Drug Policy Draft 1

.docx

School

CUNY Kingsborough Community College *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

Subject

English

Date

Jan 9, 2024

Type

docx

Pages

Uploaded by ChefHamster3948

Gina Palermo Prof. Rudisel English 12 05/01/2023 Draft # 1 Drug Policy The effectiveness of a drug policy can be achieved through a diverse approach that includes prevention, treatment, and harm reduction. Creating a strong and effective drug policy is important because it protects the health and safety of individuals and protects our communities. I believe 12 step programs, drug courts, and safe injection sites are effective in a strong drug policy. A 12-step program is a guideline created to help people who are struggling with various addictions, including drug and alcohol abuse. 12-step programs has its own set of rules and is focused on helping individuals aim for sobriety and personal growth. I think the spiritual guideline in a 12-step program serves a good purpose in helping those in need. The 12-step program also involves regular attendance at meetings and working with a sponsor. Having a sponsor from a 12-step program is important. A sponsor is a mentor for any person seeking help in their recovery journey. A sponsor helps people who are struggling with addiction achieve and maintain sobriety. Sponsors are there to offer support and encouragement. Nic Sheff attended 12-step programs. Tweak A (pg18) Nic Sheff said he spoke about commitment and adopting the spiritual guidelines in the 12-steps. The guidelines are acceptance, hope, faith, courage, honesty, patience, humility, willingness, brotherly-love, integrity, self- discipline, and service . Nic Sheff introduced his sponsor, Spencer in the very beginning of Tweak A . Spencer used to be addicted to cocaine. Nic Sheff said Spencer helped him through his recovery process by talking to him for hours about recovery, introduced him to cycling, and walked him through the 12 steps. Spencer was there for him when he needed him the most. Drug court plays an important role in a drug policy. I believe this is important in a drug policy because it provides an alternative to criminal punishment for individuals struggling with addiction. Rather than punishment, drug court programs have a lot to offer such as counseling and other treatment services. Betsy Pearl’s “Ending the War on Drugs” (pg4) states drug court programs sentences defendants to substance use treatment, supportive services, and monitoring

instead of incarceration. I believe treating drug addiction as a public health issue rather than a criminal justice issue would be more beneficial to the individual using drugs and beneficial to the community. I also believe needle exchange is very important in a drug policy as well. The exchange of a used needle for a clean one is not only safe for the individual using, but safe for the community as well. Needle exchange prevents the spread of infections and various disease such as HIV and Hepatitis C. In Gabor Mate’s “Reducing Harm,” (pg337) Gabor Mate explains that needle exchange is a harm reduction tactic. He explains that HIV is spreadable from one person to another through bodily fluids such as blood. Programs like these, that offer safe needle exchange can also provide counseling and other health services to individuals who are struggling with addiction. Ultimately, a strong effective drug policy is vital to our society. Having a strong drug policy can help reduce drug related harm by reducing drug related crimes, help prevent drug use, promote health, and maintain community safety. With an effective drug policy, the government can also help reduce drug related health problems such as HIV, hepatitis, and death.

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help