Medicalizing Drugs When reading these articles about the legalization of heroin or any other drug, I immediately began to think about our countries now famous welfare system. Welfare I believe began sometime back in the 1960's, by a group of politicians, which were concerned with helping individuals who were unable to care for themselves. Some individuals whether it be mentally or physically could not care for themselves and depended on someone else to help them function in society. Many Americans abuse the welfare system, it is actually at a point where it is being abused so badly and we do not even have the r