Hey Dudettes & Dude: Let's Talk Drugs

[placton]

For years (since the mid 1930's) there has been a (totally wasteful) War of Some Drugs. It's time to legalize ALL drugs. First, let's look at the most popular illegal stuff?

THE DREAD MARIJUANA:
-total deaths caused in human history? 0
-citizens that use regularly: about 20,000,000+
-biggest opponents of legalization? government agencies that make big bux from criminalization (cops, judges, parts of government) and the alcohoL lobby
-physically addictive? nope (anything is psychologically addictive)

COCAINE (sniffffff - powder)
-causes some deaths
-citizens that use regularly: about 5,000,000+ (about 50/50 whites and minorities)
-biggest opponents of legalization? government agencies that make big bux from criminalization (cops, judges, parts of government) big pharma, and the alcohol lobby
-physically addictive? nope (anything is psychologically addictive)

COCAINE (cooked up - "crack")
-causes some deaths
-citizens that use regularly: about 5,000,000+ (about 20/80 whites and minorities)
-biggest opponents of legalization? government agencies that make big bux from criminalization (cops, judges, parts of government) big pharma, and the alcohol lobby
-physically addictive? nope (anything is psychologically addictive)

HEROIN
-causes some deaths
-citizens that use regularly: about 5,000,000+ (about 20/80 whites and minorities)
-biggest opponents of legalization? government agencies that make big bux from criminalization (cops, judges, parts of government) big pharma, and the alcohol lobby
-physically addictive? yup, to some not all (otherwise no bad side effects - yup it's true)

SPEED (meth, amphetamines, etc)-causes some deaths
-citizens that use regularly: about 5,000,000+ (about 80/20 whites and minorities)
-biggest opponents of legalization? government agencies that make big bux from criminalization (cops, judges, parts of government) big pharma, and the alcohol lobby
-physically addictive? nope (anything is psychologically addictive)

PSYCHOTROPICS (LSD, mescaline, peyote, etc)
-causes some deaths
-citizens that use regularly: about 5,000,000+ (about 20/80 whites and minorities)
-biggest opponents of legalization? government agencies that make big bux from criminalization (cops, judges, parts of government) big pharma, and the alcohol lobby
-physically addictive? nope (anything is psychologically addictive)

It is arguably easier for minors to obtain these now than to get cigarettes, thus showing intelligent legalization makes sense

Legalization would free cops to do real cop work, instead of playing undercover narcs: you know, stuff like fighting real crime, and terrorism too!

Legalization would free millions from jails and prison, and allow them to vote! Guess which party they would favor?

Legalization would bring billions into our empty coffers, in taxes.

Legalization would end the drug cartels (see: end of prohibition) and reduce violence dramatically.

The time has come for us to pressure the feds on this. Truth and morality are on our side.

[Dreamer Tatum]

1. So you draw no distinction at all between drugs you'd legalize?

Weed and meth are equal in your eyes?

Heroin and meth are only marginally addictive?

Um, yeah.

[placton]

3. yup

having done the research, and dealt with folks on drugs for over 30 years, I can tell you the harm from making drugs a crime, compared to legalization, is not even close. We have been sold a bill of goods, friend.

[Dreamer Tatum]

6. I think I'll buy the bill of goods as regards crystal meth, friend

I've seen it destroy people firsthand.

I am all for legalizing weed, but meth is an absolute nonstarter.

[Winterblues]

50. Have you ever seen tobacco destroy a family?

I have and it is no prettier than meth. People dying of lung cancer are not a pretty sight at all. Yet you will find many here that are very much infavor of tobacco and try to use "Rights" as their excuse.

[tavalon]

14. Some of your information is possibly incorrect, however, I support fully

the legalization of all "illicit" drugs and have for a very long time. I think we need to get a lot of good solid education out to the people about these drugs but the criminalization has to stop. Sadly, I've never gotten to serve on a jury (yes, I really would like to) because I've always been pooled into drug cases and well, my POV gets me kicked off immediately.

[jwirr]

41. I would like to send my grandson to you and you can deal with him!

I am tired of trying.

[placton]

65. your point? n/t

[jwirr]

74. I disagree with your assessment of addiction. His use of hard drugs

have done nothing but destroy his life and that of his child and extended family. Making it legal for him would do no good. It isn't the law that has hurt him - he has never been arrested - it is his inability to accomplish anything while taking the drugs (pain pills and meth).

