The war on drugs is a failure. Ironically, policies designed to reduce drug abuse have actually made it worse .”
By Thomas C. Higdon, Maryland Coalition on Drug Use, Treatment, and Recovery, via Maryland Matters
As a substance abuse disorder survivor, I have seen the devastation drug use can cause–lives are lost, families are destroyed, and entire communities are devastated. After examining the data, however, it’s clear that long-standing drug prohibition policies are responsible for or exacerbate the harms associated with drug usage (e.g. overdose, crimes, poverty).
The war on drugs, to put it bluntly has made matters worse. This is why I support House Bill 10057, a legislative proposal that the General Assembly is considering. It would create a drug task force to examine drug use in our State and make recommendations on a new course of action.
Drug prohibition: 52 years of failure!
Nixon’s “war on Drugs” began almost 52 years before. It was not an inexpensive endeavor. The United States has spent over $1 trillion in drug interdiction and enforcement. What did we get out of all this money? Since 1980, drug-related offenses have increased by 1,161 percent in the United States, reaching 353,000 people in 2023. This is more than the combined populations of Allegany County, Caroline County, Dorchester County, Garrett county, Kent county, Queen Anne’s County, Somerset, Talbot and Worcester.
During the same time period, however, drug use increased by 23 percent, and deaths from overdoses increased by 1,141 percent. We lost 107,000 loved ones and friends to overdose deaths in the United States alone in 2023, including more that 2,500 in Maryland. Drug prohibition does not work. We need to look at other options than simply locking up people, given the stakes.
Decriminalization Works
Portugal ranked first in Europe for both drug abuse and fatal overdoses. As a result, Portugal decriminalized the possession of drugs while increasing investment in social services and treatment. In response, they increased the number of people seeking out treatment and reduced rates of drug abuse and fatal overdose. Portugal’s drug overdose and use rates were among the lowest of the European Union by 2019.
Decriminalization has many other benefits. The collateral effects of drug arrests, including barriers to employment and professional licensing, housing, government benefits, financial aid and housing, have destroyed fewer lives. The money saved by reducing criminalization could also be reinvested in other services, such as harm reduction, peer support, voluntary treatment, housing and employment.
What about Oregon?
Oregon voters will pass Measure 110 in November 2020. This measure, , makes it the first state that decriminalizes possession of drugs. The state also redirected nearly $300 million towards treatment and recovery services. Although it’s too soon to tell if Oregon is going to be as successful Portugal, the early results are promising. In the first three-quarters of this year, under Measure 110 service providers reported that more than 47,000 individuals sought substance abuse treatment. That’s an increase of 134 percent. The number of people who receive services has also increased.
- The employment services sector grew by 365 percent
- The housing services industry grew by 190 percent
- Treatment for substance abuse has increased by 104 percent
Decriminalization critics are quick to note that Oregon’s overdose death rate has increased ever since the decriminalization. It is important to remember that overdoses are on the rise across the nation, and Oregon is performing better than most other states. Oregon’s fatal drug overdose rate was lower in 2023 than that of 17 other states. It was 7 percent less than Maryland, 34 percent below Tennessee, and 66 per cent less than West Virginia.
What’s Next for Maryland?
Oregon is now beginning to see the benefits of decriminalization. Maryland shouldn’t simply follow these jurisdictions. It is possible to cause unintended harm by rushing to replace failed policies. House Bill 10057 establishes a taskforce to learn from the mistakes of other jurisdictions and study what works. This bill will bring representatives from law enforcement and public health to treatment providers, people who have lived through the experience, as well as others, in order to explore alternatives beyond locking up people.
The war on drugs is a failure. Ironically, policies designed to reduce drug abuse have made matters worse. We cannot arrest our own way out of the problem. Maryland must do more to acknowledge that substance abuse disorder is a public health problem that requires solutions.
In light of this, I encourage every Marylander – and especially those who are members of the General Assembly – to urge their representatives to pass House Bill 1057. We must change our course before we lose more loved ones to failed drug war policies.
Thomas C. Higdon, a recovering addict, is the co-chairperson of the Maryland Coalition on Drug Use, Treatment, and Recovery.
This article was originally published by Maryland Matters.
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