Kristof How To Win A War On Drugs Summary
Critical Review of How to Win a War on Drugs
Drug abuse, especially in the United States, is a huge issue that affects many people and their families. In the article How to Win a War on Drugs, the author Nicholas Kristof explores the idea of how the United States should adopt the decriminalization of all drugs, like Portugal. Currently in the US having possession of, or distribution of illegal drugs is considered a crime under federal laws which can result in criminal prosecution. However, in Portugal possession of all drugs under a ten day supply is decriminalized, meaning there are no legal repercussions for possession. Kristof goes on to say Portugal “unleashed a major public health campaign to tackle addiction”. Kristof explains …show more content…
how in Portugal users are supplied with clean needles in order to prevent the spread of harmful diseases such as HIV. He also goes on to explain how though decriminalizing the use of narcotics in the United States will not end overdoses and spread of diseases completely, it can decrease the numbers substantially.
In the article Nicholas Kristof states “It’s not a miracle or perfect solution. But if the U.S. could achieve Portugal’s death rate from drugs, we would save almost as many lives as are now lost to guns and car accidents combined.” In saying this, he makes a very good point. Even if the number of narcotic users does not diminish completely, the decrease will have a great impact on the overall well being of many lives. In Portugal The Health Ministry estimates that only about 25,000 Portuguese use heroin, down from 100,000 when the policy began. Kristof, throughout the article, speaks about how this would be a change the United States “failed drug policy” is in desperate need of.
Nicholas Kristof goes on to explain how there was one crucial mistake that the United States made and Portugal did not, which was the adopting of prescription opioid painkillers for routine use. Portugal was often scolded for their policies, but it is now seem as a model today on winning the war on drugs. In the article Kristof explains how many are attracted to the Portuguese approach because it is much cheaper than what the US has in place today. While the United States cracked down on drug users, spending millions of dollars incarcerating them, Portugal unleashed their major public health campaign in order to tackle addiction. In Portugal “the Health Ministry spends less than $10 per citizen per year on its successful drug policy. Meanwhile the U.S. has spent some $10,000 per household… over decades on a failed drug policy.When dealing with addicts in Portugal giving them an offense is very rare, their main strategy is to intervene with counseling or other help and assistance. Kristof makes a good point in his argument. Adapting to Portugal’s laws could be extremely beneficial to the United States. It could save many lives, and a great deal of money.
One of Kristof’s main concerns throughout the article is public health.
The Health Ministry targets the areas in Portugal where the use of illegal drugs is more abundant, and supplies clean needles to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. They also go around talking to people, and encouraging treatment. Kristof acknowledges that the Portuguese model is not perfect. In both the United States and Portugal methadone is offered as a safer, and more controlled alternative to heroin and other harmful drugs. “The Portuguese model isn’t as effective as we might hope - but it occured to me that is America Mario might well be dead.” Mario is living in Portugal that the author met. He has been using heroin since age 14. He was not open to the idea of using methadone as an alternative to heroin, even though it was readily available to him. This goes on to show that even if drugs in the US were decriminalized it may not be all to effective which Kristof points out in his article. Also Kristof explains how addiction should be treated as what it is, a chronic disease, and require medical care rather than punishment. “After all, we don’t just tell diabetics get over it.” In saying that, he could open a lot of eyes to others, and broaden people’s opinions on drug addiction. This in time could lead to better, more effective drug policies in the United
States.
Overall Nicholas Kristof’s point is very clear. He makes sure the reader knows that even though the decriminalization of drugs doesn’t work perfectly there is proof pointing towards its success. This new policy could save the United States a lot of money, and increase the overall well being of public health. Portugal offers many programs and easily accessible ways for people struggling with addiction to get help. If implemented in the United States it could make a great change, which Kristof made clear throughout his article.
Drug abuse, especially in the United States, is a huge issue that affects many people and their families. In the article How to Win a War on Drugs, the author Nicholas Kristof explores the idea of how the United States should adopt the decriminalization of all drugs, like Portugal. Currently in the US having possession of, or distribution of illegal drugs is considered a crime under federal laws which can result in criminal prosecution. However, in Portugal possession of all drugs under a ten day supply is decriminalized, meaning there are no legal repercussions for possession. Kristof goes on to say Portugal “unleashed a major public health campaign to tackle addiction”. Kristof explains …show more content…
how in Portugal users are supplied with clean needles in order to prevent the spread of harmful diseases such as HIV. He also goes on to explain how though decriminalizing the use of narcotics in the United States will not end overdoses and spread of diseases completely, it can decrease the numbers substantially.
In the article Nicholas Kristof states “It’s not a miracle or perfect solution. But if the U.S. could achieve Portugal’s death rate from drugs, we would save almost as many lives as are now lost to guns and car accidents combined.” In saying this, he makes a very good point. Even if the number of narcotic users does not diminish completely, the decrease will have a great impact on the overall well being of many lives. In Portugal The Health Ministry estimates that only about 25,000 Portuguese use heroin, down from 100,000 when the policy began. Kristof, throughout the article, speaks about how this would be a change the United States “failed drug policy” is in desperate need of.
Nicholas Kristof goes on to explain how there was one crucial mistake that the United States made and Portugal did not, which was the adopting of prescription opioid painkillers for routine use. Portugal was often scolded for their policies, but it is now seem as a model today on winning the war on drugs. In the article Kristof explains how many are attracted to the Portuguese approach because it is much cheaper than what the US has in place today. While the United States cracked down on drug users, spending millions of dollars incarcerating them, Portugal unleashed their major public health campaign in order to tackle addiction. In Portugal “the Health Ministry spends less than $10 per citizen per year on its successful drug policy. Meanwhile the U.S. has spent some $10,000 per household… over decades on a failed drug policy.When dealing with addicts in Portugal giving them an offense is very rare, their main strategy is to intervene with counseling or other help and assistance. Kristof makes a good point in his argument. Adapting to Portugal’s laws could be extremely beneficial to the United States. It could save many lives, and a great deal of money.
One of Kristof’s main concerns throughout the article is public health.
The Health Ministry targets the areas in Portugal where the use of illegal drugs is more abundant, and supplies clean needles to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. They also go around talking to people, and encouraging treatment. Kristof acknowledges that the Portuguese model is not perfect. In both the United States and Portugal methadone is offered as a safer, and more controlled alternative to heroin and other harmful drugs. “The Portuguese model isn’t as effective as we might hope - but it occured to me that is America Mario might well be dead.” Mario is living in Portugal that the author met. He has been using heroin since age 14. He was not open to the idea of using methadone as an alternative to heroin, even though it was readily available to him. This goes on to show that even if drugs in the US were decriminalized it may not be all to effective which Kristof points out in his article. Also Kristof explains how addiction should be treated as what it is, a chronic disease, and require medical care rather than punishment. “After all, we don’t just tell diabetics get over it.” In saying that, he could open a lot of eyes to others, and broaden people’s opinions on drug addiction. This in time could lead to better, more effective drug policies in the United
States.
Overall Nicholas Kristof’s point is very clear. He makes sure the reader knows that even though the decriminalization of drugs doesn’t work perfectly there is proof pointing towards its success. This new policy could save the United States a lot of money, and increase the overall well being of public health. Portugal offers many programs and easily accessible ways for people struggling with addiction to get help. If implemented in the United States it could make a great change, which Kristof made clear throughout his article.