Jason Caplin

Humanities Am
Jessica McCallum
October 27th, 2016

I Controversy
Part 2
Core Question: Is the criminalization of drugs in America the best way to deal with the issue?
What is a drug? Can we compare pharmaceutical and leisurely drugs? Are people who
enjoy a cup of coffee everyday addicts? There is a huge misconception around drugs and the
conditions surrounding them. The typical points of discussion concerning drugs includes, but is
not limited to, the deadbeat stoner just waiting for the next fix, the homeless man who sold his
life for heroin, or maybe the at-risk teen who is just waiting to f*** their life up starting with taking
random drugs at a party. That's not the whole picture. There are many people who have been
addicted to drugs for years who are contributing members to society: doctors, lawyers, teachers,
entrepreneurs etc. and the peoples lives who they touch every day may never know. Scientists
have also been releasing studies that show the genetics in certain people lead them to develop
habitual addiction. So why is there this misconception around drugs? It is because of the way
drug users are perceived and dealt with.
Around the world, drugs have been used both culturally and medicinally. Including in the
Americas. Moreover, some drugs that are considered legal are much worse both physically and
mentally, such as tobacco and alcohol, especially when compared to drugs like marijuana and
LSD. A major concern with the criminalization of drugs and incarcerating people due to drugs is
that it isnt helping anyone. The addict, if it was severe enough for them to be thrown in jail, will
most of the time take consolation in drugs once they're released. The US needs to reform drug
policy and decriminalize some drugs due to the fact that certain people are genetically adept to
becoming addicts, the conception of some illegal drugs are much worse than legal ones today,
incarcerating addicts doesnt help anyone, and people shouldn't have their professional life
hindered due to a mistake in their youth.
As seen in society today, there are accommodations for people who have a factor that
may hinder their ability to be normal, such as down syndrome, intolerance to Lactose, inability
to walk, dyslexia, or ADD / ADHD. No one holds these personal deficits against the person,
because it is who they are, they cant change their genetic make up. So why isnt that applicable
to addiction? It was in 2011 that UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said at World Drug Report
launch, Drug-dependent people should not be treated with discrimination; they should be
treated by medical experts and counsellors. Drug addiction is a disease, not a crime. In some
but not all cases, the addict doesnt have a choice of whether or not they develop a habitual
addiction. Their brains work differently when they come in contact with mind numbing chemicals
that make you high. They physically become dependant on their next fix, they need that
chemical balance, all the same that a diabetic may need insulin. It is unjust to incarcerate
someone because of the way their brain works, not thinks, but physiologically works.

