Why Are Drugs and Alcohol so Seperated?

When people talk about "harmful" substances they always say "Drugs and Alcohol." Why is it that they are separated in common speech? People are saying it like they are two completely different things but what truly is the difference? "A drug is any chemical or biological substance, synthetic or non-synthetic, that when taken into the organism's body, will in some way alter the functions of that organism." So wouldn't everyone agree that alcohol does just that, alters the organisms functions? Marijuana does the same thing, alters the organisms functions. Most people would say that alcohol isn't a drug because it has less negative effects than "drugs" such as Marijuana.

So many people die so often from the effects of alcohol even if they have never touched it. Drunk driving is the number one automobile related death in the world not just for the person under the influence of alcohol but what about the people they often hit?

If not automobile related alcohol has many negative effects including "...can cause acute respiratory failure or death" plus many other negative health problems such as "permanent damage to vital organs such as the brain and liver. In addition, mothers who drink alcohol during pregnancy may give birth to infants with fetal alcohol syndrome. These infants may suffer from mental retardation and other irreversible physical abnormalities. In addition, research indicates that children of alcoholic parents are at greater risk than other children of becoming alcoholics."

There are also short term effects which are "disinhibitation, dizziness and talkativeness, slurred speech, disturbed sleep, nausea, and vomiting, significantly impaired judgment and coordination required to drive a car safely. Low to moderate doses of alcohol can also increase the incidence of a variety of aggressive acts, including domestic violence and child abuse. Hangovers are another possible effect after large amounts of alcohol are consumed; a hangover consists of headache, nausea, thirst, dizziness, and fatigue." "More than 100,000 U.S. deaths are caused by excessive alcohol consumption each year. Direct and indirect causes of death include drunk driving, cirrhosis of the liver, falls, cancer, and stroke."

After hearing all of this why would someone want alcohol, but thats not my point. So than what are the effects of marijuana? "Short-term effects of marijuana include problems with memory and learning, distorted perception (sights, sounds, time, touch), trouble with thinking and problem solving, loss of motor coordination, increased heart rate, and anxiety" The long term effects are similar to smoking normal cigarettes which contain the "drug" tobacco.

Salvia divinorum is a herb related to sage and is a LEGAL drug. It is recreational smoked and is a powerful psychoactive plant. "Motor-control is negatively affected." "A reason for salvia's mostly favorable legal status so far is that there's been little real evidence to suggest that its use is problematic." I'm not saying that it should be banned just treated like others.

In conclusion I don't think people should pick and choose what they want to call drugs or not. If tobacco, salvia and alcohol are legal than why not others like marijuana.

Sources:
Wikipedia, Substance Abuse: The Nation's Number One Health Problem, Feb. 2001, 2006 Partnership for a Drug-Free America