UNIT 1- Drug Abuse
Professor:
March 24, 2007
Violent crimes are very rampant in our everyday society. It’s very rare that you see the evening news without any reports about crime and violence. It’s been said that one of the major factors of the continuous soaring of crime rates is the rampant usage of illegal drugs. Drug trafficking is no longer a new matter to the society. It’s been existing since the rebirth of drug use in the sixties. What’s really shocking is the youth’s constant involvement and dependence on drugs. Many of the crimes committed which are drug-related are often involving juveniles, or even young adults.
It is funny that illegal drugs are now very often used by our fellow citizens as “de-stressors”, or to alleviate whatever psychological or social stress they are going through, whereas before, these drugs were primarily used as medication. Early on, the Chinese immigrants had brought the habit of smoking opium when they were digging railways. Drug use was very accessible back then, it was sold even as cough syrup. During the 1940’s and 1950’s, drug use was at its ebb, even though large importations of heroin to the US were slowly growing. ( 1991; and 1991). But on the 1960’s, drug use found a revival in young adults. According to a survey, the proportion of the population
reporting having used marijuana increased from 4 to 24 percent, and the heroin
addict population grew from 50,000 to 500,000 ( 1978). Also, with the increase of drug use was also an increase on drug related crimes. It was also found that most of the drug users and assaulters were middle-class youths. That rise of drug use and crime triggered the government to declare war on drugs. Following that was a number of legislations that also tried to help remove illegal drugs from the society and away from young people. According to a newspaper report, “nearly half (48%) of all men arrested for homicide and assault, test positive for drugs at the time of their arrest.” (, 1994)
Here we have a table showing the different relationships of drug use and crime.
Drugs and Crime relationship
Definition
Example
Drug-defined offenses
Violation of laws prohibiting or regulating the use, possession, distribution or manufacture of drugs.
Drug possession or use. Marijuana cultivation. Methamphetamine production. Cocaine, heroin or marijuana sales.
Drug-related offenses
Offenses in which a drug’s pharmacologic effects contribute; offenses made by the user’s need for money to support continued use; and offenses connected to drug use itself.
Violent behavior resulting from drug effects. Stealing to get money to buy drugs. Violence against rival drug dealers.
Drug-using lifestyle
Drug use and crime are common aspects of a deviant lifestyle. The likelihood and frequency of involvement in illegal activity is increased because drug users may not participate in the legitimate economy and are exposed to situations that encourage crime.
A life orientation with emphasis on short term goals supported by illegal activities. Opportunities to offend resulting from contacts with offenders in illegal markets. Criminal skills learned from other offenders.
(Source: , 1994, )
Here is yet another table showing the relationship of drug use and crime rate.
Table 1. Criminal behavior and substance use among 18- to 49-year-olds, 1991 provisional data
Criminal Activity
Percent reporting alcohol and drug abuse in the past year
Alcohol, cannabis and cocaine*
Alcohol and cannabis only*
Got drunk monthly (no illicit drug use)
Alcohol only
None
Any violent crime
26.1%
14.6%
6.3%
4.8%
2.7%
Any property crime
24.7
13.0
8.0
3.8
1.7
Driving under the influence
57.2
30.8
33.3
12.3
0.1
Sold drugs
15.1
2.2
0.2
0.1
0.0
(Source: & , 1992)
In the tables above, we can see and the relationships linking drug use with crime. All of the above-mentioned relationships are dangerous and all invoke great threats to society, but drug-defined offenses invoke the greatest threat on society. Yes, it may be scary that a person could ruin his life because he now lives just to kill himself later on with constant drug-use. He may invoke great threat on the people around him, he may harm them, or he may even get the chance to kill. But the most threatening of all is when a user may contribute to making another user and ruining a lot of lives. Drug-defined offenses may not be as gruesome or as brutal as the other two but it is here that lay all the things that can turn those two other relationships into reality. The chance to ruin other peoples lives lie greatly on these undertakings. On the other two offenses, we are talking about singular individuals. But when you talk about drug defined offenses, we are talking about the majority of the people. Here is the root of all evil that drug usage brings. Therefore, all must be done to cut drug usage from its source.
