Currently, a heroin epidemic is sweeping through many parts of the country. Taxpayers are losing millions and millions of dollars, and most frustratingly, people are dying.
Of course everyone wants to fix this problem and offer solutions, but frankly, when it comes to drug policies, I'm a little at odds with myself. I definitely think the War on Drugs has been a huge waste of resources that is largely responsible for America's inflated prison populations and sky-high recidivism rate. However, I have also seen first-hand the damaging affects hard drugs can have on individuals, families, and even entire communities. I'm torn between wanting people to turn away from heroin for their health and safety, and realizing that government efforts to curb this problem have so far proven mainly futile.
There's no easy solution to the widespread addiction we're seeing now, but I believe if we can bring the conversation about drugs back to the forefront of our schools, our communities, and even our national discourse, we can at least make people more aware of the physical and psychological realities of drug addiction. I don't wish to see a return to the fear-mongering and outright lies of anti-drug campaigns of the 1980's (smoke one marijuana and you'll have a heart-attack!), but nor do I enjoy seeing people make decisions without being fully aware of what the consequences to their actions might be.
Like I said though, I don't claim to have any definitive answers to this epidemic. I'm just another person who's frustrated with the current state of affairs.
