Will Ending the War on Drugs Normalize Narcotics Use?

Everything you have been told about drug use is a lie.

Photo by Grav on Unsplash

The prospect of ending the War on Drugs has been quite unpopular since it was expanded in the 1970s. Governmental forces, along with the media, had been waging a propaganda campaign since the 1920s, fearmongering about drug use and addiction.

The objective was to terrify the populace into empowering the state to go after people who consume or sell narcotics – and it worked like a charm. People remain frightened of the prospect of preventing the state from locking people up over these substances. Many have changed their minds on the war – especially when it comes to marijuana. But there is clearly more work to be done.

In a post on X, I asked members of my audience who still support the War on Drugs what their primary concerns are about legalizing or at least decriminalizing drugs. The answers will provide me with content for quite a long time, not surprisingly.

One of my followers responded, saying he is concerned that “It becomes more normalized.” However, he did state that he agrees with decriminalization for those who use drugs.

This is a common objection – one that I myself had when I was younger, before I learned more about drug policy and drug use. Yet, after conducting hours upon hours of research, I found that this fear is unfounded.

As it turns out, we have all been lied to by the government and the media. Yes, I know, you’re probably shocked to hear that the powers that be aren’t quite as honest as they pretend, right?

Does Legalization/Decriminalization Lead to ‘Normalized’ Drug Use?

For starters, it is important to start by noting that drug use is already normalized, and has been since the dawn of time. In fact, the notion that the state should take major action to crack down on drug use is a relatively new concept historically.

The 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) report found that 70,338,000 people aged 12 or older used illicit drugs in the past year, representing 24.9% of this population group. It’s worth noting that the total U.S. population, including children under 12, was approximately 333 million in 2022, but drug use data for those under 12 is not collected, as they are not typically at risk for illicit drug use.

But perhaps there is reason to fear that drug use will become more normalized if the War on Drug was ended?

(RELATED: The War on Drugs Started HERE—And You’ll Never Guess Who’s to Blame)

Well, even in that case, the reality shows this fear to be unfounded. The reality is that the data shows that in countries that have decriminalized or legalized drugs, drug use has stayed the same – or even declined in some cases. Moreover, revamping drug policies in these nations has saved far more lives than criminalization.

Let’s head on over to Portugal.

The country decriminalized the personal possession of all drugs in 2001, treating possession as an administrative offense rather than a criminal one. Levels of drug use in Portugal have remained consistently below the European average over the past 20 years.

For example, the prevalence of cannabis use among adults in Portugal was 3.7 percent in 2020, compared to the European average of 5.4%. Among young adults (15–34 years), lifetime use of cannabis increased slightly from 12 percent in 2001 to 15.4 percent in 2016, but this is still lower than many European countries with stricter laws, like France (22 percent).

Back in the United States, we see similar examples in states like Colorado and Washington that have legalized marijuana.

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) data from 1979–2016 shows that while marijuana use among youth (ages 12–25) has fluctuated, these trends are more tied to cultural shifts and historical events than legalization. For instance, past-month marijuana use among 12–17-year-olds in Colorado was 9.1 percent in 2019, similar to pre-legalization levels (9.4 percent in 2011).

What About Drug-Related Harm?

It is also worth noting that the fears surrounding the normalization of drug use come from concerns about the dangers narcotics can pose. I’ll be writing a fuller piece on this later. Still, for the purposes of this article, I will note that both legalization and decriminalization do far more to mitigate tragic outcomes than the War on Drugs.

Since decriminalization, Portugal has seen significant reductions in drug-related harm. A report noted that the number of new HIV cases among people who inject drugs dropped from 1,016 in 2001 to just 18 in 2019, largely due to expanded harm reduction programs like needle exchanges. Drug-induced mortality rates in Portugal are also among the lowest in Europe, at six deaths per million in 2020, compared to the European average of 23.7 deaths per million.

But the benefits of ending the War on Drugs also result in even more benefits, such as reduced rates of violent and property crime, fewer overdose deaths, and a better-functioning society, as I will cover at a later date.

But if you want a sneak preview, click the link below (after you finish this article, of course).

(RELATED: The Real Reason Gangs Like Tren de Aragua Keep Growing—And It’s Not What You Think)

It is also worth pointing out that societal and cultural factors likely play a larger role in drug use and addiction. The government can throw people behind bars for doing or selling drugs, but it cannot directly affect the demand for these substances. Whether the government says it’s acceptable or unacceptable, people still seek to consume narcotics, and they always will.

The reality is that the War on Drugs has been a massive failure since its inception. It has led to horrific outcomes in every single nation whose government has sought to use violence to control what people put into their own bodies.

I’m sure you are familiar with the definition of insanity, right? Well, if trying the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result is insanity, then America belongs in a padded room wearing a straitjacket.

It is high time we abandon these absurd policies and begin looking at solutions that will actually help the public, not cause more death, poverty, and destruction.