881894 EDITED .doc - 1 Regulating Substance Abuse Student...

1
Regulating Substance Abuse
Student Name
Department, Institutional Affiliation
Course Code: Course Name
Professor
Date of Submission

2
Regulating Substance Abuse
The Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CSDA) is a statute that groups regulated
substances in several categories under one of the existing five schedules. The placement is based
on the substance’s medical use, safety, the potential for abuse, and dependence liability (Philips,
2019). The war on drugs has seen the establishment of rules and laws which further doubles
down on the punishment as well as attempts to control how people use the substances. This paper
expounds on the CSDA by outlining which substances are to be criminalized, decriminalized, or
regulated and the reasons for the chosen actions.
Alcohol
Alcohol, also known by its chemical name ethanol, is a psychoactive drug commonly
found in drinks such as beer, wine, and hard liquor. Alcohol is known as one of the common
recreational substances and among the oldest ones. The characteristics of alcohol intoxication is
drunkenness. Alcohol is also known to produce other effects such as euphoria, happiness,
sedation, increased sociability, and decreased anxiety among others. Smith et al. (2018) stated
that impaired memory, sensory function, and a depressed central nervous system functionality
are also effects associated with the overconsumption of alcohol.
Alcohol should be regulated. This suggests that the substance should only be made
available for sale to people aged 18 years and more (Bo et al., 2021). Drug regulation refers to
the control of drug use through an international agreement by bodies such as the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) or the European Medicines Agency (EMA) among others.
Reasons for Regulating Alcohol

3
Alcohol is known is to be the leading risk factor that causes a substantial health loss. Bo
et al. (2021) reported that alcohol is the seventh leading mortality and disease development risk
factor across the globe. Notably, overconsumption of the substance increases the risks that a
person will contract cancer, a terminal condition with a high rate of mortality. Youngsters who do
not understand the effects of overconsumption of alcohol may end up abusing the substance
which explains the need for regulation. Regulation the intake of alcohol will be effective in
addressing the significant impact of the social, health and economic problems related with the
consumption of the substance (Smith et al., 2018). Managing alcohol use is effective in
controlling the disease-related conditions related with the overconsumption of the substance.
Besides improving health, regulating the use of alcohol will improve mood and sleep.
Smith et al. (2018) stated that the excessive alcohol use has the potential of increasing the risk of
physical and mental health. Heavy drinking can result to anxiety and depression. Regulating
alcohol also suggests that only a small population with the power to regulate the amount of their