Argument of Decriminalization of Drugs

Arguments to the degree of why drugs should be decriminalized (Legalized) are referenced in the textbook "Crimes And Justice In America'. One of the elements to this degree is that "Drug Use Is A Health Issue, Not A Crime Issue". It states that drug use, like alcoholism, is best to be treated in a medical, moral, and psychological accompaniment. To reduce drug use, it will require the use of treatment services, aftercare services, in addition to the establishment of generally a more healthy and less restricted social atmosphere. Subjecting drug users to a criminal order and its accompanying environment will only make the problem worse and reduce the chances of the users stopping on their own.

I think that there is a better chance of rehabilitation for a drug user if they are sent to jail/under court supervision. If someone is in jail they have no way of getting any drugs. No one wants to have the symptoms of withdraw. People may not even be willing to seek help for their problems. What is the success rate for someone in treatment? Even if someone gets treatment, there is always that chance of taking on the bad habit again. Not a lot of people like jail. When someone is faced with being in jail, they soon realize that what they did was not worth it and often turn their lives around for the better. Even if someone is in treatment, there is still a very good chance that they can relapse. For example the nicotine patches, or gum. Even though it gives you the same effect of a cigarette it is not the same thing as a cigarette. When people have been smoking, or in this case using drugs for such a long time, it is extremely difficult to adhere to any treatment, regardless what it might be. "The best way to reduce the overall demand for illicit drugs is to reduce the number of chronic, hard core drug users". (P 595/Chapter 15). "To accomplish this communities, jails, and prisons must provide effective drug treatment". People are going to do what they want as long as they have they opportunity to do it. No one will quit their bad habits until either their life is threatened, or they no longer have access to it. In jail, you have no choice but to quit. You will have a long time to think about all the bad things that happened to people that you perhaps seen on TV who used drug's illegally, or people in the obituaries from the jail newspaper's, etc. You can't say, oh it won't happen to me, I believe it's when you say that, that is exactly when you are faced with a similar situation. When someone is taking drug's they are not exactly thinking clearly enough to realize that they have a problem and they need help. Some people if not many feel embarrassed, or intimidated to seek professional assistance.

Jail does more good then bad for user's, it teaches them how they can get by in a more positive way, then when they are under the influence. They will get a sense of well being and realize that their lives could be so much better and that there are a lot of things out there that will provide them with so much more then drugs ever could. The prison systems have educational systems that the inmate can take advantage of. In addition there is therapy to help get their lives back on track before they defaulted. There are also work-release programs, where prisoners can find work on the outside, or inside of the prison. When the prison translates into the working world hopefully they will see that the work life has more benefits to it. They will in addition come to a realization that they you further then they could there then they ever could get in the negative world that they are in. Companies perform drug test on their potential hires and when a drug user doesn't get a job for that reason, that may shed some light on the fact that they need to change. Often time's inmates will take advantage of the programs mentioned in order to get freedom from their cell. Even though some may step into the programs just for that reason the information tends to still stick in their brains. They will have no choice but to adhere to the information they receive due to the fact that their freedom/activities are restricted allowing them to focus on it.

When one does go into withdraw due to the restriction of drugs it would scare them to the highest degree and they will learn that drugs aren't something that they really want to be a part of. This is especially effective if during the withdraw they draw close to death. It is a part of the jail personnel's job to observe the inmates closely in order to prevent them from obtaining drugs in fact. The inmates during withdraw are observed to enforce safety to the degree of making sure that the prisoner's don't self-impose harm. If the prisoner's withdraw is overbearing to the prison physician, they are sent temporarily to a hospital. On their own they may not consent to this. The prisoners have more resources available for rehabilitation then they would at some private outside treatment facility in prison. There are positive peers, counselors, and church session, right at their fingertips. There would be a restriction on where they could go to get help in the outside world especially if they are so bad off that they can not move on their own, function properly, or have no one to depend on.

When it comes to the "Drug Court' which is basically a court for drug offenses, there are many options that the court has as an alternative to jail such as mandatory supervised therapy sessions. There is also on-going case management, urinalysis testing, a system of grated sanctions, the provision of ancillary treatment related services, and after care. Offenders undergo long term treatment through the drug court. If the offender successfully completes his sentence, the charges can be reduced, set aside, or even dropped. It can even be a combination of them. If the offender does not comply with their sentence they are sanctioned (penalized). In 2001 the "Annual Report of the US Office of National Drug Control Policy" stated that drug courts have been an important part of diverting criminals of a non-violent nature with drug problems into treatment and other community resources in connection. This leaves the criminal justice system to address violent acts. The "Office Of National Drug Control Policy" (ONDCP) further in detail maintained that the drug courts provide closer supervision than other treatment programs out there. Also the "ONDCP" quoted that the drug courts substantially reduced drug use and criminal behavior among participants of the court system.

People sentenced from this court will free up some room for violent, predatory criminals. "To increase treatment capacity, state and local officials must more effectively use available treatment funds to direct drug users to treatment". "The criminal justice system must use the sanctions at its disposal to provide treatment to as many chronic, hard-core users under their authority as possible". The court system, as well as the correctional system must use their power to convince drug users to "clean up their act" to the fullest extent possible for the benefit of all citizens. "Studies have shown that when drug addicts within the criminal justice system receive effective treatment, they commit fewer crimes; in turn Americans enjoy safer streets and neighborhoods." The "Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement act of 1994" (Crime Control Act) formalizes the connection between criminal justice and the treatment systems and empowers judges to be able to use a wide range of treatment and punishments. The ONDCP will pursue a range of research priorities which includes 6 concepts. 1) The development of effective recruitment and retention strategies(that is, ways to direct those who need treatment to enter and stay in treatment. 2) The enhancement of outcome studies comparing various modalities of treatment. 3) Rigorous evaluation of behavioral and counseling approaches. 4) Development, testing, and dissemination of specialized treatment interventions for such populations as adolescents, women, and minorities. 5) Pharmacological research focusing on the development of new medications for cocaine and heroin addiction. 6) Investigation of the integration of behavioral and pharmacological approaches to treatment.

In conclusion the criminal justice system in my eyes is constantly coming up with new ideas to deal with this particular problem, where as the outside treatment facilities are limited on what they can do. I feel someone has a better chance of being fully rehabilitated through the system, then any other source. The criminal justice system has more experience than I believe anyone else out there. I feel that they should continue to be the one's to fight the problem.

References:
"Crimes And Justice In America" , Leonard Territo, James B. Halsted, Max L. Bromley