Why should one view drug abuse as an illness

rather than a criminal issue? 

Through our research it is clear that drug abuse victims react in a more positive way when it comes to recovering when they are treated as an individual with an illness rather than a criminal charge. 

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Is there enough evidence to support whether victims react

in a more positive way when they are not criminalized?

Yes, if you refer to the interview section of our webpage you will find real life stories of individuals who come from many different backgrounds and share their experiences and perspectives directly on the impact of the way they are perceived within society. 

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How are individuals reacting to this changed in perspective?

Through our research we found that the majority of Individuals who suffer from drug abuse reacted in a more positive and responsive way to treatment and recovery. It was clear that individuals who were put into jail for the issues typically only grew worse and had a harder time with recovery. 

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Is this new outlook effective when with regards to the success

of drug abuse victims' recovery process?

As stated previously, through our research on this page it can be shown that individuals who were more successful typically were not criminalized prior to their recovery process. 

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Are there any negatives to looking at victims as ill

rather than criminal?

We did find a few negative aspects when it comes to the perspective we are pushing, however in most cases we found more success, hope, encouragement, and motive from individuals who were treated for their addiction in a way that an illness would be treated rather than the same way a robbery would be treated. 

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How do we continue to get more individuals to seek 

treatment and recovery within America?

Through our research we found that treating these victims who struggle with drug abuse as patients who need doctors and help rather than handcuffs and a jail cell. That being said, as a society individuals can be more welcoming to these individuals when it comes to offering them help. As mentioned many times before it is clear through our extensive research that individuals who struggle with drug abuse react better to recovery when they do not feel like a criminal.