Drug Policy Synthesis Essay

1759 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Essays on drug policy

The blame for this current predicament rests on stubbornness to admit that the current means of tackling the drug issue is not working. However, it is worth reiterating that the individuals promoting these policies are often not doing so out of ill intentions. Individuals on both side are in search of a health society. Even those promoting the drug warrior approach are doing so out of a genuine belief that it will provide a healthier environment for individuals in these drug-afflicted communities. While there are political entrepreneurs that engage in this drug war fully aware of these negative repercussions, many are blind to the extent of the counterproductive effects that come with this approach. The idea has been so ingrained in Americans …show more content…

A Gallup poll found that 1 in 3 Americans are have been affected by alcoholism in their family (Jones). However, these family members are not treated with scorn and contempt like drug addicts, but instead are met with compassion and sympathy. The difference between the two is the stigma attached to drug users as “junkies” and “criminals”. For any substantive change to take place in our society, there must be a fundamental change in the way Americans view drug users and drug addicts. The objective of drug policy should be to put these drug users in a position where they can help uplift their community, rather than seeking to uplift these communities through removal of drug users. The manner in which we attempt to uplift drug users can take form in a multitude of policy approaches. This change is likely to be a slow, gradual one that requires undoing much of what people believe of drug dealers. However, we should celebrate and recognize where promoters of these approaches succeed. Cities like New Haven and Shreveport should be looked at as standards for the rest of the country to follow in effective harm reducing strategies that humanize drug addicts, and still tamp down on crime. With continued success in cities like these, there is a hope that the war on drugs will soon come to an

Show More
Related

  • Compare And Contrast Drug Courts Vs. Incarceration

    1406 Words  | 3 Pages

    Within our society, there is a gleaming stigma against the drug addicted. We have been taught to believe that if someone uses drugs and commits a crime they should be locked away and shunned for their lifetime. Their past continues to haunt them, even if they have changed their old addictive ways. Everyone deserves a second chance at life, so why do we outcast someone who struggles with this horrible disease? Drug addiction and crime can destroy lives and rip apart families. Drug courts give individuals an opportunity to repair the wreckage of their past and mend what was once lost. Throughout this paper, I will demonstrate why drug courts are more beneficial to an addict than lengthy prison sentences.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast The Liberal And Liberal Views On The War On Drugs

    1016 Words  | 3 Pages

    Drug use has been an ongoing problem in our country for decades. The use of drugs has been the topic of many political controversies throughout many years. There has been arguments that are for legalizing drugs and the benefits associated with legalization. Also, there are some who are opposed to legalizing drugs and fear that it will create more problems than solve them. Conservatives and liberals often have different opinions for controversial topics such as “the war on drugs,” but it is necessary to analyze both sides in order to gain a full understanding of their beliefs and to decide in a change in policy is in order.

    Read More

  • The Pros And Cons Of Alcoholics Anonymous

    1641 Words  | 4 Pages

    A “drug-free society” has never existed, and probably will never exist, regardless of the many drug laws in place. Over the past 100 years, the government has made numerous efforts to control access to certain drugs that are too dangerous or too likely to produce dependence. Many refer to the development of drug laws as a “war on drugs,” because of the vast growth of expenditures and wide range of drugs now controlled. The concept of a “war on drugs” reflects the perspective that some drugs are evil and war must be conducted against the substances

    Read More

  • Functionalist and Interactionalist Perspective on Illegal Drugs

    1019 Words  | 3 Pages

    The war on drugs in our culture is a continuous action that is swiftly lessening our society. This has been going on for roughly 10-15 years and has yet to slow down in any way. Drugs continue to be a problem for the obvious reason that certain people abuse them in a way that can lead to ultimate harm on such a person. These drugs do not just consist of street drugs (marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy), but prescription medications as well. Although there are some instances where drugs are being used by subjects excessively, there has been medical research to prove that some of these drugs have made a successful impact on certain disorders and diseases.

    Read More

  • The Drug Policy in the United States

    1816 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Drug Policy in the United States The Drug Policy in the United States is a very strict and well defined

    Read More

  • I Support the Decriminalization of All Drugs

    1134 Words  | 3 Pages

    When societies finally become comfortable with reality, they begin to abandon the murderous laws that impede their growth. Currently, the social stigma and legislated morality regarding the use of illicit drugs yield perhaps the most destructive effects on American society. Drug laws have led to the removal of non-violent citizens from society- either directly by incarceration or indirectly by death - which is genocidal in quantity and essence. I base my support of the decriminalization of all drugs on a principle of human rights, but the horror and frustration with which I voice this support is based on practicality. The most tangible effect of the unfortunately labeled "Drug War" in the United States is a prison population larger than Russia's and China's, and an inestimable death toll that rivals the number of American casualties from any given war, disease or catastrophe.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On Incarceration

    1478 Words  | 3 Pages

    Now is not the time for the United States federal government to decriminalize or legalize illegal drugs, including marijuana. However, nor can the government continue to do nothing about the financially, economically, and socially expensive domestic drug policy it currently follows. The United States Congress should pass legislation to remove mandatory minimum penalties from drug offenses, and the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Prisons should add in-house rehabilitation programs for its incarcerated drug offenders. These policies would increase the cost-effectiveness of current drug policy and reduce crime and drug use, and do not face the political obstacles or have the uncertain consequences of decriminalizing or legalizing drugs.

