Help – Not Handcuffs!
Governor Christie’s Call to End Stigma of Substance Use Must Include Ending Criminalization of People
Governor Christie scheduled a public discussion in Newark to De-stigmatize substance use disorders (SUD) “to educate the public and to remove the stigma that’s attached to a disease.”
Will ending the criminalization of people with SUD be part of this important conversation? People with SUD are often criminalized for victimless crimes like petty possession of drugs resulting in arrest, loss of rights and forced treatment – all traumatic, horribly stigmatizing experiences.
Moreover the belief that arrest and coercion is appropriate for people with SUD has resulted in an institutional bias whereas many people cannot access resources, supports or treatment, unless or until they have been arrested, incarcerated or sentenced.
Why would someone be arrested for having a disease should be the topic of this important dialogue. With close to 90,000 children and adults in New Jersey alone who cannot access care when they ask for it, wasting money on arrests and forcing treatment on those who do not want it is just backwards.
We need more than post-arrest and post-incarceration reforms for people with SUD. Stop arresting and start helping to support recovery, prevention and end the stigma of arresting sick people. We need Help Not Handcuffs.
Sources: 56,000 adolescents needed drug and alcohol treatment and could not get
http://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/adolescent-health-topics/substance-abuse/states/nj.html
31,145 people in 2012 asked for drug treatment but could not get it – New Jersey Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services’ Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant Application
Thank you!
Kim Seber
Thank You’s
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Anton J. Massopust
