The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) director Nora Volkow recently published an opinion piece. She discussed the harm criminalization has on various levels of people.
“Societal norms surrounding drug use and addiction continue to be informed by myths and misconceptions,” said Volkow. “Among the most harmful of these is the scientifically unfounded belief that compulsive drug-taking by individuals with addiction reflects deliberate antisocial or deviant choices. This belief contributes to the continued criminalization of drug use and addiction.”
“They often (become) treated in a demeaning and dehumanizing way“
Over the past few years, the general public’s view on drugs, cannabis especially, has changed. However, many laws, including federal ones, still push for the criminalization of possession, consumption, and growth. Many states still imprison people for possession of cannabis.
“Imprisonment itself not only increases the likelihood of dying prematurely but also negatively impacts mental health and social adjustment via the stigma of having been incarcerated. And it has radiating effects: Incarceration of a parent increases their children’s risk of drug use, for example,” Volkow continued.
Director Volkow’s column further argues the stigma surrounding criminalization and prejudice against drug users has “major negative impacts on health and well-being”. This has led to “only 18 percent of people with drug use disorders (to) receive treatment for their addiction.”
“They look at us like junkies”
This statement is according to one patient. They live on the streets of New York City while trying to handle their addiction themselves. Unfortunately, addicts tend to receive treatment as lesser humans for their addiction. Therefore, many don’t know where to seek help or if they want help. And if they do know where, they either can’t access it or they can’t afford it. Sometimes, the potential provider has prejudice against addicts. The patient could potentially not receive the best care possible because of this.
According to Director Volkow, “a recent national survey of primary care physicians found that although most believe that opioid use disorder is a treatable medical condition, most also expressed similar stigmatizing views toward people with opioid use disorder,” a majority of the population holds. These stigmatizing attitudes among physicians correlated with a decrease in the treatment of opioid use disorder.
Several factors must change moving forward. NIDA Director Volkow describes it well. An effective public health response to substance use will consider how these people become criminalized for the substance. This is where a majority of the social stigma comes from. Additionally, there’s research happening on how to reduce stigma surrounding substance use. The research is looking into the positive and potential negative outcomes of a change in punishment. This research and the upcoming outcome will definitely impact and hopefully improve the health of million of Americans.
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