Drugs and Alcohol in the Criminal Justice System

“Just Say No!” A statement that takes us deep into yet another decade in the history of the United States which was excited by controversies, social issues, and drug abuse. The topic of this statement is fueled by the growing abuse of cocaine in the mid 1980s. I shall discuss the effects of the crack cocaine epidemic of the mid 1980s from a cultural and social stand point because on that decade this country moved to the rhythms and the pace of this uncanny drug. Cocaine took its told on American society by in the 1980s; it ravaged with every social group, race, class, etc. It reigned over the United States without any prejudices. Crack cocaine was the way into urban society, because of its affordability in contrast to the powdered

In the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, drug use became a major concern for most Americans. As the War on Drugs and “Just Say No” campaign were being thrust into the spotlight by the government and media, the public became more aware of the scope of drug use and abuse in this country. The federal and states’ governments quickly responded by creating and implementing more harsh and punitive punishments for drug offenses. Most of these laws have either remained unchanged or become stricter in the years since then.

The crack cocaine business continued to thrive. “Freeway Rick was at the top of his game and helping to spread crack across the country” (Planet Rock). In the beginning, crack had only been found by the DEA, to be isolated in seven major cities. Approximately a year after that, it was found to have spread to more than 40 different cities across the United States; including Dallas and Des Moines, Iowa (Planet Rock). It got to a point where people came from all over just to buy the drug. “It was kind of like exporting a business almost ...or exporting a product” (Planet Rock).

During 1984 through 1994, 10 years into The Crack Epidemic, the homicide rate of African American males aged 14-17 doubled. Along with an increase of African American children in foster care, fetal death rates and weapon arrests. Roles lost in families and the community. Health and lifestyle of the African American communities depleting due to the powerful affects of crack cocaine. The African American community has been significantly affected by The Crack Epidemic in the areas of health and culture as a result of where the source of crack cocaine introduced itself in America, laws surrounding crack cocaine and the perception of the drug.

Drugs first surfaced in the United States in the 1800s. After the Civil War opium become very popular and was used medicinally. Following opium was cocaine which was also used as a health remedy but near the end of the 19th century opium and cocaine abuse peaked and local governments began to prohibit opium dens and importation. In 1914 the first federal drug policy, the Harrison Narcotics act, is passed and drugs are no longer seen as harmless remedies. The act aggressively regulated the manufacturing of marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and morphine. During the 50’s more federal drug policies were passed and drugs began to become more criminalized. The 60’s saw a rise in counter-culture and substances such as marijuana and LSD saw widespread use. The demand for drugs skyrocketed in the 1960s. In 1971 President Nixon declared drug abuse America 's number one enemy and proclaimed that we must wave a all out offensive. After President Nixon declared the War on Drugs in 1971, the United States has spent more than a trillion dollars on this failing policy that not only has had no effect on the amount of drugs being used in the United States and has increased the number of people incarcerated on drug charges from just 50,000 to over half a million, but also has helped fuel drug cartels and foment violence and death through overdoses from uncontrolled drug potency and turf wars between street gangs.

Her famous slogan “Just Say No” was part of her campaign that influenced the National Crusade for a Drug-Free America anti-drug abuse law. A law was signed by President Reagan on October 27, 1986. In October 1988, she became the first First Lady to address the United Nations General Assembly about international drug interdiction and trafficking laws. (parenthetical citation article national first ladies library) During her address, Nancy stated that the United States needed to stop blaming the countries that produce the drugs and start putting the dealers on our street corners out of business. In 1989, she established the Nancy Reagan Foundation along with the Best Foundation for a Drug-Free Tomorrow created the Nancy Reagan afterschool program, a drug free prevention and life skills program for the youth of our

The policy calls for the expansion of drug courts, which continue to treat drug users in the criminal justice system, where punishment is often the response to addiction-related behaviors such as positive urine screens or missed appointments (Newman, 2014). It discourages the use of words like addict and substance user noting that “such stigmatizing words may make people less willing to seek treatment, but continues to embrace arresting and criminalizing people who use drugs despite evidence that fear of arrest is a major reason why people with substance misuse disorders do not seek help” (Newman, 2014). According to Bill Piper (2014),