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

2. I would definitely say that heroin, meth and crack are definitely physically addictive

I've known too many people die from heroin. The only people I know who didn't turn into total junkies from it, said it was really hard not to turn into a junkie.

[placton]

4. junkie = addicted

plus one other thing: impossible to get legally

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

8. Yes, junkie = addicted

Heroin is a killer.

[FKA MNChimpH8R]

55. Keith Richards was a junkie for years

"Well yeh, i was a junkie, but all that time, I wrote all our music, produced our records and beat Mick at tennis three times a week."

Jimmy Page was also a heroin addict for a long time. All he did was produce musical brilliance during that part of his life.

Which suggests that if one has ready access to clean heroin, junkies are not all that unproductive. Drug use is morally neutral, neither a positive nor a negative.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

57. I know it's morally neutral -- I don't have any "moral" issues with drug use

I just think that heroin is a really fucking dangerous thing to do. I know too many good people who died from it, before they were even 20 years old.

[Greyhound]

66. That's one of the great unspoken truths. If you're Keith Richards you can afford and get

pharmaceutical grade junk and can live for decades as an addict. There is far less damage to the heart and other organs, not to mention the greatly reduced chance of being murdered.

The illegal status also prevents us from looking at the reason for doing the drugs in the first place, another issue we dare not examine because the most common reason would likely be a profound unhappiness with the world/system into which we are thrust with no opportunity for change, so the alternative is to drop out or disengage from it. Drugs are the method and the symptom, not the problem.

[YOY]

5. Sorry, but you are marginalizing crack, meth, and heroin

by putting them on the same level as marijuana.

Mary Jane is safer than alchohol. It should be legalized.

That is all.

As for the others. "Using" shouldn't be illegal. It should be treated.

[ixion]

10. Heroin, if regulated, is less harmful than alcohol over the long term

so in that sense it's safer than alcohol as well.

[placton]

12. give the person a prize

so true about horse - remember the info about all drugs is controlled by the folks who have a stake in keeping some illegal!

[snooper2]

15. Friend of mine was buried on Friday...Heroin Overdose

She went to the bathroom, locked herself in, filled the bathtub up, did a big shot and went under the water...

30 years old

[placton]

17. and if not H, something else

would have killed her. The drug did not make her commit suicide - perhaps the stigma of illegality contributed. That said, and far more importantly, I am sorry about your friend - she is not an argument but a person

[endarkenment]

26. Uh - sorry about your lose but the details given don't lead to your

conclusion of 'heroin overdose'. Did she drown? Was she committing suicide?

At any rate, legalization would have meant for your friend that she could obtain a quality product with a known strength. Legalization would have meant that she would not have had to hide in the bathroom behind a locked door. However, any dosage of heroin while sitting in a bathtub full of water is a dangerous activity, as is for example swimming while drunk.

If we want to reduce the harm caused by self medication legalization is the best way to do that, coupled with treatment on demand for anyone who wants help becoming drug free.

[snooper2]

54. She would be clean for a couple years at a time...

Really pretty and smart girl but very low self esteem... She had an office job and her own apartment for a couple years, but hooked up with the wrong crowd again. She got into a fight with her boyfriend and that's when she locked herself in.

Why he couldn't save her or if he knew what was going on may never be known....


All I know is that methodone clinics should be tripled and centers for people to go for free 6 months at a time for real treatment is the answer. Throwing Heroin and Crack in at the same level of beer and pot is a bad idea. Trust me, once you hit that crack pipe it's hard to put back down.

[endarkenment]

67. legalization of hard drugs does not mean 'just like beer'.

I think it means that an addict can go to a doctor and get a prescription and that an addict can also go to a treatment center and get treatment. The idea is harm reduction through sane and sensible reality based policy. Forcing addicts to buy adulterated products with uncertain dosage levels and 'treating' them by incarceration is insanity.

[Occam Bandage]

21. Except that heroin users do not self-regulate. Because it is strongly addictive. nt

[ixion]

22. oh, you mean like alcoholics do?

nicotine, caffeine and alcohol are all lethal and addictive... but legal.

