As the semester quickly approaches I have another question for you all..... I have some opinions on this but kind of want to hear your opinions first......

As always I dont want to offend anyone with my questions.... but I am curious.

If you were in charge.......

What would you do about the "drug problem" in the US? If you could think about societal change (remember I am a Professor of Sociology, thus a Sociologist) how would you change or adjust the societal view of drug offences? Do you think that we are on the right track? Do you think that drug offences are a serious problem and we are treating them correctly or incorrectly? Do you think that drug offences are victimless and we are spending to much time focusing on incarceration and punishment and less time on rehab? Does it even matter?

The other question is whether incarceration works? is it helping a person to hit that proverbial "rock bottom" so they decide to really look at their lives and get help? or is it really just perpetuating the problem?

would love to hear your thoughts.
M

Hi milbrose,
I think the society is wrong to punish the use of drugs. Selling them is maybe another story, but let´s focus on the users here.
People come to drugs for all kinds of reasons, but these are most likely certain problems with life, society, themselves. So I think users should get a rehab (as far as this is possible, since rehab is only successfull if the user wants to be clean) and no punishment. Many cannot quit although they´d like to live without drugs. Help would be needed, no punishment.
See it as a desease!! We don´t punish the HIV positive (by law) for not having safer sex, or taking better care so why punish those for a weak moment of the other kind. It is an addiction. Can an addiction be a crime? I don´t think so.
Where I come from, using is no crime. Possession of drugs is no crime as long as its obviously just one dose for self-consume. The laws are strict, but things won´t get punished though.
The heroine users can get into a program for methadone and can get it legally from certain welfare locations. Also free clean needles and stuff.
Prison doesn´t help the users. Some are clean for a few years, but most fall back into old habits once they are free again, since the way they think about drugs didn´t change at all.
Just my 2 cents here, I´m social worker and have bachelor´s degree in social education, right now busy getting my master´s degree.
Drugs are not my kind of business, so this is just my opinion looking at using friends and ex-fiance.

Hi milbrose,
I think the society is wrong to punish the use of drugs. Selling them is maybe another story, but let´s focus on the users here.
People come to drugs for all kinds of reasons, but these are most likely certain problems with life, society, themselves. So I think users should get a rehab (as far as this is possible, since rehab is only successfull if the user wants to be clean) and no punishment. Many cannot quit although they´d like to live without drugs. Help would be needed, no punishment.
See it as a desease!! We don´t punish the HIV positive (by law) for not having safer sex, or taking better care so why punish those for a weak moment of the other kind. It is an addiction. Can an addiction be a crime? I don´t think so.
Where I come from, using is no crime. Possession of drugs is no crime as long as its obviously just one dose for self-consume. The laws are strict, but things won´t get punished though.
The heroine users can get into a program for methadone and can get it legally from certain welfare locations. Also free clean needles and stuff.
Prison doesn´t help the users. Some are clean for a few years, but most fall back into old habits once they are free again, since the way they think about drugs didn´t change at all.
Just my 2 cents here, I´m social worker and have bachelor´s degree in social education, right now busy getting my master´s degree.
Drugs are not my kind of business, so this is just my opinion looking at using friends and ex-fiance.

Congratulations on getting your Masters.... that is wonderful......

but what about all of the offshoot crime that occurs when their are drugs in an area..... ??? are the drugs the problem? are the users the problem? or is the way our society is set up to criminalize the process really the problem? Is poverty and lack of education really the problem..... do the drugs cause poverty or is drug use a symptom of poverty.....

its that proverbial chicken and egg thing..... is drug use a symptom of other issues.... mental health issues.... and then what do you treat. Does a person really have to hit rock bottom in order to get treatment and are we helping them get to that point by incarceration. Although it appears that Robert Downey Jr. and Courtney Love haven't spent to much time incarcerated for their drug use. Perhaps another example of how society actually works to keep the underclass the underclass?

just some thoughts .
m

I won't say that incarceration works for everyone; in fact I'd rather see more prevention and treatment than putting people away only to go back into the drug world. But my jail time was a healing/cleansing/experience, as valuable to my own recovery as my treatment was; but making it that was a conscious effort on my part and I was already 4 mos. sober when I went in. It could be beneficial to more inmates if there was more AA & NA inside--something we might ll try to advocate for. Best wishes.

