By Alexandra D. Datig, Los Angeles, California -
For the last two decades there has
been an increasing dialogue about whether or not marijuana and even cocaine
should be legal. Some policy makers, people in recovery and treatment believe that if pot were legal, it would help those who are trying to rebuild
his or her life after addiction. By loosening criminal penalties this would make it easier for offenders to get a job, a student
loan and so on. Yes, these things should
be made possible, but not by condoning drug use.
During my 12 years as a citizen
advocate, I have been taking part in the anti-drug legalization dialogue for
some time. Over the years I have learned
that there are only few people who understand the struggle of recovery. Usually it is the people who have seen
someone die from drug addiction or alcoholism or have been in treatment
themselves. Rarely and almost never have I
seen people in recovery come out in the marijuana debate. During my journey in what is seen as a highly
complex discussion, I have seen policy wonks advising society to get treatment. I have seen alcohol drinkers recommend people
in recovery speak out and share their experience. I have seen influential figures in recovery
stay silent when some of the best opportunities for sharing his or her
experience, strength and hope in recovery were before them. On one occasion, I have even seen a prevention
organization whose mission it is to work with people in recovery slam the door
in my face because of all things, I was a human trafficking survivor. As a woman in recovery of
more than 14 years, I have also been threatened by drug legalizers and manipulated by some people who were supposed to be on my side. All this for trying to inspire
recovery as recommended by the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Sure makes you wonder if all the right people,
with the right level of experience are at the forefront making the right arguments for our
citizens. Thankfully, I am proud to be working with some of those who understand their work.
But that should leave us all to wonder,
who are the good guys anyway? Who are
the bad guys? If you’re arguing in favor
of drug use, you’re arguing for an increase in crime and the building of more
prisons which is the last thing we need. This has been a proven fact and
while they should, none of the legalization experts will argue about this being a major sticking point of the legalization debate.
If you’re advocating prevention and
educating communities not to meddle with drugs in the first place, then you’re
definitely one of the good guys. If
you’re providing training to aid and curb the staggering recidivism rate with
effective re-entry programs, then you are not only a good guy, but you may be
on to something.
According to the Bureau of Prisons, the recidivism rate
for offenders on probation and parole is 66%. That
means after three years, people who leave prison are sent back to prison usually
due to a probation or parole violation over a technical offense or a crime violating
parole. The Los Angeles Times, recently
reported that California's state prisons are at 151% capacity! Truth in Sentencing laws mandate criminals
serve out more of their full sentence and are not let out early due to good
behavior. Therefore, more offenders are
crowding America’s prisons, some of which are old and run down and barely
inhabitable. The U.S. Department of Justice reports “there is extensive
evidence of the strong relationship between drug use and crime,” noting that
drug users report more involvement in crime, people with criminal records are
more likely than those without criminal records to report being drug users, and crime rises as drug use
increases. But this does not mean that a
criminal record causes drug addiction.
Those of us who have been in recovery for a long time know it is the
other way around. Drug use causes high
risk behavior that can result in crime causing a criminal record.
It is time the value of those
in recovery is seen as an effective tool to aid the social perception of what
causes crime and dangerous behavior. A wealth of information lies within those who understand how to put his or her life back together after addiction and all that comes with it. Yes, I know it is not a pretty argument but it is a whole lot better
than thinking legal drugs will solve all our problems when in fact it will make them WORSE. In my experience it is not whether something
is legal or illegal. Chances of succeeding
and feeling great about life are far greater if drugs and alcohol are not part
of it.
