It is time for a major re-assessment of drug policy and practice in handling individuals who use drugs. This is major crisis in our society, and a serious threat to our youth. By keeping certain drugs illegal, we are providing a major resource to criminal networks. Drug money is a major source of power for these networks. If you remove this you take away a major resource out of their hands, seriously undermining their power. It is also then possible to regulate and control the sale of these drugs, ensuring they do not fall into the hands of minors and other people at risk. The war on drugs, totally contrary to the stated intent, has created a situation where these drugs are more freely available than ever before to anyone at any time. Their use and sale has extended even to the smallest villages and most isolated areas of the country, putting a whole generation of youth at risk. They are often introduced by unscrupulous dealers to youngsters who do not know what it is they are using, and are unaware that they will become dependent.
The experience of Portugal and other European countries has shown that decriminalization and even legalization does not necessarily lead to increase in drug usage. Under a system of regulation, users should be allowed to register and use in a controlled environment, where they would at the same time be encouraged and enabled to enter treatment and offered alternatives to using. This would minimize deaths through ensuring the quality of the product and ensure that new addicts are not created through exposure to these drugs. Locking up users with hardened criminals only ensures that they receive further training and encouragement in criminality. There should be programs in place, alternatives to imprisonment, in which youth whose education has been interrupted through drug use, can receive training in useful skills, not just job skills but including life skills and psychological counselling, to ensure that they do not have to resort to crime. The money which is at the moment used in policing and imprisoning users could then be better used to invest in such programs. At present the cost of treatment is unaffordable to all but the most wealthy segment of the population, and public programs are overcrowded and inaccessible.
There is a perception of all whoonga and tic users are criminals and beyond redemption. I have spent much time on the streets working with and getting to know some of these people. Many of them work very hard to maintain their habits. If you have seen the young people walking around the city carrying huge mounds of plastic or cardboard, you will know what I mean. Many are friendly and likeable, helpful individuals, who astound by their capacity to maintain a positive and cheerful attitude in the most dire of circumstances. Among the chores they do are collecting and recycling of rubbish, helping people with carrying and unloading shopping, garden work, “ piece “ work in the building trade, washing windows, cars etc. They are capable of working, and performing a useful role in society in spite of their drug use. Perhaps ways can be found to formalize some kind of business around the work they do. A new model would have to be created, one in which they are able individuals to work for short ( Perhaps 3-4) hour shifts, to allow for the need to score and use their drugs, and to be paid immediately on completion of a task to allow for the same. There are many ways they could be put to work. Some of the ideas which have come to mind would be to clean up the natural environment, removing invasive plants etc They can be made responsible for cleaning up and maintaining of public parks and other public spaces. Formalising the recycling work that they do, by providing drop off points where people can be paid for the materials they have collected would be another. Former addicts and street people who have stopped using for some time could be put in charge of such enterprises, providing employment for them. This would provide a solution to another problem of the present treatment system, where a person coming out of treatment, after getting clean, ends up back on the streets because he has nowhere else to go, and eventually starts using again. Many would say that in doing this we are enabling addicts to keep using. My argument is that by setting up such enterprises, we limit the users need to resort to crime, we are providing a means for them to ensure an income, they are better able to take care of themselves, and perhaps even keep themselves alive, while they are using. By engaging with them we allow them to feel valued, to feel connected to society, and give them the motivation and help they need to transition to a life free of addiction.
Dr Gabor Mate, Johan Hari and others have shown that addiction is a reaction to trauma, pain and disconnection. The war on drugs is actually a war on the most vulnerable members of our society. In a society that is considered the most unequal in terms of wealth distribution on the planet, where youth unemployment is close to 50%, is it any wonder that people turn to drugs for comfort? This is a problem that affects us all. We can make a change by the way we interact with people on the street. Listen to them, engage with them, get to know them, help where we can. I believe the disease of addiction infects our whole society, and it is the addicts who carry the symptom of the disease. They are despised because they are a constant reminder of the sickness of our society. But perhaps like the survivor of a rare virus who carries the antidote to the disease, they also carry the cure. Perhaps by starting with healing of the most vulnerable and damaged members of society, we can find a path to healing of the ills of society itself. To turn the old struggle slogan on its head: “a healing to one is a healing to all.”
I know these are radical suggestions, but present policy is failing dismally. Times and circumstances call for radical change.