References:
UNIT 1-D B Drug Abuse
Professor:
March 24, 2007
In my opinion, the “Drug Control Policy” has the biggest impact on the Drug-Crime relationship. In order to understand well how this policy works, let us examine their goals and objectives.
The Drug Control Strategy divides the solution into five different goals, which are to:
1. Educate and enable America’s youth to reject illegal drugs as well as alcohol and tobacco.
2. Increase the safety of America’s citizens by substantially reducing drug-related crime and violence.
3. Reduce health and social costs to the public of illegal drug use.
4. Shield America’s sea, air and land frontiers from the drug threat.
5. Break foreign and domestic sources of supply.
(Source: )
Their first goal, which is to educate the youth on illegal drugs and alcohol, in my opinion, is a very good approach since we are letting the youth know the importance of resisting drugs and alcohol which may, in the future, ruin their lives. The following goals are also quite good because the only way, in my opinion, to reduce the rate of drug users in the country is to cut off the drug users from the root.
This policy of the government in my opinion is really very good since it tackles the two most important aspects in the drug and crime relationship. I think that if this policy of the government would indeed succeed, eventually, drug abuse and crime rate due to drug usage will die down.
References:
Unit 1 Drugs, An Overview
Professor:
March 31, 2007
Drug use is as rampant nowadays as crime. Studies have been conducted to prove the relationship of drug use and crime. It has also been proved that crime and drug use is positively correlated, meaning, as the rate of drug use goes up, the rate of crimes committed also go up. As shown in the following chart, the relationship between crime and drug use is clearly demonstrated.
Table 1. Criminal behavior and substance use among 18- to 49-year-olds, 1991 provisional data
Criminal Activity
Percent reporting alcohol and drug abuse in the past year
Alcohol, cannabis and cocaine*
Alcohol and cannabis only*
Got drunk monthly (no illicit drug use)
Alcohol only
None
Any violent crime
26.1%
14.6%
6.3%
4.8%
2.7%
Any property crime
24.7
13.0
8.0
3.8
1.7
Driving under the influence
57.2
30.8
33.3
12.3
0.1
Sold drugs
15.1
2.2
0.2
0.1
0.0
(Source: & , 1992)
In the table above, we can see the clear relationship of more than one drug used to the extremity of the crime committed
There are different effects for every drug substances there is. Let us examine Methamphetamine first. Methamphetamine is a stimulant drug that gives the user a feeling of Euphoria and constant rush that keeps them looking for more. It is more popularly known as meth or “poor man’s cocaine”. When it is in usable form, it usually takes a powder like appearance in a variety of colors and on some other times is sold in capsule forms. It may be ingested by the user in a number of ways: smoked, snorted, injected or swallowed. It may or may not emit odor. Here is a sample of Crystal meth or more popularly known as glass.
(Source-)
Similarly though, the effects of Amphetamines are much like those of other stimulant drugs. As amphetamines are ingested through smoking, snorting or swallowed, the user often feels a rush of Euphoria, alertness and excessive energy. Blood pressure and heartbeat are increased, thus reducing feelings of hunger and fatigue. The heart often palpitates when amphetamines are taken.
Because the use of amphetamines dries the oral cavity, swallowing can become increasingly difficult, thus, the user may not choose to take in anything. The process of urination may also be difficult. Dilation of the pupils can occur and the user may take rapid speech then followed by slurred speech.
Long term effects of amphetamine usage can bring about skin disorders, ulceration of the stomach and mouth, malnutrition and other illnesses from lack of vital nutrients. Other effects of constant usage are weight loss and sleeplessness. Those who take meth intravenously have the risk of contracting deadly illnesses such as cancer of the lungs, heart diseases, AIDS, Hepatitis and other such diseases. Constant exposure to large amounts of amphetamines can lead to mental illness, violent death and often, suicide. Amphetamine psychosis includes a state of paranoia which occurs after taking in large amounts of amphetamine.
.. Another substance is Marijuana. Marijuana is a type of hallucinogen whose main active ingredient is THC or Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. In some medical cases, Marijuana is used to relieve nausea and pain in chronic illnesses and to lessen eye pressure for those who have advanced glaucoma. Short term effects of using Marijuana are Sleepiness, damaged short term memory, lessened motor coordination and concentration, dryness of the oral cavity and increased heart rate. Long term effects include lessened motivational drive, lessened testosterone level and sex urges in men, inactive sperm for men and infertility for women, and risk of contracting cancer.
