Illegal Drugs Essay, Research Paper

The extermination of illegal drugs has always been one of the most important,

worldwide issues. Ending the existence of drug abuse in our society is one of the

toughest and most complicated goals we face. Despite constant battles against

them, illegal substances continue to exist and thrive in our culture. With all the

effort put into the war against drugs, why is there little success? Lack of effort is

not the 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 drug abuse. 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. The reasons people use drugs still exist. Arresting people for

drugs does not kill their desire to use them. 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