Is drug abuse a CRIMINAL problem or a PERSONAL HEALTH problem?

Question

Should alcohol abuse be a CRIMINAL problem also?

What about anything else that would bring stress relief to a person?

when did americans become so anti-freedom??

okay, so what if it contributes to theft, etc. What about for people that work a steady job, and are law-abiding citizens, except they like to smoke a joint on the weekends for relaxation and meditation purposes, or even recreational purposes. Or even if they want to do some cocaine on the weekend - why is that so wrong? forget what you have been told by the government all of your life (while they are doing cocaine - bush)...why is that wrong?

Answer 1

Drug abuse is both a criminal problem and a public health problem.
Alcohol abuse eventually manifests itself in such a way that the abuser is prosecuted for it. i.e. drunk driving, drunk in public, etc.

Cocaine is illegal and dangerous. Marijuana used for medicinal purposes would be OK - but again, you're talking about self medicating with a drug. Just like alcoholics self medicate with alcohol. There are better ways to relax.

Answer 2

I have had a conversation with a DA, a defense attorney and a judge. The defense attorney was of course saying it was a personal problem and didn't affect anyone, so why was it a felony to possess meth. Of course I jumped in with the facts that after the "honeymoon period" of the drug use, it turned these clowns into thieves and worse so they could support their habit that would surely spiral out of control. The DA backed me up on that one, but the defense attorney wasn't having it, saying that not everyone turned to criminal behavior to support it. I asked how many defendants she had served that weren't addicted to something like crack, meth, coke, etc..She said she didn't know. I said, OK. How many defendants have you had that had a possession charge or an under the influence charge along with the theft or robbery charge? She starts with the "Ummm....well...I, uh..." I said, "Alot huh, maybe most? Maybe half? She said "Ya, probably." The judge was trying to stifle her laughter.

No, it wasn't during a trial, it was while were waiting before a trial. Don't believe for a second a Defense Attorney would let you get one in like that on the stand.

Alcohol has a hand in Domestic Violence calls, fights and most other violent crimes.

Drugs seems to be the culprit in the robbery and theft situations.

Answer 3

When I was a teenager, we spent 10 years living next door to a violent alcoholic who tried to attack my mum on two occasions and the police did nothing. Last year, a woman was moved into the Housing Estate where my mum currently lives - and this woman had mental health issues. For some reason she was given a 3 bedroom house (which seemed obscene when there are homeless families on waiting lists for housing) and she caused a lot of problems in the area, but the police weren't willing to take up the case as she had mental health problems (Schizophrenic I believe). She tried to attack my brother one night and was abusive to many people in the area including lots of the children on the estate - she even hit one little girl and threatened several other kids. She was eventually evicted but that was for (I believe) rent arrears rather than for her behaviour. I'll never understand why the Housing Association housed her there in the first place. It was unfair on the other families. We now have an alcoholic 2 doors down from us who tried to attack my partner last year and - guess what - the police did nothing!! Your story just sound very typical of the "law and order" situation in this country, sadly.

Answer 4

It's both...

It's criminalised in an attempt for it's use to become minimal, I believe alcohol is legal because most countries are based on christian morals and it's ok to drink but not get drunk, nost places (pubs/clubs) have a policy to not serve drinks if a person is too intoxicated (yeah I know it doesn't happen)

I believe that if someone is taking a medicine/drug for stress relief then it's a problem, but that doesn't mean it should be illegal, just controlled.

Answer 5

It's a personal problem, that turns into a health problem,
that sometimes turns into a criminal problem! Unless, of course, you lived in the USA in the 1920's, 30's, 40's, 50's,
and 60's, then it was a problem only if it were a hardcore
opiate or heroin. And the extreme in the 20's hard booze,
prohibited moonshine!

Answer 6

Criminal. And the fact some people choose to say and write bad things about Paris Hilton (because of some problems in her driving license), while it is possible for a drug abuser to become US president (current and previous), with basically no charges pressed against, is scandalous.

Answer 7

Drug Abuse is a Personal Health Problem - period!! Anyone who abuses drugs makes that personal choice on their own granted they are committing a crime by doing illegal drugs the point still remains that regardless whether doing drugs and abuseing them is a criminal problem wouldnt be a problem if the Individual or person abusing the drugs didnt want them and the demand for illegal drugs is apparent by all the people who personally use or abuse drugs .... supply and demand my friend. you get me?


Abusing alcohol is also a personal health problem ... doesnt become ciminal until they committ a crime while under the influence .... like for instance Driving a car while your intoxicated ..thats a crime but drinking vodka bottles like theres no tommorrow in the privacy of your own home is that persons choice , and is his or her own personal health problem at that point

Answer 8

Its a criminal problem when you steal things to pay for your drugs, its criminal when you buy it or sell it to people who can and do kill you for your drug money. Its criminal when it interferes with your judgment so you kill or neglect your kids, and you can't hold a job because you are nodding out.
Its a personal health problem when you want to quit and can't.
If you want to lessen your stress meditate, do yoga, go for a walk in the park. There is enormous amounts of stress involved in the drug lifestyle, where you get you next amount, what to do if your dealer gets arrested, what to do if you get arrested, where to get it, when to get it, where to get the money, where to get the money, where to get the money.
Alcohol is a drug, and its every bit as detrimental as heroin or meth. Drive on it and you will be arrested. Appear in public intoxicated and if you make a pest of yourself you will be arrested.

Answer 9

Criminal

Answer 10

BOTH...but the worst part is what it makes a person do to the innocent victims of society. Many dealers have stooped so low as to kidnap and murder young children and stuff there dead bodies with dope to "safely" transport it without detection. Not to mention The battered spouses, abused and molested children, rise in drug related crime, rapes, murders property damage and thefts for the tweaking addicts to get possessions or money for their next fix. For what it's worth, I do not see any benefits for use of street drugs, it hurts the health of the users but many completely innocent people have to deal with the after affects of the users action.