Substance use has always been prevalent in society ever since recorded history in one way or another someone somewhere indulged. Scripture the wine flow like water Greeks and Romans drank as well, Chinese opium dens, and the American Indians even passed the peace pipe in sweat lodge rituals. Along with substance use another thing that hasn't changed are the different views and opinions surrounding these things? The United States wages war on drugs spending billions a year meanwhile manufacturing tobacco and alcohol as if they aren't harmful or addictive. Portugal on the other hand legalized all use and possession of all substances giving the power of free will and lowering the population of their

Since the early 1960’s there have been an alarming increase in drug use in the United States in 1962, four million Americans had tried an illegal drug. By 1999, that number had risen to a staggering 88.7 million, according to the 1999 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse.

Drugs have become so apart of our society and daily lives that all American are using one kind or another(BOOK). We start the day with caffeine, medicine to relieve to pain and cocktails at dinner. Alcohol has been

When I hear the word “drug”, I usually associate it with something prohibited. Although alcohol is common, it is a dug that can affect every organ in the body and increases your chances for certain illnesses. I believe society is comfortable with alcohol because it can be brought almost anywhere. Alcohol is commonly associated with social gatherings, parties and even just a way to wind down after a long day. More than any other drug, alcohol is closely related to violent crimes. It is known to affect parts of the brain related to judgement, memory and speech. In 2012, 87.6 percent of people ages 18 or older reported that they drank alcohol at some point in their lifetime; 71 percent reported that they drank in the past year; 56.3 percent reported

Whilst many theorists have differing views on whether or not alcohol and drug abuse is related to criminal activities, there are however a variety of preventative and intervention methods known commonly as ‘harm reduction’. This theory aims to assist in society’s responses in how we intervene when it comes to drug abusers as well as how the use of drug taking harms society itself. Such designed strategies aim to reduce and eventually stop substance abuse. Harm reduction methods can come in the form of intervention programmes (such as rehabilitation programmes), or access to health clinics and support groups that include needle exchange services for drug injectors and these aim to lessen the after effects that are linked with substance abuse and criminal activities. According to Newcombe, R. (1992), Harm Reduction can be defined as ‘a term that defines policies, programmes, services and actions that work to reduce the health, social and economic harm’, as well as ‘to reduce the harms to individuals, communities and society’.

the 1930s when films like Reefer Madness (1938) and The Man with the Golden Arm

Crime and drug use in Portugal has been a major issue, however after the government instated decriminalization, the number has decreased. Decriminalization appears to have had a slight positive effect on crime. “With its recategorization of low level drug possession as an administrative rather than a criminal offence, decriminalization inevitably produced a reduction in the number of people arrested and sent to criminal court for drug offences from over 14,000 in the year 2000, to around 5,500-6,000 per year once the policy had come into effect” (tdpf). There has not been a great surge in contact between drug offenders and the Portuguese police after decriminalization. The number of offenders has had the highest values since 2002. Continues was the trend manifested through the decade of the predominance of presumed offenders in the possession of cannabis and the increased offenders in the possession of cocaine. Now regarding heroin, it did have a downward trend in the first half of the decade, which then peaked in 2009, following another decrease in the numbers of offenders. The value that was taken in 2012 was the lowest it has ever been since 2001. "Concerning the sanctions applied in these convictions, mostly related with trafficking crimes, such as occurred in 2004 and contrary to previous years, these convictions involved mainly suspended prison (48%) instead of effective prison (31%). To refer specially since 2009, the increase of convicted only sentenced with an

Drug use in the United States has been traced all the way back to the 18th century by James Inciardi. Inciardi first traced the beginning of drug use was opium then later on a variety of drugs that were used for medicinal reasons such as opium, morphine, and heroin. In 1914 the Supreme Court decisions in theses three cases of Webb v. U.S, U.S. v. Behrman, and Lindner v. U.S. along with The Harrison Act of 1914 which regulated the majority of the addictive drugs that were on the market at the time. The Harrison Act of 1914 and The Supreme Courts decisions made it practically unattainable for approximately 200,000 hardcore drug addicts and narcotic users to obtain their drug of preference by legitimate legal means. By making the ability to