Drug Abuse: Arrests, Decriminalization, and Consequences - Essay Sample

A drug can be defined as any substance taken into the human body alters, or changes its functioning. As reported in the country each year, more the 1.6 million people are arrested following drug abuse (Gallagher, 207). About 85% of these people are arrested for possessing drugs only, but the rest are detained due to selling and distribution offenses. Decriminalization means there is the elimination of criminal penalties for; drug use and possession, low-level drug sale, and possession of equipment used to introduce drugs into the human body like syringes (Model 740). Decriminalization is not the same as legalization. Taking, for instance, if drugs are decriminalized, it means the substance is controlled, but it is still a criminal offense. Legalization means anyone can handle the material because the law legalizes it. In the last 30years in the United States, there have been increasing possessions of drugs and arrests (Model 740). This paper argues whether all drugs should be decriminalized in the United States or not.

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Many people in the United States argue that those people with drug problems should be treated rather than been punished. They say that punishing these people is a wastage of tax paper resources when they keep on locking up these people. Those arrested under drug influence includes drivers (MacCoun et al., 348). As a result, Human Rights Watch report in 2017 shows that at least 135000 men and women were in the court bars in the United States for possession of drugs. Over 47000 of these people were put in prison, and over 88000 were taken to jail. The report shows that 10000 more people were convicted and spent more periods on probation but were burdened and released on fines and fees. All these criminals locked their records for jobs, public housing, education, and voting and welfare assistance. The cost is imposed on their families and the entire community leading to an impoverished society.

Decriminalizing drugs in the United States means drugs will no longer be treated as crimes. Now imagine living in a society where those who arrested while committing crimes under the influence such as driving (MacCoun et al., 355). Then what will be the need for the police to spend a lot of time and millions of taxpayers' money arresting people with a small number of drugs or those using drugs. Now the more than 4 million people with case and probation would no longer need to be at risk of losing freedom due to drug use.

Perhaps, there is a question or concern about whether crime activities and the use of drugs would increase. Yes, as many argue, the risk is reduced; what remains is the risk to damage the brain and your own body (Cussen, 525). However, from the research conducted, it indicates that there is no increase if all drugs are decriminalized or even legalized. Several countries have decriminalized all drugs, such as Portugal (Szalavitz, 2009). In 2001, the state decriminalized possession of all prescriptions and didn't fully legalize possession of the drugs. The country is experiencing at least one overdose death each day due to drug decriminalization. Like in Switzerland, Germany, and the Netherlands, many people are now addicted to heroin. Drug crimes and arrests have reduced, and overdose and drug-related diseases, safety, and public health improvement.

So, having observed and learned from other countries, is it right to decriminalize all drugs in the United States? America is well known for the legalization of marijuana because of the medical purpose now all adults (Cussen, 528). Many residents have been reluctant to appreciating the essential benefits and low risks of decriminalizing possession and the use of drugs. Many white communities have already been affected mainly by addiction and overdose.

There are several benefits of decriminalizing all drugs in the United States. First, the expense of treating those who are addicted to incarceration are reduced. The cost of rehabilitation is also reduced (Husak, 21).

Those who are affected are more likely to find recovery in rehab than when they are in Jail. Drug and substance abuse rates will be cut by half since decimalization. Those people who will complete treatment can become more productive and competent members of the society as compared to convicted felons (Husak, 24). Many courts will be freed up, and they may focus on other essential duties. The risks to violence and drug trafficking incidents will be much reduced.

On the other hand, all drug decriminalization practices will bring apprehension and warning to society. For instance, individuals will develop a biological predisposition towards addiction because many people will be willing to experiment since there is not fear for legal prosecution (Husak, 27). To some extent and situation, the decriminalization may push for legalization in some cases. If there is the decriminalization of all drugs in the United States, it will result in an increased supply of drugs in the streets; the prices for the drugs would fall because millions of people will be tempted to experiment (Husak, 27). The existing resources for treatment in the United States will not be nearly large enough to handle the influx of millions of new addicts from the legal systems.

