In the United States there is an epidemic that is growing at an alarming proportion. This epidemic is called heroin and everyday people lose their life to this monstrous drug. The thing with heroin is, it’s not your typical drug; when most people envision a drug user they see a poor minority living in the slums or that homeless man that stands in front of the gas station begging for spare change. Instead, users of heroin are typically individuals that fall into the middle-class suburban category and are usually Caucasian. In order to combat this addiction, many states heavily affected by this epidemic are spending millions of dollars building treatment centers. Some states are even considering building centers where users can shoot up in a controlled environment where the likelihood of overdosing drastically decreases. Users of heroin can even be prescribed medication such as Methadone to help kick their addiction.

Now personally, I see no problem with spending taxpayer money in order to help people rid themselves of drug addiction. However, I do have a problem with these privileges only being offered to a certain group of people. During the 1980’s, a new drug called crack swept through almost all inner cities in America. The drug had devastating effects on the communities it landed in, ruining many lives in its wake. Unlike heroin, the users of crack cocaine were mostly low-class African Americans. Instead of creating a program to assist those affected by crack, the government instead implemented a war on drug policy that mandated harsher sentences for those found in possession of the substance. The media demonized the communities where crack cocaine was most prevalent and it wasn’t an uncommon site to see a crack house being seized on the six o’ clock news.

Historically laws and government policies have been much harsher on drugs that are perceived to used be predominantly used by African Americans and other minority groups. In 1950, the Boggs Act was passed. This law required a mandatory two to five-year prison sentence for possession of marijuana. During this time period, marijuana was a drug that was perceived to be only used by blacks and Mexican Americans. As time went on marijuana began to become associated with white middle-class Americans and eventually the penalty for a possession charge was reduced due to studies showing the minimal effects of the drug. The whole point of that spiel was to show how race can affect the punishment and stigma put on a certain illegal substance.

Heroin results in more overdose deaths than crack, yet up until recently, possession of crack cocaine held the harshest penalty out of all illegal drugs. How is it that users of one drug can be so heavily demonized while users of another drug can be sympathized? There needs to be a uniform drug policy in America that is fair regardless of race and socioeconomic status. This issue is bigger than drugs. Our country far too often turns a blind eye to one group of people while at the same time actively persecuting another group. In my mind, America cannot truly reach its potential until it becomes a fair country in which all individuals, regardless of race, religion and socioeconomic class are held to the same standard and treated and punished equally.