Humanizing Addiction
_Dire Consequences_
Criminalizing and demonizing people who are addicted to drugs will not contribute to anyone and will only make the issue worse.
_THE BRUTAL NEWS OF A YOUNG DRUG USER:_
ALYSA IVY died because of heroin overdose. There were many people near Alysa but no one called 911 for her and helped her because they were afraid that they might be arrested. This concern is reasonable but this fear towards criminal charges and toward addicted people causes unnecessary death.
THESE KIND OF LAWS EVEN PROMOTE BYSTANDER EFFECT. In some states, calling 911 for a drug abuser will not face criminal prosecution for getting in touch with drugs. This law is called “Good Samaritan” laws and could have saved Alysa and many other addicted people’s lives...
What Are The Consequences of Criminalization and Stigma?
Tens of thousands of deaths because of drug abuse every year. However, there are actually many treatments that can effectively help drug abusers and alcohol additives and prevent a significant number of deaths. Stigma toward addiction is one of the most important reasons that people who suffer from drug addiction are noting actively seeking help and involved in treatment. Many people continue to see addiction is caused by mentally weakness, flawed character and see abusers deserve suffering.
Stigma not only stop addicted people from seeking help, but also makes them continue to use drugs. A study by Marco Venniro of the National Institute on Drug Abuse showed that when people were able to choose when they are addicted, they tend to choose social interaction rather than drugs. However, when humiliating rejection and social stigma as punishment appeared, people would continue to use drugs and even intensify the amount of drug they would use. So, using stigma as a social punishment would have no contribution to the addicted people.
Reporter Nora D. Volkow met a man who refused to go to an emergency room and rather injected heroin because of previous experience of being treated horribly by health care providers. Hospitals and the health care provider also discriminate against drug addiction. Thus, they were dismissive to addicted people. People who suffer from drug addiction would feel shame and refuse to seek help. During COVID, the stigma worsens the addicted people’s situation. Hospitals would choose “normal” people instead of people with obvious drug addiction when they faced the situation of limited medical resources.