Decriminalizing all drugs in the United States would lead to more drug dependency and crime. There is no indication of whether this is true, but information around the world suggests that treating a problem of drug use is a health issue (Farr, 223). They are taking, for instance, smoking, in the last 5years, the efforts made by the government to impose higher taxes on cigarettes and strictly led to enforcement of smoking age rules. However, smoking gas still has taken the lives of many people in cancer and other diseases. On the side of alcohol, drinking in the United States has skilled, more than 88000 people, as reported in the hospital every year (Cussen, 530). Lawmakers have failed to do something on that because companies are aggressively blocking anything on higher taxes and nutrition.

Therefore, drugs are dangerous for killing people, but other people are thinking on how to make more profits and be able to stand on their way (Kreit, 299). What the country should consider before legalizing all drugs is that what is to stop these drug selling companies from achieving the same results? The already legalized drugs have brought health problems because efforts to deal with the medicines bear no fruits.

Political pressure and administration should deny the decriminalization of all drugs in the United States. The legalization of marijuana had a deadly drug that has proven practical effects that can be infuriating (Baum, 2016). Donald Trump administration has been reluctant on this issue even in the progressive state and local legislators who have failed to embrace the matter of concern. This is not a political weakness but also considering no one wants to be treated but avoiding what might cause risk to one's health. The criminal justice system in the country is reliable and can be taken as a tool to force people to abstain from using drugs (Cardoso et al., 2009). Many leaders in the country have remained beholder by the backward idea of drug misuse and have seen embracing and prioritizing the legalization of drug possession as the key objective.

In conclusion, I agree with policymakers in the United States who have chosen to define drug abuse as a legal system more than a public health concern. There exists a war between the criminal justice system due to the expanding roots of the social and political fabrics in the country. The effort involves government forces such as court corrections, education, health care consideration, and law enforcement. Researchers and advocates think that decriminalization would lead to increased consumption and would interfere with the education system within the country.

The United States should not rush to decide because trying forbidden drugs would pro-long the case to legalization. Even though there are some benefits to decriminalizing drugs in the United States, I think the cons are more severe than what benefits can the drugs deliver. For instance, individuals will develop a biological predisposition towards addiction because many people will be willing to experiment since there is no fear of legal prosecution. I think to some extent and situation, and the decriminalization may push for legalization in some cases.

If there is the decriminalization of all drugs in the United States, it will result in an increased supply of drugs in the streets; the prices for the drugs would fall because millions of people will be tempted to experiment (Farr, 224). The existing resources for treatment in the United States will not be nearly large enough to handle the influx of millions of new addicts from the legal systems. Therefore, the United States should not decriminalize all drugs.

Works Cited

Baum, Dan. "Legalize it all." Harper's Magazine 24 (2016).

Cardoso, Fernando Henrique, Cesar Gaviria, and Ernesto Zedillo. "The war on drugs is a failure." Wall Street Journal 23 (2009).Cussen, Meaghan, and Walter Block. "Legalize drugs now!: An analysis of the benefits of legalized drugs." American Journal of Economics and Sociology 59.3 (2000): 525-536.

Farr, Kathryn Ann. "Revitalizing the drug decriminalization debate." Crime & Delinquency 36.2 (1990): 223-237.

Gallagher, Lauren. "Should the United States move towards Portugal's Decriminalization of Drugs." U. Miami Int'l & Comp. L. Rev. 22 (2014): 207.

Husak, Douglas. "Four points about drug decriminalization." Criminal Justice Ethics 22.1 (2003): 21-29.

Kreit, Alex. "The decriminalization option: Should states consider moving from a criminal to a civil drug court model." U. Chi. Legal F. (2010): 299.

MacCoun, Robert, et al. "Do citizens know whether their state has decriminalized marijuana? Assessing the perceptual component of deterrence theory." Review of Law & Economics 5.1 (2009): 347-371.

Model, Karyn E. "The effect of marijuana decriminalization on hospital emergency room drug episodes: 1975-1978." Journal of the American Statistical Association 88.423 (1993): 737-747.

Szalavitz, Maia. "Drugs in Portugal: Did Decriminalization Work?." Time Magazine (2009).