The war on drugs has been going on for quite some time and obviously it isn't working we have hit an epidemic in many cities. Over 50,000 people died last year from drug overdose (legal and prescription). Heroin deaths rose 23 percent in one year, to 12,989. Deaths from synthetic opioids, including illicit fentanyl, rose 73 percent to 9,580. And prescription painkillers took the highest toll, but posted the smallest increase. Abuse of drugs like Oxycontin and Vicodin killed 17,536, an increase of 4 percent.
I have brought thus up before, but I really think we need to take a look at Portugal; they have decriminalized ALL drugs. Those that are caught have two choices; get the treatment and counseling offered or go to jail. Overdoses have dropped dramatically. People are getting the help they need. Addiction is an illness. Too often facilities that are successful in treating addicts are not affordable to the average person. The person with an addiction is affording their addiction and don't have the money to get help and many don't have health insurance. So in essence ... these people who could get back to being productive citizens never get the help that they need. I see it as a real tragedy.