ABSTRACT
Drug abuse is a world-wide phenomenon, but no where is the problem more acute than in the US The desire of proponents of drug prohibition in America and other countries for a better society is understandable. One of the most important rationales for drug prohibition is paternalistic—that the government needs to prevent people from taking substances that can incapacitate and kill. Attempting to protect others from harm is a worthy goal, but drug prohibition is, at best, an imperfect vehicle for doing so. There is probably no more emotional issue than drug use by kids. It is therefore natural that many supporters of drug prohibition cite protecting children as the main justification for banning drug use by everyone. Given the prevalence of the crack trade in inner cities, the ban on drug use has been justified by Rep. Charles Rangel, among others, as necessary to protect city-dwellers from the depradations of drug dealers and save the underclass from destruction.
