Question

Should drug abuse be treated as a crime? Under what situations should the response be diversion to treatment rather than incarceration? Should all inmates have access to jail or prison-based drug treatment? Why is there such a difference in response to drug offenders based on their race? What should be done about this?

Please type the answer, do not use handwritten notes. Thanks

Answer 1

Drug abuse is one of the major problems in the contemporary times. there are legal laws made on that and people often strictly advised to not to indulge in the consumption of drugs. According to legal terms and government laws of many countries consider drug abuse as a crime.Selling of drugs, possession of drugs are not allowed in many countries.

Drug abuse should not be treated as crime till it is not harming anyone. It has been observed that people who indulge in drug abuse are predisposing themselves to criminal activities- Drug cartel always in a rift of violence and aggression. Drug abuse is not just very harmful to the society but it has detrimental consequences to human physical and mental health.

If individuals into drug abuse and they are having extreme physical health problems, then they should be directed towards the rehabilitation centres/Hospitals and provide appropriate treatments. If the individuals who are into drug abuse, and the state of drug intoxication-creating violence, destructive activity or breaking legal laws then incarceration should be used with the motive of the safety of other citizens and betterment of the criminal.

Yes, all inmates should have access to jail/prison-based drug treatment as it is one of the ethical guidelines, provided that their drug abuse is monitored and regularized strictly. It should be made sure that the inmates are conducting good behaviour in jail and following all procedures of treatment honestly. This requires inmates to be cooperative with medical officers and their willingness to stop their drug abuse.

There is a different reaction to drug offenders when we compare according to race. There is racial bias when it comes to providing criminal justice. this comes by the various factors of white-race supremacy and the state leaders belong to a certain race. Black-race is prejudiced, their identity is created in such a way that they are seen as drug abusers and criminals. These come from a low socio-economic background and they are exploited. The major problems occur when there is biased reporting of drug criminal offenders. This bais is towards a particular race.

Solutions to resolve these racial discriminations need to implement-

• Spread awareness about ongoing prejudices and discrimination. People should be aware of these social disparities and they should be told about what actual situation is and how a particular race is not doing that much as it has been reported.
• Media houses should be strictly guided to present a non-biased report on criminal offenders. they should highlight the positive message which decreases the gap between various races.
• State and politicians should look into this issue and function their administration with a non-bias approach.
• Human rights activists and UN commission should look into these issues and monitor the inequality that is happening. strict action to be taken against the people who create these prejudices.