An interesting take on the war on (some) drugs

[DoNotRefill]

"Every year, more than 400,000 Americans die as the result of tobacco use. Alcohol abuse results in the deaths of another 110,640 Americans, including 16,653 alcohol-related traffic deaths. Alcohol is a major factor in more than half of all homicides and rapes, 62 percent of assaults, and 30 percent of suicides. Illegal drug use causes another 3,562 deaths.

According to the Cato Institute, based on deaths per 100,000 users, "tobacco kills 650, alcohol 150, heroin 80, and cocaine 4."

If an observer from another planet - say, Mars - were to analyze these statistics, he might be surprised to learn that out of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs, only the others are criminalized in the United States."


http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~75~2011673,00.html

[bigwillq]

1. This has been my defense

as to whay I think all "others" drugs should be legal. But this is another example of how this country makes laws or not make laws as towhat they think is the most acceptable. Some people think it is fashionable or socially right to drink and smoke but look at using crack, coke, etc. as unfashionable.
Needless to say thousands are killing themselves with this fashionable lifestyle.

I can't really talk cause I smoke a pack a day, drink at least 4 times a week and my dad's a liquor salesman.

[FeebMaster]

Uh oh.

The Cato Institute. I see where this thread is going. Duck and cover!

Less than 1 in 1000 for tobacco. I'd take those odds.

In any case, I'd like to see the war on drugs end. The sooner the better. I don't see it happening, though. What would we do with the DEA? The government might have to lay some people off. That's never going to happen.

[FeebMaster]

2. nm (nt)

That was odd.

[Snow]

3. You need to improve your statistics a little

by adding (here it comes, Snow's favorite soapbox!) denominators! What's the rate of death per user of tobacco, vs the rate of death per user of cocaine? That gives you a much stronger argument.

[H2O Man]

4. You are correct

that "denominators" give a different statistic that can be viewed differently. Of course, that doesn't make them any more "valid." For example, numerous people who use cocaine may also drink or smoke. They may even smoke pot. They may use a lot of "over the counter" drugs that commercials guarentee will make our lives much better. And they may even live within a three mile radius of an undocumented chemical waste dump site, and absorb TCE through their skin every morning when they take a steaming hot shower. So it is fine to use denominators, but that alone hardly makes statistics more valid.

[Snow]

7. So you're saying my modest improvement on

this vastly too simple presentation leaves it still way too simple. Agreed, absolutely.

[DoNotRefill]

5. Snow....

it's not my argument, I found it in the paper. Please feel free to take it up with the Law Professor who wrote it.

:)

[Snow]

6. Okay. I may do that.

and meanwhile, I've educated another student! (and you won't even have to take a test) ;-)