by D Par

Created on: January 04, 2010   Last Updated: January 14, 2010

Drug abuse is representative of underlying problems in a person's life. It is the symptom not the cause, just a metaphor for outside forces. Prisons are full of people who have abused drugs, but these people aren't helped by prison. The environment of punishment isn't the answer to their problems.

We need to attack the root of the problem, whatever stresses or pressures are leading the person to abuse drugs. The root of the problem is health, and we need to help people take control of their health and assume responsibility. Personal responsibility for one's well being is the best cure to ending drug abuse.

If people are given treatment and learn the consequences of their actions, they can step up and do what is right. They can find a proper purpose in their life have a source of happiness other than drugs. Once these people see that drugs aren't the answer, they will no longer abuse drugs.

Prison just hardens drug users, who cannot be rehabilitated in such conditions. Prison makes it harder for drug users to adapt to and fit in the real world, thus hurting chances for employment or bettering their lives.Treating drug usage as a health problem would be more apt to fixing lives in the real world. People that go into prison often start a vicious cycle in and out of prison that continuously repeats itself.

Drug abuse is a mental disease, and people addicted to drugs have a sickness that they are battling. We have to study addiction and understand it, then take medical measures to get people out of addiction. Addiction is a health program that ruins lives, and we should treat it that way.

Medical treatments can over time be proven to cure people and help them get better, a guarantee prison cannot make. Why should we spend so much money and resources to imprison people when we can take steps to cure their addiction and help these people get better?

Let's treat them like real human beings. The humanitarian solution to this is through treatment and rehabilitation. Society benefits the most when these people get better, and we cannot let vengeance overcome us and distract us from the true goal of this process.

If we can instill values like personal responsibility, and give these people a good purpose in life, we can change lives. If we put in the right health measures, we will see progress over time, and society will be more harmonious. 

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