Democratic Primaries

Sherman A1

(38,958 posts) Wed May 8, 2019, 06:54 AM May 2019

Andrew Yang Policy on DECRIMINALIZE OPIOIDS

We are in the midst of a crisis in this country. Opioids are killing 8 Americans every hour and that trend has only increased over the past several years.

While those who brought this plague on our citizens must face serious consequences, we need to make sure that those who are afflicted by the illness of addiction are treated and not criminalized. The individuals behind pharmaceutical companies who promoted these drugs as non-addictive while knowing better are the ones who belong in jail, not those who fell prey to addiction.

We need to decriminalize the possession and use of small amounts of opioids. Other countries, such as Portugal, have done so, and have seen treatment go up and drug deaths and addiction go down. When caught with a small quantity of any opioid, our justice system should err on the side of providing treatment.

"Opioid addiction is rampant in our country. In 2016, more than 11 million Americans misused prescription opioids and 2.1 million had an addiction to heroin, fentanyl, and other opioids. This is a public health crisis, and the top priority has to be getting Americans well. Many Americans are not seeking treatment because they are afraid of life-destroying criminal penalties. We need to remove the stigma of an addiction that literally millions of Americans are struggling with. The War on Drugs has not worked. We need to give more American families and communities a real chance to get well, and we need to evolve from a punitive approach that does not serve the public. If you are caught with a small amount of drugs, we should refer you straight to treatment, not a prison cell."

https://www.yang2020.com/policies/decriminalizeopioids/

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided

6 replies

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Andrew Yang Policy on DECRIMINALIZE OPIOIDS (Original Post) Sherman A1 May 2019 OP

Smart, compassionate. Blues Heron May 2019 #1

The republicans duforsure May 2019 #2

Agree! get the red out May 2019 #3

Like the way Yang thinks outside the box. InAbLuEsTaTe May 2019 #4

''We have to treat substance abuse as a serious public health issue rather than a criminal issue'' Donkees May 2019 #5

Yeah, Bernie too!! InAbLuEsTaTe May 2019 #6

Blues Heron

(5,931 posts)

1. Smart, compassionate.

Reply to Sherman A1 (Original post)

Wed May 8, 2019, 06:58 AM

May 2019

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided

duforsure

(11,885 posts)

2. The republicans

Reply to Sherman A1 (Original post)

Wed May 8, 2019, 07:00 AM

May 2019

Who helped them push through approval of these drugs on to the American people lying they weren't really addictive should also be held accountable too.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden