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Do Our Drug Laws
Focus on the
Truly Dangerous Drugs?
Comparing Dangers of Popular Drugs
(Lower score indicates less serious effect)
MORE
6
SERIOUS
5
4
3
2
1
LESS
SERIOUS
0
Nicotine Heroin Cocaine Alcohol Caffeine Marijuana
DEPENDENCE 6 5 4 3 2 1
WITHDRAWAL 4 5 3 6 2 1
TOLERANCE 5 6 3 4 2 1
REINFORCEMENT 3 5 6 4 1 2
INTOXICATION 2 5 4 6 1 3
Does Jailing Marijuana Users Make More Sense
than Jailing Coffee Drinkers?
Dependence: How difficult it is for the the user to quit, the relapse rate, the percentage of people
who eventually become dependent, the rating users give their own need for the substance and the
degree to which the substance will be used in the face of evidence that it causes harm. Withdrawal:
Presence and severity of characteristic withdrawal symptoms. Tolerance: How much of the substance
is needed to satisfy increasing cravings for it, and the level of stable need that is eventually reached.
Reinforcement: A measure of the substance's ability, in human and animal tests, to get users to take it
again and again, and in preference to other substances. Intoxication: Though not usually counted as a
measure of addiction in itself, the level of intoxication is associated with addiction and increases the
personal and social damage a substance may do.
Source: Dr. Jack E. Henningfield, Ph.D. for NIDA. Reported by: Philip J. Hilts, New York Times,
Aug. 2, 1994 "Is Nicotine Addictive? It Depends on Whose Criteria You Use."
Common Sense for Drug Policy
www.CommonSenseDrugPolicy.org www.DrugWarFacts.org
Mike Gray, Chair; Robert Field, Co-Chair

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