The blame game – an easier, softer way
An NPR Morning Edition report on July 2 by Bobby Allyn stated that in Pennsylvania last year 205 individuals, often themselves addicted, are being charged with third degree murder when co-user died from a drug overdose. The charge is a third-degree felony carrying a maximum sentence in Pennsylvania of 20-40 years in prison.
A May 25, 2018 articles by Rosa Goldensohn in the New York Times entitled “They Shared Drugs. Someone Dies. Does That Make Them Killers?” reports that in West Virginia, Florida and Minnesota similar charges have been brought against individuals.
Drunk driving which results in a death often results in a charge of vehicle homicide. The charge and the resulting prison or jail time varies according to the state, the prosecutor and the judge.
It seems that all too often us humans think we will feel better - and perhaps we temporarily do feel better - if we have a person or even a company who we can point at and punish. This process may be labels as justice.
It seems as if:
It also seems as if:
It is ironic that one of the primary characteristics of addiction is an attachment to immediate gratification and, yet, all too often the community response is based on the need for immediate gratification which assuages the desire to pretend as if one is solving a very complicated problem rather than treating a serious, chronic illness.
It is true:
We may or may not want to pose the question: “Do we, as a society, need the more obvious and often deadly addiction to alcohol and other drugs, sex, and food to mirror the “socially accepted” addictions? Will all attempt to deal with addiction such as opioid addiction fails until we pay attention to the mirror? Are we, as a society, in the midst of a spiritual crisis in which we attempt to find worth or meaning in something outside of ourselves?
Much to ponder!
Written July 2, 2018
An NPR Morning Edition report on July 2 by Bobby Allyn stated that in Pennsylvania last year 205 individuals, often themselves addicted, are being charged with third degree murder when co-user died from a drug overdose. The charge is a third-degree felony carrying a maximum sentence in Pennsylvania of 20-40 years in prison.
A May 25, 2018 articles by Rosa Goldensohn in the New York Times entitled “They Shared Drugs. Someone Dies. Does That Make Them Killers?” reports that in West Virginia, Florida and Minnesota similar charges have been brought against individuals.
Drunk driving which results in a death often results in a charge of vehicle homicide. The charge and the resulting prison or jail time varies according to the state, the prosecutor and the judge.
It seems that all too often us humans think we will feel better - and perhaps we temporarily do feel better - if we have a person or even a company who we can point at and punish. This process may be labels as justice.
It seems as if:
- We cannot decide if addiction is indeed a disease which affects how the brain functions.
- We want those whose brain is not working well to make logical, moral decisions.
- We want to believe that punishment will scare other addicts into being non- addicts.
- We would rather spend in excess of $31,000 a year times X to imprison someone rather than spend an equivalent amount on treatment.
It also seems as if:
- There are a number of ambitious prosecutors, attorneys and others who profit off the current system of blame.
- The jail/prison industrial complex is big business with powerful political influence.
- All too often many religious groups or institutions have directly or indirectly co-signed the blame and punishment approach to dealing with illness – mental illness including addiction to alcohol, other drugs, sex, food and other substances/behavior.
It is ironic that one of the primary characteristics of addiction is an attachment to immediate gratification and, yet, all too often the community response is based on the need for immediate gratification which assuages the desire to pretend as if one is solving a very complicated problem rather than treating a serious, chronic illness.
It is true:
- The disease of addiction has reach epidemic proportions.
- The direct and indirect emotional, financial and medical cost of addiction is enormous.
- Success rates for this chronic illness are very low.
- Medication assisted treatment in conjunction with programs to help individual change their thinking process may help many more individuals.
- We may need to explore some changes in the law which make it easier to commit individuals for the disease of addiction to long term treatment.
- We live in a culture in the United States which promotes and lauds addiction/attachment to things, power, position, and money while criminalizing addiction to alcohol, other drugs, sex, food, and other substances.
We may or may not want to pose the question: “Do we, as a society, need the more obvious and often deadly addiction to alcohol and other drugs, sex, and food to mirror the “socially accepted” addictions? Will all attempt to deal with addiction such as opioid addiction fails until we pay attention to the mirror? Are we, as a society, in the midst of a spiritual crisis in which we attempt to find worth or meaning in something outside of ourselves?
Much to ponder!
Written July 2, 2018
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