Should a merciful safe-haven law for opium addicts be enacted to cut down criminal acts by desperate drug addicts?
A recent Chicago Headline quote President Trump remark “Time for small thinking is over.” Another article reported a couple arrested for criminal acts confessed they did so to obtain money to feed their drug addictions.
Anyone who ever experienced dealing either on a professional or personal basis with a drug addict knows that cold turkey is no simple option or solution. Anyone who takes the time to educate themselves on how an opium additions affects both the brain and body functions, and is related to physiological stress factors may agree with me that we need a change in small thinking how to deal with the current drug addiction methods being used in the USA..
For example, would a safe haven and free government supplied opium coupled with strong emphasis, even propaganda education, cut down on crime and lead in time to a better means to help reduce and end the growing opium addiction in the USA?
Thoughts and Questions to Ponder
How did China successfully end millions of opium drug addicts in the 1950’s? How long in history has drug addiction to have been known to exist? Do drug addicts die younger than non- addicts on average? How many drug addicts are there in the USA? How much does it cost government assisted programs to treat a drug addict? How much does it cost taxpayers to jail a drug addict turn criminal? How much emphasis is given to teaching school children about the effects of drug addiction will have in their lives? How many public-address warnings do you hear about the detrimental effects of drug addiction on American Society and the costs to taxpayers? Why hasn’t the decades old USA War on Drugs never been won? Are drugs a driving factor of Chicago Violence?
Why wisdom and mercy is needed to deal with drug addiction in the USA, in my opinion?
Wisdom
The Safe-Haven Law to prevent mothers from abandoning their unwanted children to die in garbage cans or alleys has been successful and merciful law in practice. Why not do the same for a drug addict who cannot afford the cost of a drug from a street drug peddler from committing a crime or engaging in prostitution to obtain or maintain their addition?
For example, if every fire station or hospital was a safe-haven for a drug addict to obtain a free fix, would there be less crimes enacted by desperation for drugs?
Mercy
The present laws are not working mainly because of our perceptions that War on Drugs methods enacted over five decades ago is the only solution. Compare and learn from the some of the proven methods how China eradicated Opium with the use of mercy combined with public awareness and education. to rid Opium in their country.
Of course, we should not include their government methods to kill anyone that did not obey their methods.
In My Opinion,
We need to change our thinking to include both policing, mercy, and reality that drugs and people has always been a problem since ancient times and probably will always continue to be a problem.
A war on drugs will never be won or ended, so we need wisdom coupled with merciful practical solutions to deal with the reality of drug addiction.
For example if a addict obtained a free fix at a fire-station, under the supervision of a trained emergency medics, perhaps he or she would not contemplate committing a crime as a means to pay for drugs from a drug dealer.
King Solomon Wisdom Prayer
“God of our ancestors and Lord of mercy, you have made all things. And in your providence have charged us to rule the creatures produced by you, to govern the world in holiness and righteousness, and to render judgment with integrity of heart. Give us wisdom, for we are your servants, weak and short-lived, lacking in comprehension of judgment and of laws. Indeed, though one might be perfect among mortals, if wisdom which comes from you be lacking, we count for nothing. Now with you is wisdom, who knows your will and was there when you made the world, who understands what is pleasing in your eyes, what is conformable with your commands, send her forth from your holy heavens. From your glorious throne, dispatch her that she may be with us and work with us, that we may grasp what is pleasing to you. For she knows and understands all things and will guide us prudently in our affairs and safeguard us by her glory.”
(Source 2017 IExcerpt of nauguration Prayer for President Donald Trump) HERE
Nothing is Free, However……
….if you discern the costs to jail and police drug users that may become criminals to the cost of giving free drugs, there is no comparison that free drugs will be a more economic benefit to taxpayers. Of course, there will be numerous details to be ironed out. For example, limits on lengths of free drugs, signing of legal disclaimers, agreement by addicts to listen and be educated on how to help themselves, confidentiality, parental consents etc. etc..
As for the drug addict, in exchange for the free fix, they would be obligated to watch a series of educational movies over time and lectures on how to obtain help to treat their problems and where to go for help to help themselves.
Addition Benefits.
If you look over the costs peddlers charge addicts for drugs, compared to the costs to manufacture the drugs, you will readily see why the drug cartels are so profitable that so many people are lured into becoming criminal drug dealers versus honest labor. Reduce their profit and it will be one more avenue to reduce the drug addiction problems in the USA.
If at the same time if police measures reduce the the supply of drugs being smuggled or made illegally, cost of drugs being sold on the street will increase. Price and economics will help reduce new young drug users
Marijuana
Users claim marijuana use does not lead to drug addiction or leads users to advance to more potent drugs.. However, even if they are correct, which I personally do not believe is totally accurate, the truth is that if you smoke it or eat it, you should ask any physician if the long term effects are beneficial or harmful. They will explain in detail all about the proven ill effects and risks of ingesting drugs that will reduce average life spans. I would not include free marijuana in a safe haven law, only hard drugs such as opium.
If We Continue ….
….the same present course of believing that we can solve the problems of drug additions by police enforcement only, we are fooling ourselves. In my opinion, Government needs to also incorporate a strong emphasis on wisdom, experience, education, policing, in combination with mercy and reality to lessen the problem of crime s caused by drug addiction.
“Fire, water, and government know nothing of mercy. ~Proverb”
Perhaps it is time for government to learn about adding mercy and wisdom to change course to prevent and lower drug addiction in the USA. The reality is young people are prone to making foolish decisions and believe they are invincible. Many lack parental guidance and roam free to make foolish choices and are easily influenced by professional criminals to use youths for their purposes. Even with the best parental guidance, they are prone to peer pressures and stress in life. Plus, the fact that they are humans and history has numerous examples and stories of how humans are prone to folly.
Add the fact that the Wisdom learned over the ages is not a separate subject taught in schools. For example, in ancient times a person was considered wise if they live to achieve old age and grey hair. Fools today as well as in ancient times have been and are continuing to kill themselves slowly by engaging in drugs.
In Other Words,
A Drug-Haven Act is similar action to prevent the desperate actions of a mother may engage in because she cannot cope with a new born baby. Professionals who deal with drug offenders understand that most drug addicts cannot cope without drugs and will engage in desperate criminal acts to obtain drugs.
“I’m tired of hearing it said that democracy doesn’t work. Of course it doesn’t work. We are supposed to work it.” ~Alexander Woollcott
Perhaps President Trump is wise by stating “Time for small thinking is over.”
Regards and goodwill blogging.
Sources
Why Opium is So Hard to Treat HERE
Drug Statistics in USA HERE
Street Costs of Drugs HERE
Safe Haven Law Wikipedia HERE
Jesus Christ on Mercy HERE
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