Examples Of Pervasive Criminalization

Pervasive Criminalization: No matter what they do these poverty-stricken drug users will always be seen as criminals. Even if they are trying to get themselves clean with the help of clinics people will call them criminals and the cops will be present “just in case.” Personal possessions, like vehicles, are seized and damaged during drug searches. Often, they end up in in jail due to the free medical attention and warm beds there.

Punitive Medicalization: Treatment for this disease requires medicines to wean people of the drug and disciplinary action. Doctors see it as a disease that needs a medical approach as well as punishment from the law. However, on the other side prosecutors and law enforcement refused to see them as sick people. They felt as if this took away the accountability of the drug users. The author stated that “criminalization and medication are complementary.” They are both needed for the effective treatment of opiate users.
One example of objective evidence would be the DCF’s report that the increase by 40% of children being removed from their families is because of the opiates. Another example is the fact that the percentage of white males in prisons increased by 19% in rural counties between 2004 and 2014. Some of the more subjective evidence in this piece would be the statements from the law enforces their views of the opiate users. The cops have seen first-hand the crimes being committed and because it is their job to stop them the police will always be biased. Additionally, the evidence about how bad the living conditions, and to what degree the cops destroyed the users’ cars during searched is the opinion of the author, not a