Argumentative Essay On Substance Abuse

Being thrown in jails and institutions has proven over the years to be an ineffective treatment of substance abuse. Clearly there is an issue with the judicial system and its policies regarding addiction. Although the legal system has clear guidelines for punishments, it is still left to the addict to seek out resources to rehabilitate from drugs. Everyone should be very concerned by the staggering statistic of 129 deaths a day from drug overdoses. American’s should not ignore the fact that it is unlikely that drugs will disappear from this country all together, as has been the goal of the government since 1914. Luckily there is harm reduction and rehabilitation which have proven to be effective in other countries, such as Portugal according to statistics from the Drug Policy Alliance. When Americans are found by authorities in possession of drugs they are thrown in jail to be punished by the outdated system. There is little evidence that these punishments are discouraging individuals from repeating the same behaviors. Americans are turning their heads from to this issue instead of talking about what could be done to keep the numbers from rising. Let America live in the solution and not just sit in the problem.
In 2000 Portugal decriminalized
Repeated instances of violence and theft by addicts has left society believing that anyone caught either using or in possession of any illegal substance must be criminally punished. If America decriminalized the possession of illicit substances, many inmates in jails, crimes would then unpunishable by law. America already deals with a homeless problem, there is no way all inmates would sustain from use upon release. Which would then create an unsafe environment. The offender would find themselves in survival mode, and be back to his or hers’ old ways in no time, creating a vicious