The use of drugs, even legal ones, is fraught with controversy.
- Doctors prescribing too many antibiotics
- Mothers choosing pain medications during labor
- Teenagers drinking caffeinated coffee
- Children being prescribed psychotropic medication for ADHD, depression, or anxiety.
- A person using marijuana to combat seizures
- An adult turning to alcohol to ease social anxiety
- Adults fighting in wars without being served a beer upon return
When a drug is involved, opinions start flying. As citizens of America, we have the right to voice our opinion without fear of government retribution. However, it does not further us as a populous to shout our opinions to the wind, to make claims without backing them up with scientifically gathered evidence, to use incendiary and thoughtless language. Therefore, here you will see thoughtful opinions regarding some of the drug-related controversies of this year, 2015. The only requirement was that each opinion published here be backed by at least two scientific investigations that were published in peer-reviewed journals. Does this requirement mean that each opinion expressed is The Truth? Absolutely not. There are always two (or twenty) ways of looking at a problem or determining a solution to a problem. But at least this is a start towards a shared knowledge base. A way of looking at complex problems using reasoned judgement and science. We should never ignore our heart, but we must use our brains to direct the path our heart takes.
Please use the menu to the right to navigate this page and to learn about some of the opinions of students who have worked all semester to understand the nuances and science of drug use and legislation.