Legal and illicit drugs use is in many ways misunderstood in society. Most of the research into the potential harm and dangers is subjective. The effect of drugs is largely determined by secondary factors such as the mode of administration and socio-economic characteristics (Goode, 2014). This paper discusses the similarities and differences between legal drugs such as alcohol and tobacco and illicit drugs like marijuana and cocaine.
There are some similarities between the use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and cocaine. All these drugs are used for recreational purposes and are often associated with joy and satisfaction, which causes psychological addiction. The levels of physical dependence are the highest on tobacco, and it also proved to be the most dangerous to health (Goode, 2014). Marijuana and cocaine also have detrimental effects, but the intake of these drugs is not so widespread, and the danger is not adequately correlated with the levels of condemnation.
The same can be said regarding alcohol and tobacco, although in this case, their adverse effects are mostly underestimated. Heavy alcohol abusers, like binge drinkers, have incredibly high risks of liver disease and other health issues since alcohol abuse is dangerous for all the body organs (Goode, 2014). Tobacco has the most damaging impact on the lungs, causing lung cancer. Of course, one cannot say that taking a glass of wine during dinner is being engaged in binge drinking; rather, alcohol abuse means consuming heavier drinks in greater dosages.
Luckily, the anti-tobacco campaign brought its results, and tobacco intake decreased significantly during the last decade. The dangers of alcohol intake are usually related to drunk driving, sexual victimization, and violence. The long-standing risks of marijuana and cocaine for health still have not been duly proved. However, there is evidence that marijuana is surprisingly harmless for the lungs. It severely impairs the concentration abilities during the 24 hours after intake, and probably for more extended periods, since it resides in the body for an extremely long time (Goode, 2014). Cocaine also has no proven physiological dangerous effects, but the cessation of use is closely related to increased irritability, anxiety, and abuse may cause hallucination and obsession.
Thus, the similarities and differences between the use of legal and illicit drugs were discussed. Both are used for recreational purposes but have different effects on the senses and pose distinct dangers to health. Alcohol and tobacco abuse are no less dangerous than the extended use of marijuana and cocaine. Still, legal drugs are less criminalized by society and therefore may hide more potential dangers.
Reference
Goode, E. (2014). Drugs in American society. McGraw-Hill.