Why is alcohol abuse not a crime but drug abuse is?

Question

Why is it that alcohol is not considered a drug considering the harmful effects of it? Additionally, the harmful effects of alcohol may even outweigh those brought forth by marijuana or LSD (assuming the same moderate use).

Answer 1

This is a great question! From what I have learned and read, this is due to the normalization of alcohol consumption in our country, while at the same time villainizing and stigmatizing the use of drugs. This can be seen through several examples throughout American history. For example, when prohibition failed, but the Just say no campaign came out in full force and majorly changed dynamics in America. It is also related to the fact that alcohol is seen as a controlled and regulated substance, whereas most drugs are not.

Answer 2

The reason this is a historical one. A lot of the reason that the drugs that are illegal in the way they where, was more for political reasons and less for public health or public safety reasons. Specific with Cannabis and LSD, where made illegal and propagandize in the media to be more harmful in-order to draw up negative stigma to Mexican migrant workers who where the prime user of Cannabis. As well as weaken the anti-war movement during the Vietnam war, since the main movers (hippies) used mainly LSD. So drug laws are more politically in nature then they are about what is danger for society.