I'm not suggestion that drug education be taught instead of math and science. I'm suggesting that in health class when the subject of drugs is addressed that something more substantive than "just say no" be taught.
The problem there is that when you are dealing with teaching kids, the criteria is "generalised" since they aren't necessarily on their path to become doctors, nurses or pharmacologists so to know the ins and outs of drug chemistry isn't a necessity. As they gain age and direction then it makes more sense to have more specialised explanations.
Making it legal with more regulation would better deal with those aspects. Keeping more non-violent people out of prison saves us about $80k per person per year. Keeping people out of prison also makes those people less dangerous to us when they are not in prison.
As for Drugs and Crimes, some addicts are career criminals due to the necessity of their addictions. They steal, threaten, rob and rape while under a perpetual haze of their substance abuse. they aren't innocent when they state "It's the drugs that made me do it". It is in fact the exact reason why all drugs are deemed illegal with the exception of those that are licensed/prescribed.
What isn't taken into consideration by those that support their own drug usage or that of a friends is the very history of drugs itself. If you were to look at society 100-150 years ago all these drugs were being sold in chemists without the need of prescription or following any particular law. The problem was that this became rampant and out of control, it caused workers to no longer be able to do their jobs, it caused families to become impoverish due to people selling off their belongings or getting into debt. (In fact the Pawn industry and illegal loan sharks boom due to drug usage since they victimise the drug users) It even led people to become completely homeless, which led to them lining the streets huddled in doorways.
That social impact is what caused people to create laws and why those laws still persist to some extent to this day. Just because you don't see people laying in the gutter puking from a heroine binge doesn't meant that it wouldn't become a sight to be seen again if the laws were made more lapse. (The concerns aren't just about the crimes that are commit but overall health and safety since heavy drug users aren't known for their personal hygiene).
It's better for them to be able to get a job and not be radicalized and it's better for us.
There is a problem with that, what jobs can someone who is either physically addicted or impaired by drug usage actually do? Would you feel safe with an addict of one of the heavier drugs as an airline pilot or a crane operator? What if they just drove for a living and had an accident, even if it wasn't their fault their drug of choice would suggest impairment and would cause issues with insurance payouts.
Quite simply drug usage and work could be a problem. That's why drug tests are applied to some jobs to make sure people aren't impaired, it's not to segregate but to make sure the firm that employs them is trying to cover their bases.
Please do understand, I'm trying to reflect how the world/governments see it, it's nothing to do with my own perspectives or beliefs.