Another aspect of this issue that needs to be addressed is the factual comparison of
drugs, and how they affect you both mentally and physically. Alcohol is much worse for your
brain and body compared to other drugs like weed. Both in long term effects and short term
effects. Not only does it make you black out, but your body repulses the presence of it, it is
essentially poison. It deteriorates your liver to the point of failure and can cause acute kidney
and or liver disease, and eventually total organ shutdown. Yet, it is an extremely legal drug in
the sense it is easily accessible for anyone to get, especially if you are over 21. However, this
lethal liquid is one of the most widely used and accepted drugs in America, making appearances
in media on a daily basis. Drugfreeworld is an online association that very heavily studies drugs,
they state, Painkillers, depressants, antidepressants and alcohol are responsible for more
overdose deaths in the United States than cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and
amphetamines combined. Because alcohol and pain pills are legal, alcoholics and opiate are
held to a different standard than other types of addiction, when most cases are more severe
than other drug situations. It is important that this double standard of addiction is addressed,
and for people to have factual knowledge on the severity of different types of drugs.
In America today, there are a couple of conflicting views on the way we should deal with
criminals, especially in jail. The main argument is whether we exercise rehabilitation or
retribution, retribution being when you rot in jail for your choices and rehabilitation is where you
do community service or something along those lines to retribute to and for the better of society
for your choices. The average cost of a prisoner in America is 30,000 plus annually, and for a
tenth of the cost, those struggling individuals could get the help they need to kick their addiction
and if they weren't already, bring them to a place where they can contribute to society. James
Gilligan, a clinical professor of psychiatry and an adjunct professor of law at New York
University, stated in an article in the New York Times, The only rational purpose for a prison is
to restrain those who are violent, while we help them to change their behavior and return to the
community, he went on to say theres a difference between "punishment" and "restraint."
Punishment is the infliction of pain on a criminal, which only teaches them to inflict pain on
others. Restraint is more nuanced it involves separating offenders from society, but in a place
with the therapies (like psychotherapy, substance abuse treatment) to help them get better as
future members of the community. This more cost and time effective system need to be
implemented to actually help those caught in the grasp of addiction.
How many of you have ever tried taking tequila shots or smoking joints in high school or
college? The answer should be most if not all. Experimentation is part of life. In life you push
your boundaries and try new things to find out who you are and to enjoy the miniscule amount of
time we each have in this life. The best way to avoid anything it to abstain from it, that's not a
viable option or goal for most, and those who dont experiment while they are younger typically
try too much too fast and end up in a negative situation. So a minor drinking or smoking at a
party, while camping or in the safety of their home should not be prosecuted by the law, or at
least with the system in place today. The effects drug policies have on children are devastating.
Today, 1.6 million children have a father in prison and 200,000 children have a mother in prison.
Black children are nearly 9 times more likely, and Latino children 3 times more likely to have a
parent in prison than white children. Of the 41,731,233 youth in America today, 147,000 have

been incarcerated for drug related offenses of the 389,000 arrested for drug related crimes.
Children, too, are trapped within the criminal justice system. Though youth of all races use and
sell drugs at similar rates, minority youth represent 60% to 75% of drug arrests today. In fact,
black youth are incarcerated 25 times the rate of white youth; Latino youth, 13 times the rate of
their white counterparts ( Moral Issues that Divide Us and Applied Ethics: A Sourcebook, Drugs,
James Fieser). You cant label someone with a MIP or possession of paraphernalia, put them in
the system with the requirement of a fine and court or incarceration and have that with them for
life when their brains are just developing. Clearly, something needs to be done to the drug policy
surrounding youth because it isnt setting them up for success, but breaking them down further
and is skewed across racial lines.
Ultimately, these may not be the best steps for this issue, but this issue needs to be addressed
due to the gravity of the problem itself and the misconceptions around it. This issue isnt limited
to domestic policy either, America needs to take grand steps towards a more factual and
intellectual approach on this issue. The US needs to reform drug policy and decriminalize some
drugs due to the fact that certain people are genetically adept to becoming addicts, the
conception of some illegal drugs are much worse than legal ones today, incarcerating addicts
doesnt help anyone, and people shouldn't have their professional life hindered due to a mistake
in their youth.

Works Cited
Feiser, James. "Drugs (The Practice of Morality)." Drugs (The Practice of Morality). Moral Issues
That Divide Us and Applied Ethics: A Sourcebook, 1 Jan. 2015. Web. 18 Nov. 2016.
World, Drug Free. "Watch Truth About Drugs Documentary Video & Learn About Substance
Addiction. Get The Facts About Painkillers, Marijuana, Cocaine, Meth & Other Illegal Drugs."
Foundation for a Drug-Free World. NonProfit, 25 June 2006. Web. 18 Nov. 2016.
Jamenson, Bridget M. "Favorable Effects of Imprisoning Drug Offenders." Favorable Effects of
Imprisoning Drug Offenders. National Bureau of Economic Research, 24 Sept. 2008. Web. 18
Nov. 2016.
Miller, Karen A. "The Argument Against Addiction as a Disease." Orchid Recovery Center. Orchid
Recovery Center, 17 Oct. 2011. Web. 18 Nov. 2016.