[Broken_Hippo]

I agree that most recreational drugs should be legalized, even if I would never take them. Some would require a few tests to check how much you can safely take, along with education about safe use and so on. This would include a few prescription drugs - such as "study drugs" - that are taken recreationally. Some things might require limits on frequency of purchase to limit side effects. I think this does help for not only addiction, but to help folks not freaking overdose or get a different drug than promised. They should have the same purity and strength standards as something like alcohol or prescription drugs.

A few prescription drugs could easily be considered safe for the public to use, some of which might require a pharmacist's advice. This would include things like birth control pills, 400 or 800mg ibuprofen, erectile dysfunction pills, and things I have never really considered.

But I disagree with most prescription drugs being sold without a doctor's orders. Some drugs are outright dangerous to overuse - antibiotics, for example. Some (most) drugs are really helpful to the right patient, but they need some medical oversight. Lithium, a psychiatric drug, needs to be monitored through blood tests to make sure the dose is within the therapeutic range. Some antifungal pills (as well as a range of other medicines) can cause liver damage. Sleeping pills have their own risks, as do prescription cough syrups. And so on. These aren't things folks are taking in their spare time for the fun of it. I think the actual solution is to make sure folks can afford their doctor's visits and medicines as well as having a comprehensive protections to make sure folks can take care of their health, including paid sick days (more for parents, since they are responsible for other's health as well and can't exactly leave the 7-year-old at home).