
The government and other law enforcement agencies should ensure drugs remain illegal.
Grounds
Efforts to stop minor from accessing and using drugs have proved futile. In addition, it has been impossible to stop minors from abusing licensed substances meant for adults, such as alcohol and tobacco products. Young people have a way of intruding into places where they can obtain the drugs, which is a flagrant abuse of the privileges bestowed upon them. For these reasons, legalizing drugs would create a crisis because it will enable underage people to acquire and abuse drugs. In addition, despite the ban on the use of heroin, consumption rates are still unacceptably high. For instance, the United States has the highest level of drug abuse despite stringent anti-drug abuse laws (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2008). Therefore, illegal drugs should remain banned.
Warrant
Drug abuse has adverse effects on the social development of the users. In addition, it also affects the economy of the country negatively. In essence, drug abuse impedes many young people from achieving their life goals and objectives.
Data
Drug abuse is costly for the country and its health care system. For instance, the overall cost of drug abuse was $180.9 billion in 2002, which implies it has increased by 5.34% every year since 1992 (NIH, 2005). In addition, abuse of drugs has a debilitating effect on individuals, the public health system, and insurance providers (CDC, 2015). Similarly, the loss of productivity has economic consequences for the drug addicts.
Qualifier
Legalization of drugs can boost the economy because the government will collect needed taxes (Thornton, 2007). Likewise, the elimination of the black market will also prompt drug dealers to invest in other sectors. It will also reduce crime because delinquents will not have an arena to commit drug-related offenses.
Rebuttal
The adverse effects of drug abuse far outweigh the perceived economic and social benefits. In essence, drug abuse has seen many young people slide into addiction and consequent death. It would be imprudent to legalize drugs for the sake of taxes and perceived low crime rates. Hence, drugs should not be legalized as they contribute to social and economic ruin.
References
CDC, (2015). 1 Addressing Prescription Drug Abuse in the United States. Retrieved 22 April 2015, from http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/pdf/HHS_Prescription_Drug_Abuse_R eport_09.2013.pdf
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2015). Drug Abuse at Highest Level in Nearly a Decade. Retrieved April 22, 2015, from National Institute on Drug Abuse: http://www.drugabuse.gov/news-events/nida-notes/2010/12/drug-abuse-highest-level-in-nearly-decade
NIH. (2015). Economic Costs of Alcohol Abuse in the United States. Retrieved 22 April 2015 from National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism: http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/economic-2000/
Thornton, M. (2007). Prohibition versus legalization: Do economists reach a conclusion on drug policy? The Independent Review, 11(3), 417-433
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