Cocaine is also a very dangerous drug. Cocaine is a strong stimulant that affects the brain directly. It has been around for more than an hundred years and is basically extracted from coca leaves.
According to , “Cocaine is generally sold on the street as a fine, white, crystalline powder, known as “coke,” “C,” “snow,” “flake,” or “blow.” Street dealers generally dilute it with such inert substances as cornstarch, talcum powder, and/or sugar, or with such active drugs as procaine (a chemically-related local anesthetic) or with such other stimulants as amphetamines.”
Cocaine in the brain – In the normal communication process, dopamine is released by a neuron into the synapse, where it can bind with dopamine receptors on neighboring neurons. Normally dopamine is then recycled back into the transmitting neuron by a specialized protein called the dopamine transporter. If cocaine is present, it attaches to the dopamine transporter and blocks the normal recycling process, resulting in a build-up of dopamine in the synapse which contributes to the pleasurable effects of cocaine.
(Source-, 2005)
According to , certain parts of the brain are stimulated to create pleasurable sensations brought about by cocaine. The ventral tegmental area (VTA) contains nerve cells that extend to a region of the brain known as the nucleus accumbens, the brain’s key pleasure area, when stimulated by cocaine brings about certain feelings of euphoria.
In one case in the Philippines, a local leader of a benevolent group was accused of butchering his wife and her other family members. According to , from , , “(June 24, 2002) – There is no telling what evil can men do, especially under the influence of dangerous drugs. On June 9, former Mayor . supreme leader of the four million strong religious cult Philippine Benevolent Missionary Association (PBMA), butchered his wife, stuffed her in a plastic bag and had it thrown in a canal. Ten days later, he ordered the senseless killing of six of his wife’s family members. The following day, he and hundreds of his loyal
followers battled soldiers and policemen who attempted to arrest him, resulting in the death of 17 of his cult members and one policeman…
Talk of what drug-crazed men can do. It is beyond reason.
But that is who was, even when finally arrested after the futile
fight. Dragged into the Philippine National Police Laboratory for drug
test, he yielded positive to amphetamine use, otherwise known here as “shabu” use, according to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).
In this article, we can only partly blame the drug for causing this kind of crime. It was rumored that has been planning to kill his wife due to unsolvable differences, it was also allegedly said that he only found the courage to do it when he took the drug.
Another article from Newsweek tells the story of a young mother who threw away her life for the rush of euphoria meth gave her.
Methamphetamine ruined the life of a young mother and professional, , who was living in the stately Chicago suburb of Burr Ridge. She had everything she wanted, a husband, two kids, a car, and a great house. But she threw all of this away only for the high that Meth gave her. Soon after, she started shoplifting and stealing cold pills. She was left by her husband and he filed Divorce papers claiming that she was no longer capable of taking care of their kids. Soon, she turned her house into a meth lab. She was cooking Meth in her own house. She was arrested for drug-related cases.
Here, we can partly blame for the crimes she committed, but the drug she was using pushed her into doing all this insane things that ruined her life.
We can now say that illegal drugs can ruin the users life, no matter if it was the users fault, or the drugs fault.
Reference:
UNIT 2-D B Drugs, An Overview
Professor:
March 31, 2007
In my opinion, the most dangerous drug is Methamphetamine, more popularly known as Meth. According to , “Methamphetamine is a ruthless drug, it leaves a feeling of euphoria that addicts chase it for the rest of their lives but never catch it. It even leaves them destitute and at the brink of death. It ruins their lives.”
Methamphetamine is a synthetic stimulant drug which induces a strong feeling of euphoria and is highly psychologically addictive. Pure methamphetamine is a colorless crystalline solid, sold on the streets as glass, ice, or crystal. A stimulant drug chemically related to amphetamine but with stronger effects on the central nervous system. Methamphetamine causes the user to be relatively keeps the user very alert and awake and gives them the “ultimate high” that they keep on chasing for the rest of their lives. Prolonged use of meth may also cause Methamphetamine Psychosis. According to , a senior research scientist from National Public Health Institute, “Amphetamine psychosis is a form of psychosis which can result from amphetamine or methamphetamine use. Typically it appears after large doses or chronic use; although in rare cases some people may become psychotic after relatively small doses.” Methamphetamine even dries out the saliva of the user, causing him to grind his teeth, thus causing decay.