I believe that drug use creates poverty not the other way around. I have seen too many people with really great jobs and all the opportunities in life throw everything away for drugs. The reason famous people aren't getting the prison terms less weathy people get is probably because the have the financial means to support their addiction therefor they don't have to resort to criminal behavior to get the money.
A lot of people don't have to hit rock bottom to decide it's time for a change and try to get clean. Some do but who is to say what "rock bottom" is. For me it would be far worse to be filthy and homeless than to be in prison. (I can only assume since I have been neither)
I have a theory on the rise of drug use and addiction in our society (only a personal theory from observation). Although drug use and abuse has gone on for ages the severety of the problem has been directly related to the increased lifestyle and comfort levels we desire. It seems to me that the percentage of drug users has risen proportionately with the number of dual working families and single mothers. The desire for the "good things" (2 cars, bigger houses, etc) has taken importance over raising our kids to be responsible adults. Theres more to my theory but I think you get the picture.

Drug abuse is a symptom of pain. I don't not do crack or meth because it's illegal and therefore unavailable, I don't do it because, imperfect as I am, I HAVE A LIFE that I like. I don't think prohibition and punishment are ever going to solve the underlying causes. They just raise the costs(and the profits). And I think in some ways young people suffer because drug use is illegal and therefore makes you an "outlaw," which has glamor, instead of just being pitiable.
People self-medicate for all kinds of reasons. Certain psychoactive substances will get you locked up for years, while others are peddled on TV. And the desire for "good things"- consumerism, whatever- has not only taken over child rearing, it has taken over our entire culture. I actually prefer some of the dopers I've known to people who are chasing the almighty dollar. They may not have had it together enough to sit Zen meditation for thirty years but their longings were for something besides power, control, and material goods...some type of elusive bliss that substances would never bring them either.
A beloved friend of mine used to talk about the concept of the barroom as the chapel. He died of an overdose at 32, a long time ago now. I feel that the emphasis on punishment clouds some very real issues that we need to be trying to understand, not sweep under the collective rug of consciousness.

YOu asked if we think inccarceration helps a person. Well my ex boyfriend now thought that being locked up made him relaize that it was time to move on and stop using but he failed he used while at work release and got locked back up in prison for having a half a joint on him. (before it was pills that had him hooked but whatever he could get a hold of that would help him forget about reality is fine with him) So being locked up so far hasn't helped Mike at all. Instead they tell him he has bipolar and has him on meds for it. Now he is using this exuse for his addiction the bipolar that is and still isn't dealing with the reason why he even uses. (he has been using since age 14)
but another guy that I write S. who was bad into drugs on the run from the law and all that. Is doing a lot better he said him going to prison worked for him but he went to SAP and NA meetings and got his GED and is now taking courses to better himself in a trade.Mike done none of this it was offered to him NA SAP and other programs but he didn't go even the guy I write S tried to get him to go to them but Mike wouldn't, Mike didn't get his GED or take a trade class either so just cause they offer it don't mean everyone will get the help they need. The other guy S. is doing his best and said he hit bottom and is a lot better now. So these two men are reacting diffently to being locked up. My thought is it all depends on if the person wants the lock up to help them or not just like rehab if they don't want it to help they won't get the help.

Alot of drug addicts, as soon as they get into jail or prison, get prescribed anti depressants. This only prolongs the problem and some of those antidepressants can make a person stoned. I've seen this with my own eyes. I've seen inmates to barely walk but when they call "pill line", these people run to the pill line. As long as they still get drugs in jail/prison then those places are not the answer.

I understand totally what you are sayin Alan1969 I think that is what Mike is doing using the antis to get his fix but his mom says oh no he needs them blah blah. I think some prisons just give them the meds that is to the inmates so they will be calmer and easier to deal with. I don't want to offend anyone by that comment it is just my thoughts since they dediced Mike need the meds and I have heard of so many others going to prison and getting antis and dealing with their high that way. ANyways I am not trying to upset anyone.

I'm not sure if you're referring to anti-depressants when you say anti, but one cannot get high on anti-depressants. Unless you actually mean anti-anxiety meds such as Xanax, Valium, and other benzodiazapines...and hell yes you can get "stoned" on those. I speak from experience...my son ODed on Xanax. C Mom