Is Decriminalization the Answer?
Introduction
Decriminalization involves the absence of laws and regulations prohibiting drug use, whereas the lack of laws preventing drug use is the legalization. In this regard, decriminalization has been the primary strategy useful in countries like Australia, Portugal, the Cech Republic, and the United States in preventing the use of drugs. The techniques have helped avoid crises like the opioid crisis and the contamination of illegal drugs using fentanyl. Decriminalization has been considered as an alternative for the legalization of non-medical cannabis. As such, there is a need to determine if decriminalization has been the answer to the drug problem, which is an insidious problem affecting people in the United States and globally.
Decriminalization of drugs
The use of decriminalization policy is not enough in addressing the drug problem. As such, it cannot be considered as a magical silver bullet in eradicating the issue of drugs (Hammond, Dunn & Strain, 2016). The decriminalization process will not work, as the drug addiction problem is now deemed as a disease. The drug problem is affecting people from all levels of life and all areas of society. Because the use of drugs is widespread, many community individuals face the significant impacts of the drug abuse problem (Jacques et al., 2016). As a result, the loved ones of the drug addicts become more open-minded about a drug problem. When using decriminalization policies, it is critically important to ensure no soft/hard drug. As such, the users may have healthy or unhealthy relationships with the substance they are using.
Conclusion
The use of decriminalization policies has been useful in reducing the drug menace. As such, the policy cannot be considered as a hundred percent adequate. Eradication of drugs is a goal that cannot be achieved. In this regard, there is a need for ensuring that education to citizens, which will create dangers of using the drugs. Besides, offering rehabilitation will be useful in improving the lives of the affected individuals.
References
Hammond, A. S., Dunn, K. E., & Strain, E. C. (2020). Drug Legalization and Decriminalization Beliefs Among Substance-using and Nonusing Individuals. Journal of addiction medicine, 14(1), 56-62. https://journals.lww.com/journaladdictionmedicine/Fulltext/2020/02000/Drug_Legalization_and_Decriminalization_Beliefs.8.aspx
Jacques, S., Rosenfeld, R., Wright, R., & van Gemert, F. (2016). Effects of prohibition and decriminalization on drug market conflict: Comparing street dealers, coffee shops, and cafés in Amsterdam. Criminology & public policy, 15(3), 843-875. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1745-9133.12218