As we come upon Election Day on Nov. 5, a major issue that we at The Equinox are concerned about is drug addiction.
In a New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR) article posted on Oct. 28, they reported on the lack of response or concern shown by N.H. gubernatorial candidates, especially as addiction has been a problem the state has been severely struggling with for nearly a decade now. We feel these candidates, and the state overall, should be doing more for those struggling with addiction issues.
One significant roadblock to progress is the stigma that surrounds addiction itself. There is a disgust and otherization of people who struggle with addiction, making action on the issue more difficult. This stigma, or stereotype, makes politicians skittish about making statements or policy proposals as they fear the image of being “soft on crime” or “soft on drugs.” There is also an issue of reprimand for these crimes.
The system of reprimand in N.H., as with most of the United States, is focused on standard “War on Drugs” tactics, such as a tendency to profile people based on demographics and sentencing people to lengthy prison sentences instead of extended stays at a rehabilitation facility. This is both inhumane and extremely ineffectual in actually solving the problem of addiction. N.H. and the U.S. need to take a more holistic and productive approach to this critical social problem.
There needs to be more nuance to the issue; there are a plethora of reasons why a person may become addicted and struggle with substance abuse. People may be grappling with loss and other emotional struggles without having a good outlet to speak about these issues. They may have severe pain and have their prescription discontinued or they could have struggled with severe pain that has been resolved but used their prescription longer than needed, leaving them hooked.
In this holistic approach, we should be reducing the stigma of drug abuse and the stigma of asking for help; that is the biggest issue with drug policy. Making it easy for communities and municipalities to maintain safe disposal sites, safe injection sites and easing the process of finding a rehab or access to the appropriate medical resources is crucial. It would significantly help shift the social view of drug abuse and save lives in the process. A re-alignment of social views regarding addiction is something we are in desperate need of. Take the dichotomy between alcohol and marijuana, for instance. The stigma around being a “pot-head,” although it has come a long way, is still very negative and makes you a social pariah. If that same person were an alcoholic, it would not carry the same social restrictions, even while still being viewed as distasteful and negative. N.H. could benefit from more helpful responses to the issue.
Lawmakers and politicians could pass legislation to legalize marijuana in the state. N.H. is the only state in New England to not have legalized the recreational use of marijuana, leaving the state out of step with all of our neighbors. The income from those sales could go to fund programs that help with drug abuse such as rehabs, half-way houses and safe use/disposal programs. We could also shift money away from corrections and law enforcement budgets. We, as a society, seem to be very spend-happy when it comes to law enforcement; however that does not seem to be the solution. Adding more law enforcement to the mix does not solve anything; we have been doing that for years and have made no meaningful progress. Shifting funding to rehab programs and counseling services to help people get back on their feet is far more important and beneficial. It would put more people on a path of being healthy, productive people instead of putting more bodies in jail cells and continuing the vicious cycle of recidivism. That funding would also help those who may be dissuaded by the cost of rehab to get themselves help that they are desperately wanting.
Hopefully going forward, politicians and our gubernatorial candidates will more seriously look at truly solving the issue of drug abuse, instead of taking the acceptable social approach that aligns with their political views.