[Occam Bandage]

25. Yes. Alcohol addicts also do not self-regulate. Addicts do not control their behavior.

Heroin is far more addictive than alcohol, and heroin abuse is more damaging than alcohol abuse is.

Caffeine is not lethal. Neither is nicotine, though the delivery system is very unhealthy.

[EOTE]

28. How so?

Aside from death (which is easily obtainable from an overdose of heroin, alcohol or many other drugs), how is heroin abuse more damaging than alcohol abuse is? I'd say it's a hell of a lot less damaging, but I'd like to hear what your reasoning is.

[Occam Bandage]

34. Heroin is harder on the liver and kidneys than alcohol is,

its affects on respiration can lead directly to lung infections, it's quite easy to overdose on, poor sanitation can induce infections at injection sites, and most importantly, much like meth it induces the user to take far poorer care of their body, resulting in all sorts of complications. You can say, well, that isn't the drug itself, but having known a few addicts I really don't think that they simultaneously decided to abuse heroin and stop regularly eating healthy food and maintaining a clean body and environment.

I mean, sure, heroin is virtually harmless if a small amount of it is injected into the bloodstream at regular intervals in a hospital environment. That was its original purpose. People don't use it like that in the real world.

[EOTE]

49. Heroin is certainly NOT harder on your liver than alcohol.

Alcohol is magnitudes worse for your liver than heroin is. And I'm not certain about the kidneys, but I'm pretty sure that heroin is much easier on them as well. And I suppose heroin could be easy to overdose on, but no more so than alcohol. And do you really think that alcoholics take care of themselves any worse than heroin addicts? I don't think you're thinking clearly on the issue at all.

[dysfunctional press]

77. the absolute WORST is mixing the two...

as a long-time methadone user, i haven't had any alcohol in over a decade.

[endarkenment]

70. liver? only indirectly through HEPC infection

and kidney problems are also difficult to connect directly to heroin itself. The major medical problems are all related to needle contamination, which could be eliminated through a sane policy of treatment as a medical rather than a criminal problem. But by all means let us continue policies that increase the harm and maximize the cost of addiction. After all, think of the children.

[placton]

35. sure addicts control their behavior

all the time - again, you are drinking the anti-drug kool aid. Some folks can drink MORE than 4 a nite for men, 3 for women (current bullshit description of "binge drinking") and do great!

[Occam Bandage]

37. Your arguments keep returning to this macho "well I can totally handle it" bullshit.

You're delusional. Avoiding drug addiction isn't about being a tough guy who can totally hold his meth.

[ixion]

48. I'm sorry, but you're incorrect

alcohol literally rips the body to shreds. If an heroin addict has access to a consistent purity and clean needles, there is far less physical damage incurred compared to alchohol.

Caffeine is a powerful alkaloid stimulant that works directly on the body's metabolism. And yes, it's lethal.

Nicotine is also lethal.

These are facts, not speculation.

[conscious evolution]

63. Don't forget that

anyone and everyone can become a heroin addict.All it takes is regular use and anyone can become addicted.
Alcohol,on the other hand,is only addictive to those with a genetic trigger.People without that trigger quite simply do not become addicted to it.

[dysfunctional press]

78. one of the biggest problems with 'street' heroin is the way it gets cut...

with 'what' and how much.

a regulated heroin market would at least let a junkie know EXACTLY what he's putting in his veins or up his nose.

[madokie]

30. Thats a fact

some of us started doing a toot here and there back when it was getting close to the time to come back home, to kinda take the edge off the anxiety, you know. During that time I happened to be where it was possible, to do some limited research on the subject. Its been too many years to remember the particulars but I came away with the belief that other than the being unlawful and the baggage that carries with it, you really can't tell if a person is high or not after they get past the initial making you sick to your stomach stage. I don't encourage the use of it but I see the laws concerning it to be far worse than the actual drug itself. The drug is bad don't get me wrong but its only made much worse because of the laws and the consequences of those laws.

[dysfunctional press]

76. i've been taking methadone daily for 12 years due to chronic pain.

i take 50-70 mg/day, depending on the pain level. i'll most likely take it for the rest of my life.

am i "addicted"? most likely- so what? to look at me or interact with me- you'd never know that i take it unless i told you.

[placton]

11. It makes sense to legalize MJ first

but we need to start a sensible conversation on all drugs. The first argument against MJ legalization is ALWAYS that is is a gateway drug - then to change to argument to other drugs.

[ixion]

7. very well laid out... and I agree

drugs should be available to those who want them w/o fear of incarceration. It's a lifestyle choice. If they rob or assault or murder someone, then they're charged with that particular crime.

End the bogus 'war' on drugs.

[Taverner]

9. I agree with you - except that Coke isn't addictive

It is - I've seen it do its thing

However, if the drug were legal, it wouldn't make it more dangerous - in fact most of the problems associated with the drug come from its legal status.

Honestly, criminalizing drugs does NOTHING good

Think of one thing it does that helps the user and/or society

[placton]

16. Cocaine

is often psycologically addictive - I have seen that happen. But it ain't physically so. We do need accurate info provided on ALL drugs - including the legal ones

[Taverner]

36. Are there Withdrawal symptoms? Painful ones? Then its physically addictive

[placton]

42. Using Heroin as example

there are withdrawal symptoms for some, not others

[Taverner]

51. It's phisiologically impossible to not have withdrawl symptoms

When you are a regular heroin, or opiate addict, your body stops producing endorphins - or rather, it makes less. In addition, your nerves develop false opioid receptors, that 'crave' opioids, but cannot receive them.

This is why, at the least, the regular heroin user feels achy and in pain.

[RebelOne]

62. No withdrawal symptoms. I know from experience. n/t

[rudy23]

13. Sorry, this reeks of viral, anti-marijuana propaganda to me.

I found out last week that there are a lot of people on this board shilling for certain lobbies, one of which is the pharmaceutical industry. Some have even admitted as much.

Look at the subject line, look at the cartoonishly poor reasoning behind each one (claiming everything is only 'psychologically addictive') Someone is trying to equate those who want to legalize MJ with those who want to legalize crack.

Those who want to continue the war on drugs are getting desperate b/c people are really starting to favor legalization, even in the mainstream. They're losing the debate, so they have to resort to these tactics.

[placton]

19. wow Rudy

I have been on DU for over 8 years - all waiting for my chance to shill for BIG PHARMA!!!! My evil plan has finally come to fruition. BWAAAA HAAAA HAAA. Seriously tho, read the post again?

[rudy23]

58. I really don't get the tone of this piece, I admit.

Are you trying to make a point about the people who advocate legalization?

Do you really believe that crack and meth are not physically addictive, and have only killed "some people"?

[Occam Bandage]

20. Alternative theory:

A few people are strongly in favor of legalizing a particular drug, and yet have also subconsciously bought into the anti-drug propaganda claiming all illegal drugs are equal or comparable. Therefore, in order to argue for their particular drug, they feel the need to justify legalizing every other drug too.

[conscious evolution]

61. I agree

[Occam Bandage]

18. It is not true that "anything is psychologically addictive."

Cocaine and meth rewire the limbic system. They are addictive. They are addictive in a way that, say, milk and cookies are not.

[placton]

23. Maybe yes maybe no

these claims are all part of the big scam - drugs are the boogie man!!! We can't handle the buzz!

see: http://www.penobscotbaypress.com/images/archives/health_wellbeing_0707.pdf

[Occam Bandage]

27. No, it is not a matter of "maybe yes maybe no." Addictive drugs fundamentally alter the

neurochemical rest state of the limbic system. This is not a "claim," this is well documented through decades of research. Denying that drugs have a specific addictive affect is not only denying science to the extent that young-earth creationists do, it is denying the very real experience of anyone who has been or known a drug addict.

If you want to argue for full legalization of all drugs, your argument should be that people have the right to get addicted to hard drugs, destroy their lives, and die. It should not be that crack and meth are not any more addictive than milk and cookies, because that is absolutely fucking insane.

[salvorhardin]

32. Long-term use of all pleasure inducing drugs cause changes in the mesolimbic dopaminergic system

It's the habitual use though that is responsible for the changes, not the drug itself although drugs like heroin and cocaine have larger effects. In essence it's an example of a learned response and that learned response leads to dependence. Since drugs like heroin and cocaine have larger effects it's easier to become dependent on them quicker. Dependence however is not addiction. For instance, people dependent on opioid/opiate pain medications will get sick if they suddenly stop taking their medication. However they aren't actively seeking the drug in larger and larger doses just to get that buzz such that other meaningful life activities (sex, recreation, employment) fall by the wayside. Addiction is far more complex than either the OP or you characterize it and is still not well understood.