These findings can support my opinion that Meth is the most dangerous drug of today. It not only destroys the lives of the users but also the lives of the people around them. They may even pose a threat on unknowing passers-by.
Methamphetamine ruined the life of a young mother and professional, , who was living in the stately Chicago suburb of Burr Ridge. She had everything she wanted, a husband, two kids, a car, and a great house. But she threw all of this away only for the high that Meth gave her. Soon after, she started shoplifting and stealing cold pills. She was left by her husband and he filed Divorce papers claiming that she was no longer capable of taking care of their kids. Soon, she turned her house into a meth lab. She was cooking Meth in her own house. She was arrested for drug-related cases.
As in the example above, the need for the feel of the rush brought by the drug, some users are pushed to the edge. They steal just to get the drug they need.
References:
Unit 3 – Social and Psychological Aspects of Drug Abuse
Professor:
April 7, 2007
Psychology, as by defined in the dictionary, is the “Scientific study of human behavior, mental processes, and how they are affected and/or affect an individuals or group’s physical state, mental state, and external environment. its goal is to describe, understand, predict, and modify behavior.” And so is sociology. Sociology is the study of social life, social change, and the social causes and consequences of human behavior. Based on these definitions, we can already say that psychology and sociology have a big impact on drug use.
Sociology and psychology go hand in hand in shaping and sculpting the life of a person. Sociology and psychology are the foundations of the social life of every human being.
A human being is a social being. He cannot exist alone. He needs other people to survive. All humans are co-dependent on each other to fill their sociological needs. That’s the reason why everyone is subjected to peer groups and sociological leveling. He is also part of a culture, which means he has to conform to what society dictates of him. And besides that, he has to cope up with things that happen within himself.
These factors are enough to make him shrink away from society and turn to something else to alleviate any bad feeling that he has. Things like illegal drugs are easily at hand to suppress any bad feeling that he has. Peer pressure and stress are most often the biggest contributing factors to drug use and abuse especially in teenagers since they are the most lenient and are easily persuaded into doing these kinds of things. When people are subjected to social pressure, especially younger people, they easily give in. being part of a peer group and being “in”, are always the most important things for young adults, despite the health hazards they face. Being in a peer group in itself is not bad. It’s even good that one has people he can trust, hang-out with, have fun with, or even cry with.
But the bad thing is when the peer group is the bad influence. At times, it’s inevitable that young ones get into doing things like trying drugs, or drinking. Even if the person was brought up properly by the parents, the pressures of society are still very heavy. Eventually, sooner or later, the person is bound to give in, especially if the peer group is attacking one’s manhood, or womanhood for that matter.
But other researches link psychological factors to the development of the person’s inclination to drug use and abuse. In the longitudinal inquiry conducted by and from the University of California, Berkeley, children were observed from whence they were 18. A group was found to have tried drugs, basically experimenting. Another was composed of frequent drug users and the last was a group who never tried doing drugs. The group who had experimented on drugs was found to be the “best-adjusted in the sample”. The group who were frequent users was called “maladjusted,” and was found to be “showing a distinct personality syndrome marked by interpersonal alienation, poor impulse control, and manifest emotional distress”. The last group, the ones who never tried drugs, was found to be “relatively anxious, emotionally constricted, and lacking in social skills.”