    Read More

  • Nonviolent Drug Crimes

    1348 Words  | 3 Pages

    The harsh punishment for drug crimes in the United States of America is not working. “With roughly half a million people behind bars in the U.S. for nonviolent drug offenses, drugs are as plentiful and widely used as ever” (Grenier, 2013). Even with very harsh long sentences and many people imprisoned drug use is as common as ever in America. ‘We cannot close our eyes anymore’ to the cost in human lives destroyed and taxpayer dollars wasted” (Holcomb, 2015). Harsh drug penalties are destroying American citizens lives and is costing a lot of money from taxpayers. “Yet, people who want treatment can often expect to endure an obstacle course just to get help” (Grenier, 2013). The Unites States government is spending a large amount of money on arresting and imprisoning drug users, yet are putting little to no focus on funding drug medical help for

    Read More

  • Drug Policy

    560 Words  | 2 Pages

    The war on drugs and the violence that comes with it has always brought around a hot debate about drug legalization. The amount of violence that is associated with drugs is a result from harsher drug laws and prohibition.

    Read More

  • Drug Policy

    1001 Words  | 3 Pages

    The National Drug Control Strategy was issued two years ago to reduce drug use among teenagers and adults. The success of the President’s drug policy can be measured by its results. The student drug testing approach has reduced drug use and discouraged first time users significantly. Communities have been more actively involved in anti-drug programs for youth and adults. The increase in budget for law enforcement will enhance their effectiveness in detaining drug lords and cartels.

    Read More

  • The drug control policy of the United States

    1414 Words  | 3 Pages

    The current situation of drug control in the United States is imperfect and inadequate. Millions of men and women, both young and old, are affected by illicit drug use. It costs the United States about $6,123 every second because of drug use and its consequences (Office). Moreover, 90 percent of all adults with a substance use disorder started using under the age of 18 and half under the age of 15. Children who first smoke marijuana under the age of 14 are five times more likely to abuse drugs as adults than those who first use marijuana at age 18. Finally, the children of alcoholics are four times more likely to develop problems with alcohol (Prevent). Current legislation that has to do with the United States’ drug control policy is the Controlled Substances Act, which regulates the manufacture, importation, possession, use, and distribution of certain substances (Shannon). In 1966, Congress passed the Narcotic Addict Rehabilitation Act also known as the NARA. This legislati...

    Read More

  • War On Drugs Satire

    867 Words  | 2 Pages

    The war on drugs has been going on for some time. The war on drugs refers to the government’s attempts to stop the circulation of drugs. This includes the production, selling, and transport of illegal drugs, in order to reduce drug abuse. This war has been going on since the 1900’s. The bureau of justice reported that fifty five percent of federal prisoners and twenty one percent of state level prisoners are incarcerated on the basis of drug related offenses( ). That amounts to about half a million people for scale that’s more people than live in Wyoming. The war on drugs has been going on for thirty years now. The war has made a significant impact on society, the economy and has made a lot of history gaining spotlight time along the

    Read More

  • Synthesis Essay On Drugs

    697 Words  | 2 Pages

    Photography has come a long way from the moment that it was created to now. Now photography has become the center of this generations attention. From professional picture to amateur selfie shots the use and need for photos has grown like a weed. Another thing that has grown like a weed is literal weed. There is an ever-growing issue of teens on drugs in the U.S. The problem has become so large that every day we see picture, videos of teens smoking and we’ve become accustomed to it. Once we become accustomed to things like drugs and more we will no longer see it as a problem than needs to be fixed. Soon not only will teens will be on drugs. it will be the goal for the younger generation to come.

    Read More

  • Drugs Should Not Be Legalized Essay

    1593 Words  | 4 Pages

    It is important to be informed of what we are defending, and in this case it is to not legalize drugs. One may ask, what are drugs? Drugs are chemicals, that may affect your body in many different ways, whether it be good or bad. However, most of the time, it 's not always a positive outcome. Some drugs even leave lifetime damage to your brain and body. Although, there are many different ways to take drugs, some of the most common ways are; inhalation, ingestion, and injection. All three ways, however affect the body differently. You don 't always know what you are ingesting or injecting and even inhaling. Most of the time, because drugs are illegal, they are sold through drug dealers

    Read More

  • Substance Abuse Social Problem Essay

    1792 Words  | 4 Pages

    Perhaps most substance abuse starts in the teen years when young people are susceptible to pressure from their peers. One of the main concerns when dealing with substance abuse is the long term problems with substance such as addiction, dependency and tolerance. The physical state of an individual, who is addicted to a substance, will deteriorate over a long period of time. This is due to the chemicals that are being put into an individual body. One of the most important aspects of the effect of substance abuse on society includes ill health, disease, sickness, and in many cases death. The impact of substance abuse not only affects individuals who abuse substances but it affects our economy. Our government resources are negatively impacted by individual who abuse substances. According to (Lagliaro 2004) the implication of drug users extend far beyond the user, often damaging their relationships with their family, community, and health workers, volunteer and wider

    Read More

More about Drug Policy Synthesis Essay

Open Document