According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) the problem in growing. As medical authorities make it more difficult to obtain prescription drugs - addicts are turning to heroin and fentanyl because they'e cheaper and easier to obtain.
From the time I started using heroin in the 1950s the authorities have been beating the same drum. War on drugs. Longer prison terms. Zero tolerance for first offenders. But the reality is that none of these measures have made a difference. My habit just got larger because I knew nothing of recovery. And I met a lot of good connections when I was locked up.
About 80% of our prisons are made up of addicts. Though we don't punish people with cancer or heart disease by locking them up that's not the case with the disease of addiction.
Prison and law enforcement is big business in this country and a majority of crime stems from illegal drug use, drug sales, and crimes committed to get drugs. From an economic standpoint punishment makes sense. It keeps a lot of people working.
My suggestion is that we become more creative. Look to the European countries that are having some succcess with curbing addiction. It's on the internet for all to see.
While we stand back moralizing about what to do with a problem that's been around for a hundred years they've taken some positive steps.
