ACLU: Treating Addiction as a Disease, not a Crime

[pokerfan]

It is long overdue that we reframe our approach to drug use in America – perhaps by taking a cue from countries such as Portugal, where decriminalization has proven to be a smart, cost-saving move. Five years after abolishing criminal penalties for personal possession of drugs, more Portuguese are seeking treatment for their addictions, rates of HIV infections from shared needles have decreased and drug use overall has declined. If we followed a similar approach, our prisons would not be filled with nonviolent drug offenders, and Douglas’ story would not be one of senseless incarceration. It would be foolish to ignore the abundance of evidence that clearly points to the success of a health-based, rather than punishment-based, approach to drug abuse. Americans like Douglas need help – not time behind bars.

http://www.aclu.org/blog/criminal-law-reform-prisoners-rights/treating-addiction-disease-not-crime

[Uncle Joe]

1. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, pokerfan.

[pokerfan]

2. Of course the real problem

is that the to the repugs, the ACLU is pretty much synonymous with Satan.

[Uncle Joe]

3. That's understandable after a century+ of corporate/state sponsored

authoritarianism, propaganda brain washing being hoisted on the people.

It's a wonder that anybody still supports the integrity of the person, freedom and civil rights of the individual against the corporate state, with religion being used as the wedge between the people and the government.

A government that should give no respect in its' laws to religion, De Facto does so in its' draconian policies toward the people.

[freshwest]

6. You have stated this so well. I was ranting about brainwashing media elsewhere but you got it.

[duhneece]

4. Unfortunately, the US has profitable industries & agencies opposed

The pharmaceutical, alcohol, tobacco, prisons/private & all support, district attorneys & law enforcement who get funding for fighting the war on drugs.

But this is the issue that gets much/most of my activism these days.

[meow2u3]

5. If decriminalization works well for Portugal, why not here?

We can use this on this side of the pond.

So what if it cuts into the profits of corporate concentration camps. The profiteers can go to h-e-double hockey sticks afaic.

[freshwest]

7. It works there because they don't have the abusive media voices we have here. n/t

[TlalocW]

8. I'm all for decriminalization, help for addicts, etc. Where just this piece loses me is in the URL

It's not a disease. I've lost loved ones to various diseases. There is a scientific definition to a disease, and addiction doesn't fall under it. I'm not a big fan of 12-Step programs like AA (which is not scientific and has a horrible success rate to begin with), but I think part of an addict getting over it is to admit they had a lot of say in his or her addiction. Unless, you're purposely trying to catch malaria by traveling to marshes while wearing Eau de Mosquito, a person really doesn't have a lot of blame when it comes to getting a disease. Scientific purity is already blurring over the whole, "Evolution is just a theory," soundbite creationists use because the general public equates theory with guess. Let's not slide on this one. Addiction is a huge enough problem that needs to be met head on with whatever methods can cure it that it doesn't need to seep over into any other category, including disease.

TlalocW

[pokerfan]

9. suggesting that we treat addiction as a disease

is not necessarily the same as saying that addiction is a disease. I believe it's called the disease model of addiction. I vote for whatever works.

[EFerrari]

14. Disease

disease /dis·ease/ (dĭ-zēz´) any deviation from or interruption of the normal structure or function of any body part, organ, or system that is manifested by a characteristic set of symptoms and signs and whose etiology, pathology, and prognosis may be known or unknown.

Addiction is a brain disease, experts declare
August 16, 2011|By Rosie Mestel, Los Angeles Times /
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/aug/16/news/la-heb-addiction-isbrain-disease-20110816

Addiction is a Chronic Disease
http://archives.drugabuse.gov/about/welcome/aboutdrugabuse/chronicdisease/

Addiction Has A New Definition - It Is A Disease, Not Just Bad Choices Or Behaviors
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/232841.php

Addiction Is a Brain Disease, and It Matters
http://www.sciencemag.org/content/278/5335/45.abstract

Addiction Now Defined As Brain Disorder, Not Behavior Problem
http://www.livescience.com/15563-addiction-defined-brain-disease.html



.

[RainDog]

10. k&r n/t

[midnight]

11. Alec private prison industry has spent the last 20 years in Wisconsin with people like Walker to

create legislation that would make incarceration and more police, prisons the answer to this issue....

[cthulu2016]

12. "A choice" should be added to the list

For some people an addiction is a choice, and as valid as any other. The fact that addiction is a cumpulsion doesn't mean that addicts lack all free will or autonomy. Addiction limits choice, as does poverty, disability, etc.. None of us are totally bound or totally free.

I am all for helping people who want to quit booze or drugs or cigarettes or binge eating. By all means! Helping people is good.

But that does not mean that people should be forced or coerced.

Here's some guy who won't stop using drugs. One side says Jail! One side says Treatment!

There should be a third side of, maybe this guy just likes using drugs. If he has some way of doing it that only harms himself ("if&quot then that's his business.

[sarcasmo]

13. This is the reason why the United States is #1 at putting people in prison.

[Spazito]

15. Good read...

Recommended.