Few people have gotten mad, bought a few grams / tabs / lines / whatever, and proceeded to annihilate a dozen or dozens of lives using those purchases specifically.

That's not to say that drugs don't have collateral damage. Much does.

But the interactions tend to be systemic rather than acute. And there are several legalised drugs which already cause immense harm.

The issue is how drugs are regulated, and the evidence is overwhelming that criminalising use and addiction have worked poorly.

No, but plenty of people in various mental states have bought drugs and gotten friends or family members hooked, which eventually resulted in death.

I don’t agree with counting homicides and suicides together as “gun deaths.” But since many people do: there are about 40,000 gun deaths each year. There are 100,000 drug overdose deaths a year now, which is the result both of people’s own decisions about themselves, and people giving or selling drugs to others to get them addicted.

Negative externalities play a large factor in the cognitive split. I'm more willing to tolerate a minuscule amount of people who hurt themselves more than a minuscule amount of people who hurt a random innocent.

At least here in LA, the drug problem has reduced many to husks who assault regular pedestrians on a daily basis. I understand your point, but drugs has many external factors besides ruining the user's life.

Every drug overdose death hurts random innocents.

they aren't my type