Democracy Now #2

Steven Huber

Soc 122, M-W @5:30

#2 Analysis of Democracy Now

4/3/2016

http://www.democracynow.org/2016/3/30/if_addiction_is_a_disease_why

If Addiction is a Disease, Why is It Criminal? Maia Szalavitz Envisions a

Compassionate Drug Policy

 

            President Obama has released a number of steps that are meant to reduce the number of opioid abuse cases in the United States. The president stated that we the people are viewing addiction completely wrong. In the past drug addicts were considered poor criminals that chose to do drugs because that's the life style they wanted to live. This meant "the normal" people didn't care about these addicts because it didn't affect them personally. Guess what! Beginning about 15 years ago "the normal" people did start to get affected personally in a big way. This way is known by the name of opioids or prescription pain killers. This story isn't saying these white collar children are becoming addicted from the doctors specifically prescribing opioids personally to them for an injury. Yet, it is saying that these teenagers are depressed and will do anything to fit in. What these teenagers are doing is pain killers, because they take their depression and stress away the best. So this therapist telling this documentary and the president are saying since the wealthy's children are being convicted of felonies. Now the government is seeing drug addicts in a whole other light. Pretty much the rich are tired of their children becoming felons and ruining their entire lives. This convinced the government to change the justice systems laws to the point where drug addicts get psychiatric help when they get caught for drug related cases. In the past the only help a drug addict would receive was jail or a faith based in patient program. Well finally with the rich's convincing the government will help addicts the correct way. Which is helping them with anti-depressant medication. This documentary really hits home. I just wish that I would have received this kind of help, instead of just being convicted as a felon and thrown in jail and prison. Hopefully I can end up helping other addicts because of all my first-hand experience.