The Drug Problem, Essay Example

Introduction

The drug problem in the United States continues to escalate to new heights and contribute to significant challenges for law enforcement officials, families, teachers, and drug counselors. There are significant issues to consider in combating drug use and abuse; however, no single solution is viable and practical for all cases. It is imperative to consider some of the perspectives regarding the drug problem and how experts address these concerns, in addition to the actions that are taken within communities to ensure that criminal drug offenders receive the appropriate punishment. At the same time, drug users require significant rehabilitation and therapy in order to overcome the grasp that addiction has on individuals. Many arguments support four basic principles of drug management in the United States, including decriminalization, prohibition, legalization, and harm reduction, all of which have their advantages and disadvantages. However, overlapping principles regarding drug management must be considered because there are consequences to electing a single mandate to combat drugs, thereby supporting the need for combined methods or practices to address the problem in a comprehensive manner. These factors are instrumental in expanding the options available to law enforcement agencies, family members, counselors, educators, and individual users so that the appropriate steps are taken to address the problem without further consequences. The following discussion will address the issues related to the massive drug problem in the United States and will capture a greater understanding of the issues that impact communities and families as they grapple with drug use and its permanent consequences on their lives.

Analysis

In examining the content of the Good Samaritan Law, this mandate supports the ability to provide individuals with medical attention in the event of an overdose when an individual who is also using drugs calls 911 (Markon, 2014). Under these circumstances, the caller cannot be subject to arrest or prosecution for their own drug use, which contributes to the arguments against criminalization of all drug users (Markon, 2014). This argument is significant because it alleviates a small segment of the burden for drug users who are fearful of arrest and prosecution, yet it may save lives for those who have experienced an overdose (Markon, 2014). This approach recognizes that drug use is a serious physical, mental, and psychological health problem that requires continuous and intensive attention and focus so that those in need of assistance may obtain it without the risk of criminal action (Markon, 2014). These factors require an ongoing approach that is designed to examine drug use as a separate matter that should not always lead to direct criminalization, particularly when lives are at stake (Markon, 2014).

In examining the use of undercover tactics by law enforcement to bust drug users and dealers, this issue is clouded with doubt because some of the tactics that are used are less than appropriate and are ethically challenging from a legal perspective (Erdely, 2014). In the story of the autistic boy who was used as part of a trap to identify drug dealers at a school, this tactic is questionable and unethical in many respects, given the nature of autism and the naivety of the individual due to his illness (Erdely, 2014). From this perspective, it is likely that law enforcement officials who use questionable tactics to identify drug dealers should reconsider some of these options because they may experience critical backlash that could lead to controversy and could even disrupt a criminal investigation. This is an unfortunate set of circumstances that could be avoided if law enforcement pursued other tactics or policymaking agendas included the decriminalization and/vor legalization of some substances. This strategy would alleviate some of the burden on the criminal justice system and the overcrowding in many of the prisons throughout the United States. It is believed that by decriminalizing some offenses, there will be fewer cases that go through the criminal justice system and a lower risk of crime as a result of this policy change. Nonetheless, this perspective requires further consideration and evaluation because it will not solve all of the problems that are related to drug use and access that currently exist.

There are many concerns regarding current drug enforcement policies that impact many people throughout society and influence their actions in different ways. In spite of these challenges, however, little progress has been made in attempting to reduce drug-related crime, particularly because its impact is largely widespread and impacts many areas of society. It is important for law enforcement officials and the criminal justice system to consider the issues that are related to cultural and sociological concerns and how drug use impacts families (Goode, 1999). From a policymaking perspective, it is necessary to determine the most feasible course of action in order to ensure that the drug problem is managed effectively and that drugs use experiences a decline in order to save lives and to encourage potential drug users to make positive choices in their lives (Goode, 1999).

The legalization of one type of drug has already begun to take shape, as marijuana is now legal in more than one state and is likely to become legal in other states in the future. The use of recreational marijuana as a legal alternative is only a steppingstone to possible policy change in the future that could impact the crime rates in many communities. However, this alternative also poses many risks, including the potential risks associated with impairments that could impact health in negative ways. Therefore, it is important to exercise caution in supporting this alternative because there could be significant consequences if too many people begin to abuse specific drugs if they become legal. Policymakers must be cautious of their efforts to legalize marijuana and other substances as the only alternative to reduce drug-related crime.

On the other side of the spectrum, the full prohibition of all substances as illegal, including the potential prohibition of alcohol, would be a disastrous means of addressing the drug problem, as this option would not alleviate crime and would likely expand it to even higher levels. The full prohibition of all drugs would continue to expand the crime rate and would likely have a negative impact on society and on many communities beyond reproach, thereby creating an environment where safety may be at risk for all age groups. This scenario is less than desirable and does not hold any weight in attempting to understand the scope and breadth of the drug problem. Therefore, it is important to develop a strategy that will enhance community interaction and support rather than to detract from these conditions and wreak even greater havoc on society as a whole, particularly if the prohibition of alcohol was ever considered as a feasible option for states.

Harm reduction is another alternative that is available in order to alleviate some of the most severe consequences of drug use for users throughout society, and this option possesses significant merit because of the serious impact of drug use on millions of people. Countless stories in the media focus on the acts and misdeeds of individuals classified as drug addicts who not only pose a serious risk to themselves, but also to their friends, family members, and even strangers. These activities are detrimental to their lives and may lead to fatal consequences. Therefore, harm reduction must continue to demand a greater focus throughout society and represent an opportunity to examine the different constructs of drug use and addiction as a serious health problem with lifelong complications. It is not surprising that organizations dedicated to rehabilitation and other factors continue to increase in scope and size across all states due to the massive drug addiction problem that exists; furthermore, these complications pose a serious threat to families and individuals who require intense rehabilitation and therapy to overcome their addictions. This process requires an ongoing effort to consider methods of improving and expanding harm reduction programs also for those persons who have better control over their addictions and are able to benefit from therapeutic interventions. This method, however, is not sufficient in its own right; therefore, a combined approach of different policies to combat the drug problem is most likely to achieve the greatest level of success for individuals who require drug treatment and who are involved with drugs in other ways that impact their lives on a larger scale.

Conclusion

The drug problem in the United States continues to impact society in significant ways that are difficult to overcome without serious changes to policy at the federal and state levels. However, the primary options for managing drugs, including decriminalization, legalization, harm reduction, and prohibition, do not solve the problem individually due to its far reach and expanded scope. Therefore, it is more important than ever to recognize the value of expanding knowledge to ensure that organizations are able to manage the resources that they are given to ensure that the sale of drugs and drug use will experience a decline in communities throughout the United States for the foreseeable future. These efforts require an ongoing effort from law enforcement, educators, counselors, family members, and the criminal justice system to enable Americans to experience less of an impact from drug use and abuse in its current state. Most importantly, one single method will not solve the problem in its entirety; rather, several concurrent methods should be considered as a means of developing new strategies for growth that have a positive impact on community-based and individual outcomes, along with an increased level of control in reducing crime and in supporting the needs of drug users and abusers throughout their lives.

References

Eredely, S.R. (2014). The entrapment of Jesse Snodgrass. Retrieved from http://m.rollingstone.com/culture/news/the-entrapment-of-jesse-snodgrass-20140226

Goode, E. (1999). Drugs in American Society. McGraw-Hill College.

Markon, J. (2014). U.S. drug war slowly shifts fire away from low-level users. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/us-drug-war-slowly-shifts-fire-away-from-low-level-users/2014/03/30/7e8a353a-b461-11e3-b899-20667de76985_story.html