ACLU: Treating Addiction as a Disease, not a Crime [View all]

[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