Focus on addiction prevention rather than penalizing addicts

Addiction prevention starts in homes, schools, workplaces, communities and doctor’s offices, not on the streets or in jails

While opponents and advocates disagree over Measure 110’s drug decriminalization policy, there should be no disagreement over the need to pursue addiction prevention. Street drug use isn’t where addiction begins, though it is often where it ends. Prevention is needed at home, in school, in doctor’s offices and, when necessary, in counseling.

Measure 110 can be fairly faulted for decriminalizing drug possession before adequate treatment facilities and services were in place. However, the goal of Measure 110 remains valid – incarceration isn’t a substitute for treatment. Using the threat of incarceration to force people into treatment isn’t effective. Shaming and penalizing addicts won’t save them or put drug dealers out of business.

According to the Oregon Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission, “The causes of substance misuse are complex and deeply rooted in an array of intertwined biological, social/cultural and historical factors such as genetics, norms, trauma and socio-economic inequity. Structural factors also play a significant role such as laws and policies that facilitate access to psychoactive substances but penalize addiction and social norms that stigmatize addiction as a behavior choice rather than a medical condition.”

The bottom line is that blaming addicts for being addicted is a dead-end street. Instead of blaming, we should be laser-focused on treating, including harm reduction techniques that can prevent overdoses. Even more important, we should pursue and prioritize efforts to prevent addiction in young people and adults.

Addiction Prevention Strategy
The commission recommends addiction prevention strategies such as expanding family- and school-based intervention programs, reducing retail and social access to addictive drugs like opioids and promoting alternative pain and stress management strategies.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse says the road to addiction often begins with adolescent or early adult drug use. Life transitions – the break-up of families, a parental job loss or moving to an unfamiliar community – can create anxiety and an openness to experimentation. As young people enter high school, they are around older teenagers who smoke, drink and use drugs.

“Because the brain is still developing, using drugs at this age has more potential to disrupt brain function in areas critical to motivation, memory, learning, judgment and behavior control,” the Institute explains.

The Institute says, “Addiction scientists have developed a broad range of programs that positively alter the balance between risk and protective factors for drug use in families, schools and communities. Studies have shown that research-based programs, such as described in NIDA’s Principles of Substance Abuse Prevention for Early Childhood: A Research-Based Guide and Preventing Drug Use among Children and Adolescents: A Research-Based Guide for Parents, Educators, and Community Leaders, can significantly reduce early use of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs.”

Keeping young people off the road to addiction is its own reward, but the Institute says it also is economically prudent. “Evidence-based interventions for substance use can save society money in medical costs and help individuals remain productive members of society. Such programs can return anywhere from very little to $65 per every dollar invested in prevention.” And that doesn’t factor in the benefit of avoiding pain and suffering for the families and friends of addicts.

Pain Management
The other focus of addiction prevention should be pain management. People suffering from serious injuries, traumatic incidents or repetitive violence often try to escape from their pain through drug use. The Netflix series Painkiller depicted how easily an opioid as strong as heroin can be prescribed for people in pain and picked up at a local pharmacy.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says, “Prescription opioids (like hydrocodone, oxycodone and morphine) are one of the many options for treating severe acute pain. While these medications can reduce pain during short-term use, they come with serious risks including addiction and death from overdose when taken for longer periods or at high doses.”

The CDC advises, “Physical dependence – meaning you have withdrawal symptoms when a medication is stopped – can develop within a few days.  Ask your doctor about ways to relieve your pain that do not involve prescription opioids. These treatments may actually work better and have fewer risks and side effects.”

Treatment Works, So Does Prevention
Of course we should address street drug use and prosecute drug dealers. But don’t expect that to solve our addiction problem. It may make it less visible, but it won’t make it less damaging to individuals, families, children and the community.

Instead of a campaign to recriminalize drug possession, why not expend that energy to promote addiction prevention in schools, workplaces, homes and doctor’s offices. Addiction is a serious problem and not just on the street. Blaming addicts, drug dealers and Mexican cartels may make good headlines but doesn’t address the real problem of people turning to drugs for fun or to deal with their pain.

Statistics indicate that addiction treatment is effective, with 75 percent of addicts recovering to lead normal lives. Preventing addiction has an even higher rate of return by avoiding the devastation, anguish and loss that addicts and their loved ones invariably endure.

Note: Governor Kotek appointed Annaliese Dolph in June as the new director of the Oregon Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission and charged her with “aligning addiction prevention and treatment work across state government and working to help state government more efficiently navigate the intersections of unsheltered homelessness, addiction and the criminal justice system.”

Gary Conkling has been a newsman, congressional aide and public affairs professional for more than 50 years.