According to and , the difference between the three groups could be found in the type of parenting style they received. Also, the results of their study found that, “(a) problem drug use is a symptom, not a cause, of personal and social maladjustment, and (b) the meaning of drug use can be understood only in the context of an individual’s personality structure and developmental history.” Basing on their findings, it cold also be concluded that the current undertakings on the war against drugs are not attacking the right target. According to them, “… they focus on symptoms, rather than on the psychological syndrome underlying drug abuse. “
Whether psychologically or socially, drug use is still a very big contributing factor to a person’s inclination to eventually doing crimes he normally wouldn’t do if he were sober. For example, in the data sheet obtained from the US Department of Justice:
Table 1. Criminal behavior and substance use among 18- to 49-year-olds, 1991 provisional data
Criminal Activity
Percent reporting alcohol and drug abuse in the past year
Alcohol, cannabis and cocaine*
Alcohol and cannabis only*
Got drunk monthly (no illicit drug use)
Alcohol only
None
Any violent crime
26.1%
14.6%
6.3%
4.8%
2.7%
Any property crime
24.7
13.0
8.0
3.8
1.7
Driving under the influence
57.2
30.8
33.3
12.3
0.1
Sold drugs
15.1
2.2
0.2
0.1
0.0
* Indicates use of each of these substances some time during the past year, not necessarily use of both/all at the same time.
(Source: & , 1992)
As the table shows, whether the reason be psychologically or sociologically, under the influence of illegal dugs, the person has a higher risk of doing crimes, violent or not.
References:
Unit 3 D B Social and Psychological Aspects of Drug Abuse
Professor:
April 7, 2007
In my opinion and in the researches I have conducted, Psychological factors hold the biggest part in the person’s inclination to do drugs. In the longitudinal study I presented above, the researchers observed the samples from childhood till they reached the age of 18. They found that the parenting style given to them held the biggest impact on their future decisions, such as to do or no to do drugs. And also, they found that drug abuse is not the cause, but rather a “symptom” of social maladjustment and untowardly behavior.
According to them, the current war on drugs is not addressing the right problem. We could well be on the way to being drug-free if we re-examine the real cause of drug use. Are we really treating the children the way they should be? Are we doing our part in ensuring that the children will never resort to drug abuse in the near future?
Evidently, the quality of parenting can make or break the child’s future. Long before a child is thrown into the unforgiving world, he is first taken cared of by his parents. If they raise him well, he may be able to resist the need to do drugs. But if the child is raised in a much to tight or much too loose environment, he may develop certain characteristics that may cloud his decision-making capability or may keep him from reaching out to others and may therefore resort to something else.
Reference:
UNIT 4- Treatment/Prevention and the Business of Drugs
Professor:
April 14, 2007
In order to fully understand the processes that occur in and out of drug courts we must first try to understand what drug courts really are and their purpose.
A drug court is a special type of court which hears selected cases committed by drug offenders. The most often cases heard in a drug court are felony and misdemeanor. According to the , only those drug users who are non-violent are eligible for a trial in a drug court. Those with heavy charges like sex criminals, those who manufacture illegal substances are not admitted in the drug court. Those who choose the drug court system will be spared from serving a jail sentence. The drug offenders who do choose to go through the drug courts instead of having a jail sentence, would have to do the various activities that are determined by the judge, such as the offenders constant report to the judge for a year, screening, etc. If the offender fails to comply with any of these requirements, the offender is removed from the program and will face anything the judge may choose to give to him.
Drug courts are very different from traditional courts. Also, according to the Utah drug courts, the methodology and results differ in drug courts and traditional courts. Some differences are of the following:
1. Level of Supervision
Traditional: Court involvement generally does not take place unless a probation violation has been reported. Therefore, follow-ups for urinalyses may not be as frequent.
Drug Courts: Throughout the duration of drug court, defendants attend required and regular treatment sessions and court appearances as well as undergo random urinalyses.
2. Reductions in Recidivism
Traditional: According to the , 45 percent of defendants convicted of drug possession will commit a similar crime within the next several years. In fact, the more often a defendant is arrested for a drug offense, the more likely they are to commit an additional offense.
Drug Courts: Drug court participants exhibit a lower recidivism rate ranging from five percent to 28 percent. The recidivism rate for drug court graduates is approximately four percent. Additionally, urinalysis reports for drug court participants are generally 90 percent negative.
3. Emphasis on Long Term Recovery
Traditional: In many cases, drug addiction may not be the only problem faced by offenders. Poor reading skills, low levels of self-respect, and troubled family relationships are just a few of the issues offenders face outside of the courts. Traditional processes may refer offenders to treatment programs but follow up is not generally conducted.
Drug Court: Drug courts often recommend that participants develop skills and connections that will allow them to survive following treatment. For example, some programs suggest that participants attain their GED or develop ties with community mentors. Many Utah drug courts also encourage alumni groups so that the recovery process will continue after treatment ends.
