The drug crisis poses an extreme threat to Americans from the perspective of public safety, social welfare, and health. This issue must be addressed through policy solutions prioritizing citizens' well-being. A compromise must be made by both parties to prioritize not only compassion but also realistic solutions to improve the crisis and lower addiction rates.
In the past decade, overdose deaths have more than doubled in the U.S., according to the CDC. The statistics show that the rate stayed the same from January 2017 to January 2020, with a slight decline. Since 2020, the death rates have skyrocketed from approximately 60,000 to approximately 105,000 in the past four years. This begs the question, what changes have been made that have caused this increase in the last four years? The increase has come from a lack of access to treatment for those who are suffering from addiction and an increase in drug trafficking due to our lack of border control.
Most individuals who have a substance use disorder tend to also have a history of mental health issues. With mental health care being inaccessible to many individuals, it creates a barrier for many people to receive the care they need. Not only mental health care but, rehabilitation facilities are a necessity to many but affordable to very few. Without having support while struggling with addiction, it creates a steep downhill slope that can quickly lead to a fatality.
Another issue is the overprescribing of opioids, which causes individuals to get hooked on them. Many people go to the doctor in hopes of finding a diagnosis for their pain and are instead told it is ‘chronic pain’ and the only thing that can make it better is pills. What may seem to be a relief can slowly turn into an addiction. I would support lowering the prices of treatment services, making them more affordable to citizens. More oversight can also be beneficial in ensuring that doctors are properly taking the time to diagnose patients and are not jumping straight to prescribing addictive medications to them. Most funding for treatment centers comes from Medicaid, so pushing for more reform must be met with understanding and willingness from them to ensure that treatment can become more accessible to people of all different economic statuses.
Another step towards reform would be more accountability in the criminal justice system. Drug-related offenses are often met with extreme sentences, which contribute to overcrowded prisons and a future stripped away from these individuals. Suggesting more options for recovery and treatment can be a step in the right direction toward lowering crime rates and giving Americans a chance to come back from their struggles and still accomplish many things in their life. Furthermore, we must focus on securing our border to stop the rate at which fentanyl is entering our country. Although U.S. Customs and Border Protection are trained to detect illicit drugs, it is not easy to monitor the amount coming through our border at the rate at which people are crossing it.
Many individuals who have a substance use disorder come from lower-income neighborhoods that lack economic opportunities which causes the cycle of suffering to continue. Most of these individuals do not have the opportunity to pursue higher education or well-paying jobs. More programs must be installed to help recovering people with a substance use disorder have a fair chance at job and education opportunities. Additionally, discussing substance abuse in school can help educate youth on the dangers of drug use before they are at the age where they are considering partaking in it.
The drug crisis is a complex issue that requires cooperation from both parties to see meaningful change. While parties may disagree on the factors that have led to this crisis, everyone must agree that solutions must be found, and reform must start immediately. There may be disagreements among parties, but everyone should share the common goal of advocating for policy reform to combat the drug crisis.
Photo Credit: Jac Louisiana
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