[mschuster91]

> Local jails have been overrun with people locked up and in need of treatment

Why. Do. People. End. Up. In. Jail. Seriously this one is beyond my comprehension - they need treatment, not jails filled with hardened criminals, rapists and probably more (and nastier) drugs than on the street.

[ransom1538]

Like my uncle says, a cop, "what would we do then". Drug & alcohol related arrests are 99% of their work.

[kristopolous]

People I know went into policehood to help their community. If that's the goal, they could be put to better use instrumenting more effective policy.

These types of policies should be data and analysis questions, not based on politics and world view. Some of them inarguably work better than others.

We need to exit the theater of unfounded opinion when it comes to these things. It's not useful.

[adamson]

Adding cops is pretty low on the list of reasonable jobs programs

[dragontamer]

Its not a cop's job. Its a social worker's job.

I do recognize that cops are just "trying to help", and that no one cares about social workers. Cops are in an advantaged position in the USA because they are relatively well respected by most mainstream members of the population. So the fact that they want to help is good.

But Cops aren't given the right training to deal with medical problems or other problems (ie: Fire hazards. In theory, cops could be the ones to inspect Fire Hazards in buildings, but realistically, its better for Firemen to do it).

There are lots of social work jobs in America. A big problem, a seriously big one... is that we expect Cops to do any job. Erm... no. Have drug specialists deal with the drug problem. Cops really shouldn't shoulder the burden of everything in the country.

-------

Cops should focus on the distribution of drugs. Not on the users of the drugs. The users need treatment, mental treatment that cops do not have the abilities to give.

These drug abusers need nurses and social workers to check up on them every few hours. Not cops.

[chiefalchemist]

As we have it now law enforcement is just that. And they are also the frontline to anything downstream (e.g., social worker). We're not really set up to respond to this in a way other than a legal one.

We should have figured this out years ago. This won't be the last article we see like this.

[porfirium]

Drug users usually turn violent and can be a hazard to themselves or others. Somebody trained to deal with such situations is required. This is, a cop.

[dragontamer]

As do people who are infected with Rabies. Or rare forms of violent schizophrenia. Indeed, violent offenders are often not users of drugs, but from my understanding: the cutthroat underground distributors.

Which is why cops should continue to focus on the violent distributors of drugs. But social workers and hospital workers should step up their responsibility and start treating drug abusers better.

Or perhaps, more programs need to be made so that hospital workers / social workers are paid to fix this drug problem.

Hint: throwing drug USERS in jail, where they only get more underground connections and better learn to become a criminal, will start a cycle where they have to end up in jail again. Jail is just about the worst place you can put a person.

[jstarfish]

> Hint: throwing drug USERS in jail, where they only get more underground connections and better learn to become a criminal, will start a cycle where they have to end up in jail again

What is: the most profitable outcome you can hope for when your prison system is privately owned?

[icebraining]

The US prison system is not privately owned. Less than 20% of prisoners are in private jails.

[Diederich]

> Drug users usually turn violent

Citation needed.

[DanBC]

It's well known that drug dependency is a relatively good predictor of violent behaviour. People think severe mental illness predicts violent behaviour, but substance misuse is far better predictor.

Watch the video here: https://twitter.com/ProfLAppleby/status/917838820682489858?s...

[Diederich]

Both videos threw errors in playback.

The initial claim was 'usually turn violent', compared to your 'relatively good predictor of violent behaviour'.

I've known quite a few people with drug dependency problems and very, very few of them were violent.

So, citation still needed.

[tytytytytytytyt]

Put them in treatment centers?

[wott]

Whom? The cops?

[twoodfin]

Against their will?

[orthecreedence]

As opposed to putting them in jail against their will?

[nilved]

We really need to get rid of cops. That experiment is over.

[imperialdrive]

In SF and some surrounding areas, all those arrested have their case reviewed prior to arraignment by an agency that will try to place them in a program for recovery; an alternative to jail. SF is doing an OK job funding this effort, and it does make a difference both in outcome and burden to taxpayers (less expensive than jail bed days)

[sp332]

It's a long story. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deinstitutionalisation#Consequ...

[dreamdu5t]

And if a drug addict doesn't want treatment? The elephant in the room is forced intervention requires a form of imprisonment.

