Different factors causing addiction
Addiction is a chronic, compulsive behavior that leads to the use of drug or substance abuse. The person is often unable to stop consuming the substance even though it causes them psychological and physical harm.
Thesis: addiction is an issue of concern around the world contributed by different factors. For a long time, addiction was treated as a criminal offense. Over time, policies have been developed to decriminalize it and help the victims.
Different factors can cause addiction. For many people, it can be inherited or developed. Michael Botticelli grew up in a family riddled with addiction, which eventually led to him becoming addicted. His situation further worsened when he would hang out in gay bars to meet people. Johann Hari challenges the idea that addiction occurs due to chemical hooks, which alter the person’s chemical balance, leading to addiction. He believes that addiction correlates with a person’s surroundings. He believes that the people one surrounds themselves with influence their well-being. If a person is happy and healthy, they bond in positive ways. However, if a person is not happy, they bond negatively, and this may include using drugs to help them cope.
It has been over 100 years since Britain and Americans banned the use of illicit drugs. A notable policy is how fines and jails were used to punish the addicts, something Johann believed needs to be changed. He challenges the approach of criminalizing addicts. Portugal had one of the worst drug problems in the world. In the later years, a solution was developed to redirect resources used for drug enforcement towards helping addicts recover. Ethan Nadelmann’s talk goes into detail concerning drug criminalization. He explains that America is a driving force behind drug regulations and therefore influences not only the domestic policies but also around the world. America’s strategy of dealing with drug abuse id to criminalize the substance rather than trying to help the addicts. This further leads to growing concerns about overcrowded prisons.
Michael’s talk sheds light on the case of addiction and the policies in place to deal with the issue. He points out that people with addiction often do not get the necessary help and on time as people with common diseases such as cancer. Michael points out that addiction is a medical issue and not a legal battle. If left untreated, addiction has dire consequences, in most cases, death or incarceration. Often, addicts do not get medication when they need it and have to wait for it too. As few as nine people in the United States get access to addiction treatment, they need it. Michael worked with the office of National Drug Control Policy to develop substance abuse and the Affordable Care Act. The government developed policies that allowed for preventive measures, early detection, and recovery support. They have pushed for criminal reforms to help decriminalize the act but find ways to help them medically. The act has granted addicts the care they need from the primary care level.
Addiction is an issue of concern around the world contributed by different factors. For a long time, addiction was treated as a criminal offense. Over time, various policies have been developed to decriminalize it and help the victims. There might be a lot of stigma around addiction, but it is reassuring to know that people are more aware of the situation and know where to get help for themselves and their loved ones. The current policy that takes a medical approach gets to the root of the problem and helps the victims as opposed to threatening them with incarceration. The Affordable Care Act plays a significant role in providing care to addicts and helping them get back to society.