The Importance of Drug Education

It is normalized in our society to say and campaign “Say No to Drugs!” The term drugs have
been associated with negative connotations further amplified by the current President’s War on
Drugs. It is always emphasized that drugs are bad, drugs kill people, drugs ruins life. But what can
we do to prevent it? What causes it? How do we help those who are experiencing it? Drugs are
substances that change a person's mental or physical state, which is not necessarily bad.

What makes drugs bad or evil, as they say, is when it is taken unprescribed and in unhealthy
amount. This is termed as drug addiction. There is a key difference to drug addiction and drug
dependence. When we use “dependence,” we are referring to a physical dependence on a substance.
Dependence is further characterized by the symptoms of tolerance and withdrawal. It is possible to
have a physical dependence without being addicted to it, however, addiction is usually closely
related to it. Addiction is marked by a change in behavior caused by the biochemical changes in the
brain after continued substance abuse. Substance use becomes the main priority of the addict,
regardless of the harm they may cause to themselves or others. An addiction causes people to act
irrationally when they do not have the substance they are addicted to in their system.

There have been extensive psychological studies proving that addiction only exists because
that person is struggling either to survive or have no societal support. It is an illness, just like the
physical injuries we need to treat. Criminalizing drug addiction will push away those who are
suffering from it and will not end up getting the help they need. This does not mean we
decriminalize the selling of illegal drugs; this is only to encourage policies that will provide drug
education and a holistic drug rehabilitation. The topic of drugs should be dealt with as it is, a health,
societal, and security concern, and not a criminal issue. It is imperative that drug education is taught
in institutions to guide the youth in their choices. Thus, educational institutions play a huge role in
perpetuating a better and informed society.

Providing drug education, not only in institutions, will help in creating personal strategies
for avoiding both negative social pressures associated with drug abuse in social scenarios.
Informing individuals about the physical dangers associated with illegal drug use and equipping
them with effective strategies for avoiding challenging situations give people the knowledge
necessary to justify avoiding drugs. If we continue criminalizing drugs, some users may feel
hopeless and beyond saving to the point where drug is the only thing they can hold on to. Informing
them about drug rehabilitation would provide them a new path which they can choose to take. They
are after all humans too.

Drug education can cause systematic change our society needs. It can prevent those who
have not use drugs to never try it out, at the same time, provide a healthy new path to those who
have already succumb to it. Educating individuals on drugs help everyone, there are no
disadvantages.