As we look into and dissect the U.S.’s policy on drugs we can see some things that it does well and some of the downfalls that it has compared to other countries. In the last writing assignment we unpacked the U.S. drug policy and examined some things that it excels in versus some of the aspects in which it falls behind. Like most other laws and policies that the government enforces, there is definitely room for improvement and reform that would be aimed towards bettering the well-being of its citizens and leading the younger generations down a more productive path.
In the past, many of the drug prevention programs that were funded and run by both the local and federal government focused on total drug abstinence. As we examined this approach we saw that it does in fact have some downfalls that allow many to fall through the cracks and experiment with illicit drugs. Unfortunately this is a matter of life and death especially when you consider the fact that over 72,000 Americans suffered a fatal overdose in 2017 alone (drugabuse.gov).
In terms of government intervention, in the past, we have seen drug use as a criminal offense and therefore those who are abusing these illicit drugs are often incarcerated and denied the treatment that they need. In recent years, and in more progressive countries policies, we see a shift towards a disease centered approach rather than criminal which allows these individuals to seek help and treatment rather than doing their time and continuing to use when they are released. This leads us to some of the present day schools of thought which are focused on treating addiction as if it were a disease and how this shift has benefited those who do abuse substances.
The first policy that we are going to dissect and examine is the treatment-centered approach that Portugal has adopted. Portugal’s heroin epidemic reached its peak in the 1990’s with close to one percent of its citizens being addicted to the opioid. At the turn of the century their government realized that if it did not take control and reform their drug policy they would be dealing with a much larger problem down the road. This lead to the extremely lenient and treatment centered approach that they utilize today. In short the government essentially decriminalized these illicit drugs but still offers treatment to those who are found in possession.
For example, if an individual is caught with less than 10 days supply of any drug it is confiscated and the case is given to the Commission for the Dissuasion of Drug Abuse. This is where a legal expert, a social worker, and health professional all take a look at the case and make a determination as to whether the individual has committed a crime and kicks off the process of rehabilitation and treatment. Something that makes Portugal unique in terms of their policy against drugs is the ability for the person who was found in possession of those drugs to either enter into treatment or deny it without repercussions such as jail time. This allows the government to target the taxpayers money towards those who will actually benefit from the rehabilitation programs rather then force individuals to go through a process that will ultimately not help them. (EMCDDA)
Like Portugal, who has moved away from an incarceration and criminality centered drug policy, Switzerland has also adopted some of these same, or similar, tactics in order to amend their broken system and better serve those who suffer from addiction. In part due to IV drug use, Switzerland saw their HIV rates skyrocket and with that the quality of life for their citizens dropped. With the highest HIV rate in western europe Switzerland was forced to alter their policies and shift towards a treatment centered approach.
Included in these new policies are free medical and psychological care for those addicted as well as the distribution of clean needles and shelters for addicts. These lead to safer drug use which ultimately means a healthier population. Due to the shift in policies and with various community outreach programs ran by the government, Switzerland experienced a radical drop in HIV rate and a drop in fatal overdoses. Many attribute the success seen by Switzerland and Portugal to the move towards a more treatment and human centered approach rather then one that incarcerates and punishes those addicted to these substances.
One of the main arguments against shifting policy is the financial burden that would be placed on citizens. This issue would be resolved with a decrease in incarceration which would free up money that would be allocated to treatment centers and various education programs. With a decrease in the amount of prisons, specifically private institutions, the federal government would be able to redistribute the newly freed funds in the form of community outreach programs such as free needle exchanges and safe injection sites.
This strategy of drug prevention and addiction treatment is closely related to, and modeled after, the harm reduction model. This would put an emphasis on reducing disease and mortality as a result of illicit drug drug use. This would include programs that would allow addicts the opportunity to seek treatment but if that is not an option they would still be able to use drugs in a safe way under the watch of medical professionals. These types of programs include free needle exchanges as well as safe injection sites for those who choose to continue to use. With an increase in these types of programs we will see a drop in illness related to drug use such as HIV.
Along with a drop in HIV rates we will also see a drop in fatal overdoses due to the medical supervision and expertise that will be present at these “safe shooting” sites. Although some might be opposed to these “safe shooting” sites, they ultimately will do more good for those addicted to illicit substances then a prison/jail. This will allow medical professionals and addiction specialists to better communicate with those addicted and offer treatment to those who want to better themselves.
As more efforts are put in place to regulate and control the amount of drugs being abused by citizens, there will still be some who will develop a dependence and need help finding treatment opportunities to get their life back on track. As we can see in Portugal’s policy, there is a choice presented to the individual found in possession of a personal supply of drugs. They are either offered recommended treatment or they are incarcerated depending on their history and the offense.
A system like this allows the individual to have a choice over how they deal with their dependence and it would increase the total amount of people going through treatment rather than sitting behind bars. This would decrease the amount spent by jails and free up money to be used in education and preventative efforts as well as bettering treatment centers and lowering the cost for individuals to enrol in these programs.
