Drugs: Health or crime problem?

[MisterBobbyPin]

Is drug abuse a health or crime problem? For me it's a health problem, cleary it's a substance being abused so it should be treated like acholism.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

I'd say its a public health issue. Of course its a self inflicted health issue for the drug users but I still feel bad for them none the less. Them doing drugs is only harming themselves and nobody else. Rather than throwing away into the over crowded prison system we should be helping them, sending them to rehab. Trying to improve their lives and send them back out to society to become a productive member once again.

 

[Dee]

Drug abuse is often a symptom of a much deeper mental health problem (although it can be because of chronic pain, etc). It's definitely a public health issue and we're not doing enough as a country to help people get out of drug abuse.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

Drug abuse is often a symptom of a much deeper mental health problem (although it can be because of chronic pain, etc). It's definitely a public health issue and we're not doing enough as a country to help people get out of drug abuse.

Agreed, drugs and mental health issues go hand in hand unfortunately.

 

[MrDawn]

I would say it's both. It's a crime for the drug dealers feeding off of people's addiction which also leads to it being a health problem for those fighting the addiction of narcotics.