Murky Future
Across the globe there have been essentially contesting viewpoints on drugs and on drug addiction. The pressing question is this: do we continue on with the status quo drug policies characterized by the War on Drugs or do we as a global community f=make the shift towards something much more radical? Many people, good people, have a hard time with things like decriminalization and safe injection centers because it so far-flung from what many of us grew up being taught: just say no.
Despite this we are seeing dramatic change, abroad and at home. Just this past Tuesday, April 5th, there was a California Assembly Committee hearing on establishing safe injection centers at the county level (AB 2495 Eggman). This is a promising step, though a decision has not yet been made. In Hawaii there is a resolution that has just passed into the senate proposing requesting that the Legislative Reference Bureau conduct a study on the feasibility of decriminalizing personal amounts of drugs in Hawaii, which includes the example of Portugal. Many advocates in Seattle are attempting to set up the nation’s first safe injection center and are receiving wide support, even from county sheriffs. Across the world there are over 90 safe injection centers. This is all promising.
However, There is still vociferous opposition. The comments section on these news stories are in themselves apparent of how hard it is to do a 180 and change the way we think about and do drug policy. As one commenter says, “drug addiction is primarily a choice…their choice is destructive to themselves and society. We should not be in the business of enabling it or condoning it. When a drug user overdoses they are basically committing suicide. We shouldn't interfere.” This is an extremely common viewpoint, of the people and of our lawmakers.
All this considered, I have hope for the success of the irish program. The centers are slated for opening in Dublin later this year and they have enjoyed wide support. That being said there is still storng opposition, which can oftentimes delay reform. The world is changing, but very slowly. With the success of programs such as those in Portugal and, hopefully, Ireland, perhaps it can eventually push other countries (like our own) forward.
Works Cited
"HCR 127 Hawaii House Concurrent Resolution." Open: States. Sunlight Foundation, 11 Mar. 2016. Web. 06 Apr. 2016.
Jaywork, Casey. "Sheriff: Safe Drug Site Users Would 'Not Be Arrested By Any of My Deputies'" Seattle Weekly. Sound Publishing Inc., 23 Mar. 2016. Web. 06 Apr. 2016.
" Supervised Injecting Facilities." Drug Info. Australian Drug Foundation, 13 Jan. 2015. Web. 06 Apr. 2016.
"Tuesday: California Assembly Committee Hearing on Supervised Consumption Services for People Who Use Drugs." We Are the Drug Policy Alliance. Drug Policy Alliance, 4 Apr. 2016. Web. 06 Apr. 2016.