According to , there are three types of drug courts:
1) Adult criminal drug courts focus upon individual adult offenders charged with a felony drug crime.
2) Dependency drug courts hear cases where the state has alleged abuse or neglect on the part of the parent. These drug courts acknowledge that neglect and abuse may be a product of drug addiction. Subsequently, teams within this court hold parents accountable for their behavior by monitoring their treatment and encourage a focus on recovery so the family may be reunited.
2) Juvenile drug courts are aimed specifically at first time or second time juvenile offenders. Requirements of juvenile drug court include 60 hours of community service, written essays on the dangers of drug use, and on-going court supervision.
In the drug court system, there are certain processes that a drug using offender must go through.
The first process is called screening.
Most of the existing drug courts do not accept offenders who have heavy charges. They often only choose those with non-violent crimes. According to the Utah Drug courts, “The court is generally available to:
Certain non-violent offenders charged with a felony drug crime. These crimes include forged prescriptions, possession with intent, and felony possession of a controlled substance.
Offenders with at least one previous drug conviction for which a sentence was given.
Offenders must be in the country legally.
This part of the whole process is very often easier to comprehend since it is only about how drug courts accept drug offenders. As mentioned above, only those offenders with crimes which are not very serious and offenders who have not any heavy charges are accepted in drug courts.
The next process entails the intervention of the judge.
According to by :
“Unlike the other traditional dominant actors, many judges find drug courts personally fulfilling, reinvigorating and liberating. In fact, the establishment of most drug courts is due to the administrative and political entrepreneurial activities of judges. Drug treatment judges are referred to as “un-common law” judges because of their departure from the typical role as neutral fact finders. By nature, drug court judges are activists. They interact with the community, lobby on behalf of the drug court program, cultivate media relationships, and seek support for other criminal justice agencies, and so on. Rather than remaining distant and impartial toward defendants, drug court judges cultivate an interest in their clients. Drug court judges are freer to depart from traditional rehabilitative methods and often experiment with new approaches in dealing with the drug problem. Most judges who participate in drug treatment courts are enthusiastic because they believe they are making a difference.” (, 2001, )
In this part of the process the judge plays the biggest part since he keeps track of the responsibilities of the drug offender. He should make sure that the offender keeps away from drugs and crime as much as possible. He also has a say in what the verdict of the drug offender should be, whether he remains in the drug court or serves a jail sentence.
The next part entails the aid of the treatment centers.
This part of the process needs the help of the people in the treatment centers since that is really where the treatment and the healing of the drug offender takes place. The only problem in this part is that the funds for treatment centers are really not that large and they continually rely on the help from existing treatment centers so they can continue their operation. “Drug courts mandate treatment. Particularly in meth cases, coerced treatment is often only way the addict will access help. Studies show that coerced treatment yields the same, if not better treatment results by motivating clients to stay in treatment longer. Drug courts make treatment opportunities available that would not otherwise be afforded for meth addicts.” (, 2007)
The last part is the incentives the drug users may get for entering the drug treatment facility.
According to , the attorney General of Illinois, “Defendants who complete all the requirements of the program and “graduate” from drug court may have the charges against them dropped (if they entered drug court before any trial or other adjudication) or have their sentences reduced or eliminated (if they entered drug court after pleading guilty to one or more offenses).”
This part gives to the drug offenders what they may never get if they had trial on traditional courts. Here they are given lighter sentences and are allowed to have diplomas which are equivalent to high school diplomas. It also offers to the alumni a choice to give back the same services rendered to him by other people.
References:
UNIT 4-D B Treatment/Prevention and the Business of Drugs
Professor:
April 14, 2007
In your own words, define drug trafficking. Describe what you feel might be the solution to combat this “business of drugs.” Why do you think your solution would work? Support your theory.
Drug trafficking is the selling of illegal drugs. I think the way to combat drug trafficking is by constantly keeping vigilant watch over what’s being imported or exported out of the country and making sure that no illegal drugs comes in or goes out of the country. The effects might not be immediate, but in a little while, the effects of this method will be felt.
