As a person in recovery from #addiction, I have first-hand knowledge of the damage wrought by #drugs and #alcohol. The personal, interpersonal, and societal costs of #addiction are astronomical, and we have all been affected by it in some way. Over the course of my journey, I have seen policy and perception around #addiction begin to change. For the past 25 years, a more humanistic approach to addressing these problems termed “harm reduction” or “harm minimization” has gained greater acceptance. This shift has made a profound impact on many lives, including my own.
To talk about why harm reduction has been such a welcome change, it is necessary to talk about the status quo in the United States and how it came to be. Since President Nixon’s administration in the 1970’s, the US approach to addressing addiction has largely been punitive. Coined “The War on #Drugs,” legislation passed in 1970 would increase pursuit and prosecution of both drug suppliers and addicts. This legislation was pursued less zealously during President Carter’s administration, and then much more zealously during Reagan's administration (1981 to 1989). Mandatory and longer prison terms resulted in a drastic upswing in incarceration rates in the US, which incarcerates more of its population per capita than any other country in the world (Council 2014):
Studies to evaluate the effectiveness of this policy have determined that reducing demand for #drugs through funding treatment and outreach programs is much more effective than funding “War on #Drugs” interventions such as law enforcement. One large government-funded study determined that funding treatment is 23 times more effective at reducing drug use than funding law enforcement (Rydell and Sohler Everingham 1994). Nonetheless, complex political and socioeconomic reasons for maintaining the status quo exist and are beyond the scope of this discussion. What is pertinent here is that a widespread, systemic criminalization of drug use and #addiction has had profound consequences in terms of stigma. It is well-established that #addiction is a medical condition, but 50 years of draconian drug policy has resulted in a great deal of stigma in relation to #addiction. This stigma not only limits what services and opportunities are available for people who need help, but also creates a sense of societal rejection that gets internalized by the person struggling with #addiction. We throw away our addicts (by incarcerating them), sending a clear message that we are the refuse of society.
Fortunately, the tides are beginning to turn. Attitudes are beginning to change. Caring people are choosing compassion over condemnation, and it is making a difference.
Like many #addicts, I have struggled with my own self-loathing in relationship with my addiction. I believe that self-love is imperative to recover. I would first have this insight after a powerful interaction with a caring healthcare provider during a very dark time in my life.
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Next week - The Dark Side of Addiction
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