The War on Drugs Isn’t Working
How many times have you been told not to do drugs? Time and time again, we’re remindedAi??of the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse, yet many people continue to do drugs and succumb to addiction. We warn people againstAi??it, yet many do, and pay the price for it. The way in which we approach and perceive addicts is an essential part of helping to fix this.
Peopleai??i??s ability to handle difficult parts of their lives contribute greatly to addiction and the consequences. The American political satirist P.J. Oai??i??Rourke saidAi??it thusly: “…No drug, not even alcohol, causes the fundamental ills of society. If we’re looking for the source of our troubles, we shouldn’t test people for drugs, we should test them for stupidity, ignorance, greed and love of power.” O’Rourke is right. If our approach isnai??i??t working, we should try something else, focusing on the people themselves instead of the drugs.
Drug addiction can be handled in different, more helpful ways. During the Vietnam war, 15% of U.S serviceman were addicted to heroin. Hundreds of heroin addicts over the course of the war were sent back to normal lifestyles, void of any kind of rehabilitation. Rather than a court martial, the Nixon administration countered this with treatment. Through the system, those caught with heroin in their systems would be forced to get help instead of being sent home immediately. This helped somewhat, and by 1970, only 11% had even tried heroin.
If their generation could learn to combat drug abuseAi??like this, surely it can work forAi??addicts nowadays.
We should start by helping people come clean instead of chasing a nearly impossible goal. Admittedly, itai??i??s hard to help those who donai??i??t want help, but we have to wonder why they donai??i??t want help, and why they started in the first place. Often times, people explain that their attraction to drugs is born out of emotional stressAi??and depression. Drugs to them are a means of dealing with life’s problems. If such is the case, we should focus on the core of the issue; you simply canai??i??t get rid of drugs. Such is the nature of supply and demand. The key is to help those who want help.
A great example of this working is Switzerland. They opened up clinics in which people could get medical assistance and help with employment and housing, as well as, believe it or not, clean needles with which to inject under medical supervision. Incredibly enough, drug-related crimes plummeted, and ai??i?? of those who sought help returned to normal jobs and, eventually, normal lives. 70% of addicts in Switzerland get help. This is not only cheaper than the so called “hard-line” policy employed in the United States, it was more effective. Thereai??i??s no reason not to try other ways of dealing with drug abuse, especially when the amount of time and money spent on cracking down on dealers and cartels has only lead to mass incarcerations, violence, and crime.
Drug addicts aren’t always criminals, and addiction is a disease, not a crime. born out of normal people who have problems dealing with their life problems, or trying to fit in. They should learn to deal with their issues without drugs and only medical and therapeutic aid can help. A five-year prison sentence isnai??i??t going to fix the underlying problems of addiction.Ai??
Alyssa Salvato • Mar 13, 2017 at 7:56 AM
Drugs are bad. Dope isn’t dope. Stop. Just stop. :^)
Anonymous • Mar 6, 2017 at 7:21 PM
It was an interesting read. I believe what the article said about the war of drugs. We should also be doing more to help others addicted to them.
Jonathan Awe • Mar 6, 2017 at 2:22 PM
I agree with the war on drugs, also we should be doing more to help out the people who are addicted to drugs.
Jonathan • Mar 6, 2017 at 2:20 PM
I agree with the war on drugs, also we should be doing more to help oit the people who are addicted to drugs.
Steven Browne • Mar 6, 2017 at 2:14 PM
People resort to drugs as a way to feel something good and a form of control over their lives that they feel are out of their own hands as it is
Bethany • Mar 6, 2017 at 2:14 PM
I believe that the facility would work for hardcore drugies but not people who just do them sometimes.
Krystal Cardwell • Mar 6, 2017 at 2:13 PM
Drugs are bad and I totally agree with this article. You shouldn’t do drugs even if your friends do it or influence you.
Dylan hagerty • Mar 6, 2017 at 2:10 PM
I agree the war on drugs dosent make sense personally i think we should just leave it alone
gabe • Mar 6, 2017 at 12:03 PM
I agree this facility would benifit people abusing drugs if they are just sent to prison going through the rough withdraw will dive them crazy and may influence them to do something worse when they get out of jail
Chris Reinhardt • Mar 6, 2017 at 12:02 PM
I think if you are told not to do illegal drugs and you do it, blatantly breaking the law and you know it, you should be followed with the consequences that are given.
Justin W • Mar 6, 2017 at 12:01 PM
Yes I agree we should be doing more to help out those who are addicted then punishing them
Olyvia Ulmer • Mar 6, 2017 at 12:00 PM
I think we should be doing more to help out those who are addicted then punishing them.
Leia Transue • Mar 6, 2017 at 12:00 PM
It’s true because we should get rid of drugs so that people don’t addicted to them
John Kowalczyk • Mar 6, 2017 at 11:59 AM
I think this was a great article!