This solution I offer is pretty simple: only to keep a very vigilant watch over what’s coming in and out of the country. That may not be so difficult. Just make sure all the borders are well guarded against anyone wanting to bring something out or into the country. The key to the success of this undertaking lies in the those people who guard the borders and check the baggage. That is where the success or failure of this undertaking is, because if those people chose not to put their hearts into doing their job, the whole undertaking is pointless. And also, dogs that could sniff out drugs from anywhere would really be a big help.
This solution would work because it’s relatively simple and only need the help of those people who really put their hearts into doing their job. It won’t even cost anything because there are no fancy equipments to buy, only the dogs. The only real downfall of this is if the checkers are lazy enough as not to check the baggage thoroughly and just to let things slide.
I strongly think that this theory will work because it will only illicit the help of people and that the drug trade will be cut off from its source. If supplies for making meth, for example, are no longer able to get into the country, the local industry of making meth would soon die down.
And also, as parents, we must also give the best quality parenting we can offer to our children, because we mold them to what they may become in the future.
Reference:
UNIT 5 Drugs and the Law
Professor:
April 21, 2007
In my opinion, the current policies are effective in battling the drug epidemic plaguing our country. Of course, the effect cannot be felt right away by because all these things take time. Give maybe around ten or twenty more years, the epidemic might go down to a single digit percentage, or it might even disappear all throughout. It only needs the help of the people, the effectivity of the people enforcing these laws and also, the faith of the people. Maybe sooner or later, the effect might be grater than was originally expected. Just give it a bit more time and also, the enforcers should also pour their hearts into what they are doing.
Honestly, I believe that all the laws that are being implemented are effective. The only problem is that it needs more polishing and a bit more help from people. Let’s take the Drug Control Strategy for example. Its objectives are:
1. Educate and enable America’s youth to reject illegal drugs as well as alcohol and tobacco.
2. Increase the safety of America’s citizens by substantially reducing drug-related crime and violence.
3. Reduce health and social costs to the public of illegal drug use.
4. Shield America’s sea, air and land frontiers from the drug threat.
5. Break foreign and domestic sources of supply.
(Source: )
All their objectives are good enough to shield us from the drug epidemic. They all aim to keep the people away from drugs. But the only drawback is that they don’t have any goal that aims to help those people already into drug use.
Therefore, I propose that we add another goal into the existing goals of the Drug Control Strategy. I propose this goal:
“ To help aid those already addicted to drugs and to keep them from further using illegal drugs”
This additional proposal helps make the Strategy very well rounded indeed because it all focuses on the people’s needs: to keep them from drugs and to help those already into the addiction. The only drawback here is if the people are not willing enough to participate and help. It needs the willingness of those who are already addicted to face the consequences of their actions and to pursue treatment so they would forever leave the wound of their past behind them.
I truly believe that all the policies that were proposed are good. The only drawback is that the people are not to keen on helping and some enforcers don’t seem to take their job seriously. Everyone must be join hands to stop this epidemic. If you want the society to be clean from drugs, one must start with himself!
References:
UNIT 5 D B Drugs and the Law
Professor:
April 21, 2007
In some aspects, I can favor decriminalization, because there are some acts that cannot really be considered criminal acts. Homosexuality for one. It’s not a crime to be a homosexual. Even if you one tries to be straight, there is nothing that can be done about one’s gender preference. That cannot be called illegal or anything against any man-made law.
But on some aspects of decriminalization, I am really not in favor of it. Like the decriminalization of prostitution and some prohibited drugs. Why do you decriminalize prohibited drugs? They have been found out to have negative effects on humans, why decriminalize them? Maintenance drugs however, I find very understandable since there are a lot of people with chronic illnesses and one of the ways of keeping their illnesses in a safe side is by taking maintenance drugs. Maintenance drugs are also proven safe and effective. On Harm-Reduction, I’m not really in favor of this. It’s like allowing people to do some things they shouldn’t because of the fear that they may still do it in secret. It may lessen the people’s illegal actions but still, everyone knows it is illegal in a sense.
I propose in lieu of decriminalization and harm-reduction on drugs, we should just keep our vigilant fight against these harmful things. They have been proven to bring harm to mankind; why should we decriminalize them? Therefore, we should keep them as far as possible from the human race to prevent any future damage thy might bring to us.
Reference:
Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com
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