Marijuana, alcohol, heroin, ecstasy, cocaine, these are some of the most popular drugs all around the world. They have become not only and addiction for many teenagers, moms, dads but a gigantic issue for society. Destroying million of lives everyday, it seems to be an unstoppable disease spreading out quickly. It's extremely important to take the right decisions if we want to terminate it, but what are we doing to stop it? What are we planning to prevent future generations? Are we even helping our own generation?. I bet anyone at least knows a person who is involved with drugs and it's aware of the consequences of using this substances.
What bothered me about this article is the fact that the author presents striking facts about the number of individuals who had been and are being affected by drugs and encourages the government and authorities to follow the advise of the Global Commission on Drug Policy over the illicit drug trade outlining that one of the most remarkable recommendations was " to substitute treatment for imprisonment for people who use drugs but do no harm to others, and to concentrate more coordinated international effort on combating violent criminal organizations rather than nonviolent, low-level offenders." because the use of drugs itself is a way to harm others by promoting its use. It's true that non-violent and low-level offenders people might represent less risk than violent drug organizations but wouldn't it be harder to handle a bigger problem rather than a simple one?. I believe that law should be apply even in a low- level offender along with the respective treatment.
On the other hand the author never mentions what is the responsibility of citizens all over the states on this issue. It's is true that the illicit drug trade is not as simple as it seems but it could be helpful to prevent and inform people about it. This way people can be informed about how high is the danger that their families can be expose to if this issue keeps growing. It would be better to propose ideas instead of just giving recommendations if we don't act soon this disease will spread out and might be too late to cure it.
2 comments:
I agree with you, Eimy. As I can see, consuming and drugs has become something seen in our every day lives as teens in our generation. We can't be so sure of how the next generation would be like. What our children and their children might think about this same situation in a couple of years. As the years go by, there is more and more help for alcoholics and drug addicts. Drugs and alcohol have the ability to penetrate us inside,especially our minds. While watching our daily news or reading our local newspaper, word is out that a teenager has suffered a car accident. Most car accidents that occur are a result of distractions or an influence of some sort. For example, drinking and drugs. I guess when people are under the influence, they forget what their parents and other elders remind them had told them in the past: don't drink and drive. That should also include not consuming drugs as well. Because when you do drive and are under such influence, you lose. Either after the accident you are injured or you die. Not only your life is at risk but if you have friends in the car or family members, THERE lives are also at risk.
I agree with you especially when it comes to it WOULD be harder to handle a bigger problem rather than a simple one. A bigger problem is made up of smaller ones which can be handled one step at a time. If you handle one problem, you'll be left with others. But atleast one problem is under control. Sadly, this disease can spread out and might be too late to cure it.
This article I was reading also has more information when it comes to Drug Rehab Centers, Alcoholism, and Mental addictions.
http://www.soberrecovery.com/
I have to say I actually agree with the Global Commission on Drug Policy's suggestion. Though yes, everyone in our society, both low-level criminals/drug users and big-time drug dealers should be subjected to the same laws and punished proportionally, going to prison is the last thing a low-income heroin addict needs.
First, I think we need to think about addiction in general. Nobody wants to develop an addiction. Nobody grows up wanting to be a cocaine addict. However, drug use is just a form of escapism when, used one too many times, becomes a horrible addiction. This doesn't mean that drug addicts are always innocent. Obviously, by accepting that joint, by accepting that pipe, by accepting that needle in the first place, they broke the law. But it is human nature to develop addiction to our forms of escapism. Just think about food. How often do we eat because we are bored, or sad? So many Americans are addicted to food because it makes us feel good. Even people with eating disorders, such as anorexia or bulimia, are addicted to not eating, or purging their stomachs.
My point is that the low-income junkies are suffering from the same addiction that most of us wrestle with, just to something much more dangerous. They aren't bloodthirsty criminals, they need medical attention just like an anorexic needs medical attention. If that attention isn't given to them, then they will continue to commit small-scale crimes to feed their addiction--adding to the problem.
This leads me into my next point (sorry this comment is getting long), about your belief that drug addicts only advocate their drug's use, and therefore blow up the demand for drugs. Again, nobody wants to be a drug addict. Sure, every once in a while that escape is welcome, but drug addiction reaches a point where the addict cannot hold a job or find money to pay for their drug. Whatever they are addicted to is the most important thing to them, this being particularly true in the case of addicts who commit low-scale crimes to pay for their addiction. Nobody sees this depressing level of importance cocaine holds in an addict's life and then wants to go out and get some cocaine. Therefore, by isolating these small-time addicts and treating them, you would be lessening our drug problem rather than expanding it.
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