MEDIA PROJECT-HANNAH BUTLER

The podcast discusses why drug abusers should be treated instead of punished by the law. It argues that the current approach is morally blind and counterproductive. Drug addiction is seen as a health issue that should be treated, rather than a deliberate choice to break the law. Punishment does not address the root of the problem and can lead to higher rates of recidivism. Rehabilitation programs have been proven to be more effective in reducing drug use and reintegrating individuals into society. It is argued that prioritizing treatment over punishment is not only more humane but also more cost-effective. Ultimately, the podcast emphasizes the importance of prioritizing the effectiveness of the justice system and the well-being of individuals. What's up guys and welcome back to another episode of my podcast this is Hannah and I'm here with my guest star Misha and today we are going to be discussing why drug abusers should be treated rather than punished by the law. Okay so the current approach towards the plague of a problem that is drug addiction is a morally blind one and a counterproductive one. As many of you know drug abuse is an issue that's haunted every corner of the United States for an immeasurable amount of time. It has a link to a lot of people's lives I'm sure a lot of you know someone who's been affected by it. By prioritizing the idea of punishment and legality we are distancing ourselves from the solution. Instead of incarcerating people who have a problem with using drugs I think that it would be more efficient to instead prioritize treatment of the addiction because it provides individuals health and it improves it sorry it improves individuals health decreases recidivism rates and it honors the notion of human rights which are very important. So first and foremost I think that it's very important that we acknowledge that drug addiction is a health issue and it needs to be treated as such. By focusing on the punishment of a user rather than identifying the problem for what it is and aiming for the best outcome of government involvement millions of Americans in desperate need for medical health can have a better chance of getting back on their feet. Unlike many other crimes drug addiction is not simply a conscious and deliberate choice to break the law. Well yes people are that are doing drugs are breaking the law and making a poor decision. It's not as simple as just saying no. Addiction is recognized by major psychiatric and medical associations like the American Medical Association as a disease. Drug addiction is correlated with profound changes in the brain structure and function. It's a disease that alters the brain's reward system leading to drug seeking behavior and neurobiological changes similar to other conditions. Due to drug addictions chronic nature people who attempt to break out from the cycle of drug use are faced with the imminent process of withdrawal. As many of you know that is very unpleasant and it's a health risk in its own. With so many links to a person's health and well-being simply throwing that person in a cell won't do any justifiable good. But the flow of contraband simply unable to be thoroughly squashed in jails around the country the likelihood of a drug addict having access to substances while incarcerated is pretty high. The problem will most likely still be happening and when a person who has had success access to substances while in jail is let go the addiction controlling their brain will give them no choice but to find some drugs and in many cases overdose. This is a cycle many Americans go through and by the end of their time no good has been done. Instead of focusing on punishing drug users treatment allows for a change. It targets the root of the problem. Just overall I think that it's really important that we as a society and especially our government should be prioritizing the safety and health of people instead of just plain punishment. Especially when the punishment is doing less good than said safety and overall treatment. Backpacking off of that notion that lack of treatment results in a cycle of addiction it also increases the rate of recidivism. A person struggling with drug addiction upon getting out of prison without any medical help is much more likely to commit another offensive drug use and end up back in jail. That's just how addiction works. It's like I said a health issue so they have no choice but to search out drugs. It's wired in their brain. According to the National Center of Biotechnology Information a review of recidivism in 15 states found that one quarter of individuals released returned to prison within three years for technical violations that included among other things testing positive for drug use. The counterproductivity of our current approach to drug use is quite frankly astounding. Research conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse indicates that rehabilitation programs significantly reduced recidivism rates among drug offenders compared to traditional punitive charges and measures. By simply switching approaches the law enforcement system can change from being negatively stagnant to productive. On another note, prioritizing the morality of the situation. On another note, taking the morality of the situation into account, having rehabilitation in prison settings is a large step in the right direction when it comes to honoring human rights. Having a system that focuses more on the act of punishment rather than what provides the best outcome is counterintuitive and in the end ultimately bites the good of society in the butt. Many argue that the right to rehabilitation is a fundamental right and in other countries it is included as a right by the law. What I found interesting on the site ojp.gov which is the official site for the US Department of Justice, E. Roten exhibits that arguments based on the 14th and 18th and 8th amendments and the application of customary international law reveal an implicit right to rehabilitation in the US Constitution. Justice systems need to take into consideration that whether or not we have adequately followed the law, everyone deserves human rights. When acknowledging the fact that drug addiction is a disease, denying a person that help for their medical ailment is inhumane and the wrong way to approach the situation. Building on that, by providing users with the help they need rather than imprisonment, millions of people in need of help are able to avoid the stigmas and obstacles that come from being an ex-convict. If people are able to get help and be free of the stain of prison, the chance of them returning is substantially lower and the chance of getting back on their feet higher. In the book that I read called Decarcerating America, a book edited by Ernest Drucker, it states people returning home face continuing punishments, stigma and exclusion. It then says, it is not surprising that the return to prison is as common as it is. Within three years, approximately two thirds of people returning from prison are re-arrested. By sending drug users to treatment instead of prison, they face a better chance of having an easier assimilation back into society. Compassion and the health of human beings, whether or not they have made a mistake, should be a priority for justice systems, especially when the outcome of rehabilitation is generally in their favor. Hey guys, it's Misha. On a different note, some may argue that the cost of medical rehabilitation for inmates is not worth it and that prisons do not need to be wasting their money on treatment for drug users. According to the Washington State Institute for Public Policy, the borough's residential drug abuse treatment program costs on average $3,100. Thank you for that insight, Misha, but I do want to point out that the total amount being spent for rehab for inmates is actually less than the amount being saved. Actually, that same website states later on that the net cost savings is $5,230 per inmate through lowered costs for arrest, conviction, incarceration and supervision. Circling back to that rate of recidivism when treatments are applied, when people receive the help they need and recover from their addiction, they are less likely to be reincarcerated. Overall, by investing in a treatment plan for addicts, less convicts are coming back with new charges, ultimately saving the establishment's money. Sunilake Recovery Center provides an interesting fact to consider by stating, if 40% of offenders receive rehab versus incarceration, it saves the system $13 billion. That's a lot of money. The cost of rehab is noticeably less than the amount it would cost to reincarcerate people that could have avoided going back to prison had their treatment worked. So basically, both morally and financially, having rehabilitation makes the most sense for establishments. But rounding this all up, I just want to say that all in all, the importance of prioritizing treatment over punishment for drug use is significant. By taking into consideration that drug addiction is a disease and a health issue, that the rate of recidivism would decrease, and that rehabilitating drug users is a more humane approach, the concept of treatment for addiction is a much better route than the contrary. For the best outcome, it is really important to prioritize the effectiveness of the justice system rather than punishment alone. And I think by having rehabilitation, it just simply makes the most sense for both people and for systems of the government. That is all that I have for today's podcast, but I just want to thank everyone for listening, and I want to thank my co-star Misha for giving in an insightful counterclaim. And yeah, I hope that I opened your eyes to such an important topic. Thank you! Bye!