Arresting the Disease vs. Punishing the Addict

Our nation’s police are on the front lines of witnessing the consequences of substance abuse. Arresting a socialite who is high on prescription painkillers for shoplifting, or sweeping up a tented community of homeless heroin addicts off a sidewalk — to fending off the superhuman strength of a meth addict’s rage is all part of a day on the streets for lawmen. The frequency of slapping handcuffs on substance abusers during the commission of a crime has become a daily, often times hourly occurrence in most of our cities. According to the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP), more than half of all individuals — 60 percent — arrested for crimes test positive for illicit drugs. Many have a co-occurring mental disorder. Sadly, there is often more judgment than compassion and little to no training for law enforcement officers to look beyond the symptoms of the offense to the underlying disease of addiction. Historically, the drug-addicted, the alcoholic, and those suffering from other mental illnesses are typically scorned and shamed by many in law enforcement. They are often abused physically and humiliated by stereotypical profiling such “junkies,” “alcoholics,” and “nut jobs.” Shouldn’t the oaths sworn by law enforcement officials to serve and protect also apply to them? NFL players have fallen on their knees during the national anthem to kick off a prison pardons campaign that has the potential to ...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Addiction Alcoholism Criminal Justice Policy and Advocacy Recovery Substance Abuse Criminalization Harm Reduction Incarceration recidivism Source Type: blogs