“Over the last few decades, we’ve locked up more and more nonviolent drug offenders than ever before, for longer than ever before. And that is the real reason our prison population is so high. In far too many cases, the punishment simply does not fit the crime.”
President Barack Obama

America is said over and over again to be the greatest country on earth. It is said to be a place where freedom reigns and the people are proud. However, these opinions come with facts. One of those facts is that America has the highest incarceration rate in the entire world. Despite what is heard about the horrors of oppressive regime in North Korea, and the religious spawned terrorism in the middle east, Americans still dominate the earth with their high rate of prisoners.

The USA is home to 20% of the world’s prison population despite the fact they house only 5% of the world’s population. It seems a bit contradictory America has coined the phrase “land of the free” when the USA is actually the world’s largest jailer. It also seems odd that in the home of the brave, the nation is scared to face people addicted to drugs. Instead of helping people cure their addiction by treating it for what it is, a health issue, the USA instead throws them behind bars. This is problematic because the root of addiction is not being addressed in most jails and prisons, resulting in a residual cycle of a life of addiction and imprisonment.

Drug addiction will not be helped in prison, but in healthcare facilities. This is because addiction is a health issue, not a crime. And that is what America needs to address as a nation.

Inmates who serve time on drug-related charges experience the highest recidivism rates of all offenders. This is due to the fact that most inmates are not given any tools to work with while behind bars, and once back in society, they return to old circumstances and behaviours. Addiction is a complicated social, emotional, and psychological dependency that takes time and resources to help cure, and jail is simply not the best platform to help addicted individuals heal.

As an alternative, offering treatment for individuals addicted to drugs would be a better, more cost effective solution. This is because in treatment, the individual is prioritized and valued, with a goal of overcoming a dependency. Behind bars, the individual is viewed as a criminal, and has a goal of obeying superiors and getting out on time. Treatment makes life better and jail makes it harder. In addition, treatment costs ten times less than incarceration.

Even with the state of illegality of drugs in the US, prioritizing treatment over incarceration can be done. In fact, it is being done in the city of Gloucester, Massachusetts. The Gloucester Police Department has created a revolutionary new policing program that aims at helping addicts recover. Anyone addicted to drugs can go to the police station without the fear of being arrested, even if they have drugs on them at the time. All they have to do is ask for help, and an officer will pair them with a volunteer who will guide them to a road of recovery.

This is a spectacular example of a program in the US that is working. It helps people recover from addiction, and shows the individual that their lives are worth helping.

It’s time to stop locking up non-violent drug offenders who may need medical attention and start addressing the real issue. To truly help those addicted to drugs, recognizing their problem is a health issue, and not a crime, is the first step.