The question of whether or not a drug addict is a danger to society is often times unnoticed. Today, more than ever, the legitimacy and the necessity for drug laws that have been instilled for decades are being questioned. Some say that today’s drug laws are overbearing, and our criminal justice system should have their focus honed more towards violent crimes, while others believe that our current drug laws are lax and do not punish serious offenders, especially those who traffic drugs. According to the U.S. Department of Justice’s statistics on prisoner populations, there are 2.3 million people incarcerated in the United States. Of those 2.3 million prisoners, 253,300 of them are being held for drug related convictions. Are there too many drug offenders in prison? Is the money we are spending (~$45,000) for each drug offender really worth it?
It is easy to get lost in the idea that drug offenders who are sentenced to prison for crimes relating to drugs are only addicts constantly living with demons on their shoulders. Even though this may be true at times, we cannot stray away from the fact drug addicts are prone to committing violent crimes. This is not made to say that all violent criminals are drug addicts, nor is it meant to state that all drug addicts are violent criminals. The message being sent is that drug addicts are more susceptible to resort to violent crimes because of the need to satiate their drug craving, and also because the experience of being on drugs (the “high”), gives the user an inability to make rational decisions.
As of late, the California Legislature is faced with a very difficult decision regarding the release of thousands of prisoners from the California state prison system. The prisoners expected to be released within the next year are those being incarcerated for non-violent offenses which include drug and property crimes. Unfortunately, prisoners being held for non-violent offenses are looked at as a lesser risk than releasing a prisoner convicted of a violent crime even though that drug offenders are at a higher risk of committing violent crimes than others. (Inaba and Cohen, 121) The reason for this is because drug use makes a user susceptible to violent reactions because of a drug’s ability to alter neurological chemicals in the brain, such as those that control reasoning, and decision making. A drug addict’s increased craving for a drug can escalate such emotions even further.
With the expected release of thousands of prisoners within the next year in California, we must first examine whether or not the person found with methamphetamine in their pocket is the same individual who would rob another in a dark alley at 4am while coming off of a four day binge. Even though these individuals were arrested for a “mere” possession violation, they are still the same people who are dangerous, detrimental people in our society, who have the capability and liability to commit violent crimes.
Works Cited
Inaba, D., & Cohen, W. (2007). Uppers, Downers, All Arounders. Medford, OR: CNS
Productions Inc.
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