There are many among us who feel that this is a new
problem that we don't understand because we have never before
been faced with it.  Not so.  Opium dens have existed in the
orient for hundreds of years.  Heroin was a major problem around
the turn of the 20th century.  Great Britain has faced this problem
for well over a hundred years.  Today's problem is the fact that
the illegal drugs that were very hard to get in years past are
now easily obtained.  Modern communications and technological
advances have made the importation of drugs a great deal easier
than in the past.   And really, the drugs themselves are not the
problem.  In all honesty, if you want to spend your time in a
hazy stupor, who am I to try and stop you.  The social problem
that comes with the "drug" territory is that the user cannot
afford to maintain his or her habit for very long without finding
a way to obtain the funds to purchase more drugs.  After all, if
you are in a drug induced stupor it is not likely that you will
be able to hold gainful employment, so you will have to turn to
other means to support your habit.  Prostitution, larceny, car
theft, burglary, and drug trafficking are some of the options
open to the user.  None of these alternatives fall into the realm
of being socially acceptable.  The problem is exacerbated by the
incidence of further crime and violence that is generated by each
and every instance of petty crime.  Prostitution breeds disease
and violence.  Theft, petty or grand, is just waiting for a
victim to catch the criminal in the act.  The violence that
follows will range anywhere from assault and battery to
manslaughter.  For what?  A small package of powder that will
kill the user eventually, anyway.  

Some people have held that if the drugs that are feeding the
problem were legalized (and taxed), there wouldn't be a problem. 
This is a shallow argument.  While it is true that crimes would
not be committed in the importation and transportation of the
product, those individuals needing to purchase the drugs will
still have to get the money to do so from somewhere.  So all of
the theft and burglary that we experience today will still be
there after legalization.  Plus we run the risk that many more
people could be harmed because of the ease in obtaining the first
dose.  Look at alcohol as a comparison situation.  This is a
legal drug and there are fewer problems with "boot legging" than
existed during prohibition.  And yet, we still have thousands
upon thousands of alcoholics who will do damn near anything for
their daily dose.  Luckily, alcohol can be found in very
inexpensive products.  The user does not have to steal much to be
able to support his habit.  The drug user is faced with a much
heavier cost.  Add taxes and profits for distributors and the
cost of doing business will be supported by the pawn brokers of
the world. 

An alternative solution has been attempted in many European
countries.  They have tried a program called "harm reduction". 
The sale and importation of drugs would continue to be illegal,
however, the addicted user would be provided social and medical
services to either try to minimize the danger to his or her self
or to the community at large.  I think that this approach
requires the general public to regard the addict as a victim, and
this is difficult, at best.  

In reality, however, it is important to recognize that the
afflicted are human beings who may not have been able to control
the circumstances that led them to the addiction.  I know it
sounds terrible, but I see nothing wrong with providing a safe
haven and a clean needle.  If we can decide to recognize the
addiction as a disease, then we are obligated to try to provide a
treatment program.  

There is a cost involved here, but there is also a cost
involved with doing nothing.  I think that it is less expensive
to provide care and treatment than to deal with the problem in
the courts and the legal systems.  It is also a much more humane
alternative.  I have read that over a third of the people
currently incarcerated are being kept under lock and key for
using illegal drugs.  De-criminalization of drug use would free
up jail space and court time.  Those resources could best be used
dealing with the true crimes of our society.
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