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Debate on Decriminalization of Drugs

Every year, more than a million drug-related arrests happen in the United States - the

majority of which are only for illegal possession. The continent’s war on drugs has brought in

a massive number of incarceration, with millions of Americans claiming to have been

marginalized during the process. With strict enforcement of drug-related laws that lead to an

unprecedented volume of incarceration, is American really able to reduce the problems in

drug use?

Some people may argue that the United States’ existing treatment system is not

adequate enough to accommodate the constantly rising number of drug addicts, let alone

accept more numbers once decriminalization creates an increased street supply. Those who

also have the tendencies or biological inclination toward drug use are usually the young

individuals from problematic families (SAMHSA 2017). They may experiment with drug use

since the consequences are not severe. Moreover, the seemingly lenient concept of

decriminalization worries a lot of people that it may eventually lead to legalization, which

could only worsen the existing situation. While these arguments are considerably reasonable,

there is a need to clarify the spectrum of decriminalization, and why it could be the answer to

America’s long-running problem to drug addiction.

Drug users are often deemed as a plague to society; once an individual is arrested or

incarcerated over drug possession or usage, he will have a criminal record that may

perpetually damage his personal progress, considering the stigma that goes with being a drug

addict or a former convict. Yet we fail to address how addiction is potentially a health

problem instead of a mere violent crime (Drug Policy Alliance). More than the criminal

penalties that are associated with drug use or possession, there should be a series of

alternative, health-related responses including therapies that are designed to help rehabilitate,

or possibly help suppress, their yearning for illegal drugs.

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Works Cited

Drug Policy Alliance. Drug Decriminalization, 2020,

https://drugpolicy.org/issues/drug-decriminalization. Accessed 29 Nov. 2020.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Children Living with Parents

Who Have a Sustance Use Disorder, 2017.

https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/report_3223/ShortReport-3223.html.

Accessed 29 Nov. 2020