The OP is right that the drug laws should be changed. Mindlessly locking up drug users is a terrible solution to a problem that largely didn't exist until we started punishing people for drug use. A good start would be adopting a public health harm reduction model rather than the current ad hoc model based on moral panics.

[madokie]

24. I may not agree with all of it and not sure if I don't ok

but I agree with the fact that a lot of otherwise good peoples lives are ruined because of this and I do believe that is wrong, more wrong than the behavior that they are condeming. mythoughts anyway

[Enthusiast]

29. Sorry to burst your bubble

Well, maybe you don't have a bubble. But Obama can't do a fucking thing about the outrageous war on drugs.

First off, the Republican Party and their spin machine would characterize Obama as a 'drug dealer'. Every media outlet would say (Wolf Blitzer voice) "The Republicans are calling Obama's proposal that we end what many regard as a failed war on drugs, insane." They are calling Obama a 'drug dealer'. Imagine that little sound bite repeated on every single communication device known to man 24/7 for about a month. Obama would have to apologize for even suggesting it.

If the media spin is not bad enough there are powerful forces that are making a fortune on illegal drugs. Changing the legal status of drugs would slash the profits of the well heeled organized crime, smuggling and drug cartels. They would not take this proposal lightly. Blood would be shed.

[sui generis]

31. strange definition of "not physically addictive"

I'm all for legalization BUT there is a very clearly understood biochemical change that happens in the brain and reward center with use of cocaine and other stimulants. The brain is physical. If it changes morphologically and biochemically to drive behavior to seek more "reward", then it is "physically addicted".

[pipi_k]

33. At first I was against it all, but then the more I thought about it...

I decided that at least ONE good thing about legalizing the really hard stuff (not including pot here, which I feel is less harmful than booze) is that it would probably cut down on the crime aspect. Dealers...organized crime...etc.

Also, legalization might also make it possible for addicts to get clean if they know there's a place they can get the stuff legally while perhaps agreeing to at least TRY to get clean. If not, then they'll get it anyway and not be out mugging, robbing, prostituting, etc., just to get their fixes.

Oh, BTW...I have a friend who used to use cocaine and who also smoked (regular cigarettes). She said that quitting smoking was harder for her than quitting the coke.

Strange what's allowed to be legal in our country...

[placton]

38. We have 2 less than perfect choices

1. Continue War on Some Drugs
2. Legalize

#2 is far better

case closed

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

39. Big pharma is behind cocaine and heroin being illegal?

Are you sure it isn't an evul Joo conspiracy?

[placton]

43. Are you serious?

you really don't think one group opposed to legalization is big pharma? And the crack about Jews?

[Occam Bandage]

44. Explain how meth legalization would hurt the pharma industry.

Heck, I'd think they'd want to encourage legalization, because the more addicts there are, the more people will need detox.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

45. No more serious than you.

"you really don't think one group opposed to legalization is big pharma? "

Do I think big pharma is opposed to the legalization of cocaine, heroin, and LSD? No.

"And the crack about Jews?"

If you're going to post loony, nonsensical conspiracy theories, at least make them exciting.

[YOY]

47. So meth is actually helps people? Big pharma is stopping this?

I figure they would actually want their antihistamines that used to be OTC back where they were before people started using them to make meth.

MJ has medicinal uses. Meth is a dangerous substance. The only changes I want to see with Meth (and Crack/Heroin for that matter) is treatment of addiction being easier and possession not being a felony.

Your proposal smacks too much of libertarian self-control when there is none for the sake of true addiction and compares a harmless herb (and a few other mostly harmless psychotropics) to dangerous substances that entrap people and have a track record of pretty much destroying their lives.

The guy who was sleeping off a days long meth bender and rolled over and crushed his sleeping children comes to mind. Legalize that? Sorry, not buying it.

[shadowknows69]

40. Did you bring enough for the whole class?

[GliderGuider]

46. I'm in favour of the legalization of the recreational use of any and all psychoactive drugs.

The individual and social harm that is caused by the mere fact of them being illegal vastly outweighs the physical harm that the drugs themselves cause (or would cause if the social and physical distortions introduced by their illegality were removed).