[senorjazz]

There will always be the hardcore who will not, or cannot overcome their addictions. But this is few.

Why not give them free medical grade heroin, in a safe environment?

* Keeps them off the streets. * They no longer need to resort to crime to fund their addictions. * Besides their appointed time to get their dose, they can lead relatively normal productive lives.

It will save $$$$ and also keep money out of pockets of organised crime.

win:win in my book

[dreamdu5t]

That is not cessation of drug use but a program to sustain drug addiction safely. Clearly that’s great at reducing harm from dirty needles, but not great at cessation of addiction.

I’m suspect of your claim that the majority of addicts seek treatment, since I’ve not seen any data on seeking cessation. Maybe you know of some other data showing that most addicts seek treatment that includes cessation. However, according to surveys by CDC and national survey on drug use and health 23 million Americans have a substance addiction and 3 million seek treatment. Approx 1 in 6 adults has some form of substance abuse problem. There is nowhere near that number seeking treatment.

[tcj_phx]

> And if a drug addict doesn't want treatment?

Switzerland gives their most hopeless heroin addicts free heroin, and a safe place to use it. [0]

A friend's son was expelled from his US high school for dealing heroin - this was probably 12 years ago. Addicts have to advertise to their friends to be able to afford their habit.

[0] http://www.citizensopposingprohibition.org/resources/swiss-h...

[tpm]

Give him (free or cheap) drugs, a safe place to use them, good advices and a way out of his habit. Do not force him.

https://www.thecommononline.org/decriminalization-a-love-sto...

[aburner]

Just give them drugs, then. It has to be cheaper than taking them to the ER every few weeks.

[giancarlostoro]

Like that one guy weef or weev, the iPad exploits guy, who went to jail and came back as a white supremecist. Was quite surprised to read that, worse thing is he wasn't in prison like 10 hard years or anything extreme, he was in there a minute though. Oddest thing I ever read.

On the other hand... Norway has some of the nicest prisons in the world. Worth checking out prisons in Norway if you never heard of how nice they are.

[Cryptid]

He was already a scumbag before prison: https://www.quora.com/Did-Andrew-weev-Aurenheimer-contribute...

[hackermailman]

It's a myth Norway's prisons are the nicest, maybe for low security offenders otherwise they keep you in solitary for years at a time or worse transfer you to other countries to do your time like how they ship inmates off to Netherlands to a rented prison.

The country with the best drug policy is Portugal which quietly decriminalized all personal amounts and they have one of the lowest OD rate now

[synicalx]

I suspect it's a result of "blanket" thinking - if we don't punish $illegal_behaviour, then people won't stop doing it. Unfortunately in this case, the punishment is the same as the punishment for just about every other crime and for this particular issue it's less of a punishment and more of a catalyst.

A middle ground would be a good solution IMO - some kind of jail-esque treatment center or set wings in existing jails just for drug users where they undergo some sort of treatment/detox program. I daresay in a lot of cases, voluntary treatment isn't going to work, and I suspect a lot of treatment centers out there now are nowhere near as secure as a jail.

[tomjen3]

Some of them are probably there for crimes like theft prostitution and selling to sustain their habits. Another significant part would be those who violate parole or drug treatment programs.

[Danihan]

War on drugs & big government.

[knowaveragejoe]

Realistically it starts with the race to the bottom WRT being "tough on crime".

[Danihan]

Being tough on real crimes with victims is just fine.

Being tough on victimless crimes is absurd.

It's truly very black and white.

[usrusr]

Being tough on real crimes and the outcome of competing in toughness on crime have surprisingly little in common.

In a game of "tough on crime"-oneupmanship, when you can't get any tougher you make up new crimes to beat the other guy.

[King-Aaron]

> Why. Do. People. End. Up. In. Jail.

Ask the politicians that own large stakes in (or have ties to) corporate-operated prisons, and you'll find your answer.

[i_am_nomad]

Some people do need to end up in jail, but their last name is all over charitable foundations and art galleries worldwide. http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a12775932/sackler-famil...

[jliptzin]

Right wing idiots pushing a failed war on drugs. Keep electing republicans, keep getting the same garbage. Can anyone point to a republican who is advocating sane drug policy (genuinely curious?)

[peterwwillis]

You have to be an idiot to think voting on party lines is a good way to solve complex social issues.