One key argument of drugs is related to social control. This theory poses that “all people have the potential to violate the law and that modern society presents many opportunities for illegal activity” (Siegel, 2009: 210). Therefore in terms of drugs anyone can be likely to use it. Hence social control keeps individuals in their limits in attempt to reduce criminal activities. Without any form of social control it would lead to more freedom from which crime would be more frequent and hard to control. An example of this is medicalization of drugs. This is because it is believed that “the greatest social control power comes from having the authority to define certain behaviour, persons and things”(Conrad, 2007: 8). Medical people have this power in doing so they are able to choose what society can use and how much of it. Another key point of drugs is in relation to social justice and the law. In order to achieve fair and equal rights the need for a war on drugs has occurred. Some believe that drugs should be made legal because it is within their rights to be able to choose whether to take drugs. However making drugs legal would lead to further problems in society as being able to use drugs freely can put others in society at risk, cause health issues, high crime and there would be no control or limit on individuals’behaviour. Social Justice and the law are important in maintaining safety for society and for such reason it “dictates that society must protect children from the social experiences (Burkemper et al 2010: 201). By having no law against drugs would, for example, put innocent children everyday at risk. Whether they get hold of drugs at such a young age or be surrounded around those who take or deal them.
The War on Drugs 