Effective Policing and America's Opioid Crisis

Abstract

This study examines a diverse variety of literature about opioid addiction, with the aim of reducing prejudice towards those who suffer from addiction. Every year in America, thousands of people fall victim to becoming addicted to a horrible substance known widely as opioids. While many are fortunate enough to receive help and rehabilitation from these harmful addictions, many are unlucky, with thousands succumbing to their addiction, ultimately overdosing and passing away. Not only is this a problem of society as a whole, but this has proven to be a problem within the criminal justice system as well; more specifically in law enforcement. As an aspiring police officer, I know firsthand that there is a certain prejudice that comes with dealing with someone who has a drug problem. Unfortunately, this is similar to our nation's ongoing problems with other prejudices; race, sex, religion. Drug addicts often aren’t bad or horrid people; they are people with a legitimate problem – one they are usually not born with, but acquired themselves sometime in their life. A journey through the literature has resulted in a change in my thinking for the better: I am no longer as engaged in prejudiced ways of thinking in regards to addiction. This study aims to help the reader toward this same end. What it all really comes down to is we view addicts as the “trash” of our great nation, but really, they are regular people who most likely lived regular lives before being overcome by their addiction.