Dominique L • Mar 6, 2017 at 11:56 AM
True
Sienna • Mar 6, 2017 at 11:54 AM
Speak*
Sienna • Mar 6, 2017 at 11:53 AM
In referral to Switzerland’s tactics on lowering drug abuse, i believe the statistics speaker for itself and that their method is very effective .
Malachi • Mar 6, 2017 at 11:16 AM
I think that a lot of countries do some things better than the U S just because of their approach to problems
Gabriel Howard • Mar 6, 2017 at 11:15 AM
I think that this article is incredibly thought out and was really nice to read. Drugs are becoming a major national and worldwide problem, and it is time that we, in this current technological generation, do something about it.
Let us forgive the drug addicts for their sins and constant take in of the harmful substance, and lend out a hand for those who need may need help. It may seem hard at first… But everyone can be forgiven for an act such as this and get help while they are at it.
Hadiyah Bryant • Mar 6, 2017 at 11:15 AM
I think that we need a better system to keep people safe and not give them a place to do it.
Nicole Sanzi • Mar 6, 2017 at 11:14 AM
In my opinion, Switzerland’s approach on drug abuse is completely abstract, but correct. Drug addicts need help to become clean and throwing them in a jail cell as done in the United States is not effective. People become physically dependent to drugs like heroin and I think that providing clean needles with medical help would prevent the spread of disease like HIV or Hepatitis. Switzerland in my opinion approached the matter in a helpful way by thinking outside of the box.
Michael guzman • Mar 6, 2017 at 11:14 AM
I think that everyone deserves a second chance, a chance to redeem themselves and with the clinics in Switzerland this could be everyone who’s addicted second chance.
Shavaughn Frank • Mar 6, 2017 at 11:13 AM
I think the United States need to put a better process in effect for addicts but I don’t think giving people a safe place to do drugs is a good things because it is never safe.
Yooogeyeeyeyye • Mar 6, 2017 at 11:13 AM
Hello have a nice say
lexie king • Mar 6, 2017 at 11:12 AM
I agree with this. I think that giving people a safer place to recover is a good way to try and end the problem of drug use.
Josh b • Mar 6, 2017 at 11:12 AM
I believe that people caught with drugs should be offered help on getting off that drug. If they refuse then they should be put in jail.
sara dowling • Mar 6, 2017 at 11:11 AM
I believe this is a great idea for people that have these issues. in a way it is helping people not catch diseases such as hiv, and is also keeping people off the streets.
Ethan Konklin • Mar 6, 2017 at 9:42 AM
In reference to addiction being a disease, I don’t think that is true. Not entirely anyway. The way I see it, addiction is kind of like diabetes. You can get it by life choices, and maybe genetically. But you will never get better if you keep stuffing your face with donuts and cupcakes.
Josiah Pierre • Mar 6, 2017 at 9:42 AM
Restricting drugs completely is a ineffective solution because people will find ways of getting them anyway. Also, after a while drug users become dependent to what they are taking and are forced to take the substance to avoid withdrawal symptoms. At least in these new medically supervised facilities, they can slowly get off drugs.
Devin • Mar 6, 2017 at 9:37 AM
The last paragraph said that not all drug addicts are criminals but the possesion of drugs is illegal therefor all drug addicts are criminals.
Victor Price • Mar 6, 2017 at 9:36 AM
This is a terrible idea and is just delaying people from dying from overdosing. It also allows people to do very illegal drugs without consequences
Rayhan razak • Mar 6, 2017 at 9:36 AM
How could children destroy their lives before it evens starts?
Gianna roselle • Mar 6, 2017 at 9:35 AM
I think this was a great article. The problem in today’s generation is we are so careless. Drugs are bad for you! I’ve never smoked marijuana in my life. It’s disgusting. Who would do such a thing to themselves?
Jason Maldonado • Mar 6, 2017 at 9:33 AM
I agree. helping people with their addiction instead of punishing them will help end the drug epidemic.
Bryce Cramer • Mar 6, 2017 at 9:33 AM
Is it only for heroin and similar opioid based narcotics, or can people use other drugs in the same establishment?
CFit • Mar 6, 2017 at 9:31 AM
All we need to do is instead of showing people powerpoints or short films about how dangerous drugs are, we should show them horror movies. Think about it, the stoner always dies.
Luke Socha • Dec 13, 2016 at 1:22 PM
All we need to do is instead of showing people powerpoints or short films about how dangerous drugs are, we should show them horror movies. Think about it, the stoner always dies.
Lacey S • May 11, 2016 at 9:11 AM
The more everyone learns to accept that drug addiction is a disease, a life struggle… and not treat it like a bunch of stereotypical movie villains.. the more everyone can learn to help.
America needs to rethink the ways of many things, including the treatment of those under the control of drugs.
This was a great read. Amazing work.
Xavier • Apr 18, 2016 at 1:03 PM
I agree wholeheartedly on this. This was a good leisurely read. Great work.
Lorenzo Conti • Apr 21, 2016 at 10:59 AM
Thanks for commenting! I’m very grateful to see you like my work.