Control the strength, purity and distribution of some of them. But for goddess' sake stop locking people up for wanting to get high.

That's one aspect of the nanny state that even this committed socialist can do without.

[90-percent]

52. additional points

I don't think cocaine is a very good recreational drug longterm? It kinds of rots your brain if you abuse it for a year or more, dont it? I only do it once every 20 years or so myself. I'm afraid of it on the health level and the legal level. Not worth the risk.

NOTE TO ALL LURKERS:

I'm a well established member of the DU community with a modicum of "DU CRED". I would be happy to act as a DU ADVOCATE for your corporate interests for an agreed upon fee. PM me please. I want to get on this message board shill gravy train, too!

-90% Jimmy

[anonymous171]

53. Drug Addicts and dealers deserve prison. They are scum.

Marijuana users and dealers are OK though.

[placton]

64. brilliant analysis ! n/t

[sammythecat]

69. You're displaying quite a bit of ignorance here.

You can't possibly have done much reading or thinking about what you just wrote. To say all drug addicts are scum and belong in prison is just flat-out totally wrong. It is just not true. I think someday you will realize this.

I don't doubt that many have had personal experiences with drug and alcohol addicts who ARE scum and DO belong in prison, but to make a statement like you just made is just as wrong as saying all Americans are greedy warmongers, or that all white people are racist.

[rudy23]

56. This is so poorly written, I can't believe it's not satire, or sabotoging others' arguments

Saying meth and crack cause "some deaths" and maintaining that they are only psychologically addictive?

Especially with that subject heading--this post comes off as extremely manipulative to me.

[killbotfactory]

59. legalize it all

We need to review all drugs and regulate their availability based on physical or mental damage, addictive properties, and the effects of intoxication. Take the market out of the most addictive drugs completely by regulating them and providing them at clinics, or with a doctors prescription, to anybody who wants them. No black market pushing drugs, no legal market pushing drugs. No people dying in abandoned houses. No people robbing your house for drug money. No people prostituting themselves to get their fix. If people can live a normal life while ingesting these drugs habitually, let them, but always offer help and opportunities to them if they decide they want to get clean.

Stop this creepy authoritarianism which creates a problem far worse than the one it is trying to solve.

[librechik]

60. This makes sense--so SHUT UP

it would be easy and clear thinking to go there, and no one would profit more. Ergo, it won't happen.

Just like Universal Health.

The people who really run things around here are a bunch of crooks who won't give up their ill-gotten gains. Until we realize they are crooks instead of princes, nothing will ever change for the people who need change.

[TWiley]

68. Your post is proof that drug use causes insanity

And, I am not one to negotiate with the insane

[Terran]

71. I see no point

in drawing a distinction between physicial addiction and psychological addiction; they can be equally destructive.

I'm all for legalizing MJ and a bunch of other relatively harmless psychydelics like LSD and psilocybin. But I think you are way way way overminimizing the harmful effects of cocaine, crack, meth and heroin. Cocaine "causes some deaths"...I don't think you really know what the crap your talking about.

[ismnotwasm]

72. Dude,

Look I'm all for legalization of marijuana. Enough evidence there. Hell, the prisons are sick of marijuana users and non-violent distributors.

I agree to a point about the other drugs BUT

I disagree about the "physically addictive" part. Actually, that sounds like shit from '70's in "High Times"

What happens to the "addicted brain?" The brain finds certain receptors already filled and says, fuck you, I'm not making these particular neurotransmitters anymore, or I'm making a lot less. Sometimes the brain won't completely recover, especially in long term heroin addicts.

Eventually, an practicing addict can develop an organic brain syndrome which is sometimes a medicalese for we don't know what exactly caused the brain damage that makes it look like dementia. Why is kicking heroin is painful? (It hurts like hell) Or why does kicking Cocaine cause a profound depression? It's very real, and very physical.


Every see an addicted baby? That's a physical as it gets.

We can find a sane policy toward drugs, I agree we don't have one now, but part of your post is a bit misleading, IMO. That's the same approach the anti-legalization people use.

[Edweird]

73. "Guess which party they would favor?" That is a dangerous assumption.

Plenty of RW assholes use drugs, too.

[WCGreen]

75. Alcohol kills more people every year than all illegal drugs combined...