Drug abuse is a major cause of concern in the United States, with a consequential impact on people’s health and societal psychosocial and socioeconomic problems. In particular, people addicted to illicit substances suffer academically, professionally, financially, and socially. Drug misuse in the United States continues to rise, which urges people to review the current opinions surrounding drug use. The trend has attracted the attention of researchers and policymakers seeking solutions to this issue. A part of the debate has centered on the need to decriminalize drug use; nonetheless, decriminalization is not the ultimate solution. The United States should maintain its position of regulation to curb drug abuse rates – but the country must develop a solution alternative to punitive justice without decriminalizing drugs which could pose a significant risk to population health.
The latest statistics support the relevance of the discussion surrounding drug abuse. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) finances the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) to conduct surveys on drug abuse in the US. In 2020, the NSDUH established that drug misuse in the United States was rising (Lund and Moan 1). The problem costs the country over $740 billion yearly through healthcare expenses, work, and drug-related crimes (Lund and Moan 2). Some commonly abused drugs include marijuana (cannabis), heroin, amphetamines, barbiturates, cocaine, hallucinogens, and opioids. Although these drugs have different effects on human health, the consequences of their misuse are equally harmful.
The current policy against drug use developed by the United States has targeted crime rates linked to drug misuse and has been demonstrated to be ineffective. The Drug Policy Reform Act of 2021 recognizes that the United States has continued to make strict laws to contain drug possession, use, and distribution over the past century (Watson Coleman). The regulations impose severe drug convictions, including obligatory prison terms for the offenses. In cases where drug abuse causes the death of a person, the penalties become more punitive. Other measures mentioned by the act include extensive civil sanctions and collateral consequences. Efforts have been made in the past fifty years to enforce the enacted policies. Hari advocates against fostering punishment as one of the core foundations of managing addiction because it does not stop addicts from misusing drugs. The United States has continued to promote incentives for forceful and militarized policing in the alleged war against drugs. However, the measures have not effectively alleviated or reduced the problem.
Nevertheless, full decriminalization is also not the best option, as it may impact population health and cause irreparable damage to the current healthcare system. Under this policy, illegal drugs would be easily obtainable and cheap. As a result, it is highly likely that more people would engage in drug abuse. One can compare this option to two other major problems – the misuse of alcohol and smoking. Califano indicates that the United States has about 20 million alcoholics and 60 million smokers compared to just about six million illegal drug addicts (967). The contrast between these numbers can be explained by the fact that the former two substances are legal, although they also cause addiction. Therefore, even if decriminalization is adopted, there would exist a great risk of increased rates of illicit substance abuse.
Based on the facts above, the administration needs to improve upon the currently ineffective restrictions to access illicit drugs. Califano contrasts Britain to Sweden, which adopted opposing rules on limitation (967). By allowing longer working hours for pubs, Britain has realized a notable increase in crime in the early morning hours between 3 am and 6 am (Califano 967). Violent crimes in some pubs increased with the higher need for emergency treatment for alcohol abusers. On the contrary, Sweden restricted drug abuse through strict drug control and more brutal police action supported by a national action plan and a national drug coordinator. At the same time, it has created a healthcare-based program to help fight addiction. As a result, it has reduced the average rate of drug abuse.
A probable solution represented in two sources is a health-based approach to drug use. The Drug Policy and Reform Act of 2021 considers the course more helpful, cost-effective, and humane than other criminal retributions (Watson Coleman). The act indicates that stigma, criminal penalties, and other long-standing collateral punishments have proved costly. They destroy lives and limit access to medicine and healing options (Hari). A new approach of offering uncoerced, obtainable access to evidence-based substance use disorder treatment and harm reduction assistance is highly effective. One outcome is decreased illicit drug overdose and lowered spread of infectious diseases such as Hepatitis C and HIV. The strategy may help reduce drug-related injury and lead to better health outcomes for drug abusers. In addition, drug abusers desiring treatment encounter hurdles that limit their access to such assistance. Challenges, such as lack of providers, cost, and long wait lists, can be eliminated by providing on-demand access to evidence-based treatment.
Drug misusers can be assisted through the rational use of the court system, prisons, and detention. Califano advocates for the need for teenagers arrested for marijuana to be handled similarly to those apprehended for drunk driving as long as injuries are not involved (967). Such arrests should be regarded as opportunities for screening teenagers, offering treatment, and providing educational sessions on the dangers of drug abuse. Hari argues within the same line of thinking, indicating that one’s environment causes addiction. Addiction can be effectively fought by establishing a genuine rapport with addicts to help reconstruct their societies and connections.
Public health officials and medical professionals can bolster the approach by enlightening the community on the dangers of addiction. Califano indicates that addiction is a “complex physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual disease” (967). He argues that it does not develop out of the lack of morals, nor can it quickly disappear as it involves self-indulgence. The healthcare system should be responsible for providing affordable treatment options to all who need it. Drug abuse dangers can be taught alongside other social service programs. The approach will help to confront drug abuse and subsequent addiction instead of hiding it due to the associated stigma.
In conclusion, the United States has long battled the problem of drug abuse. It has been excessively costly to the country due to lost lives, lost labor, broken families, and massive healthcare spending. The government has led a long campaign against drug abuse based on punitive laws to combat this issue. However, statistics indicate that the chosen method was ineffective in curbing the rate of drug abuse and related medical and social costs. In contrast to the expected outcomes, drug abuse cases have continued to rise, creating a need for rethinking the approach. Decriminalization has been offered as a probable solution, but it may open doors for increased health problems and risks to population health. Possible alternative solutions from the existing scholarship are a health-centered approach, a reformed criminal justice system, and education. The issue’s complexity requires similarly well-thought-out answers and a strategy for long-term improvement. The solution should target people’s social lives and deal with the drug problem’s underlying causes rather than its consequences.
Works Cited
Califano, Joseph A. “Should Drugs Be Decriminalized? No.” BMJ, vol. 335, no. 7627, 2007, p. 967.
Hari, Johann. “Everything You Think You Know about Addiction Is Wrong.” Ted.com, TED Talks, 2015, Web.
Lund, Ingeborg, and Inger Synnøve Moan. “The Role of Alcohol Use and Cigarette Smoking in Sickness Absence: Are There Social Inequalities?” International Journal of Drug Policy, vol. 94, no. 103190, 2021, pp. 1–5.
Watson Coleman, Bonnie. “Text – H.R.4020 – 117th Congress (2021-2022): Drug Policy Reform Act of 2021.” congress.gov, Web.