12/15/2016
Talking Points - Fighting with the Dragon
“You don’t have to struggle alone. The power to fight addiction starts with the
community. Let us help you!” -Jerry Weekly
Key Points
• Our society tends to punish ‘drug’ users more often than the drug suppliers. It’s a simple equation, the user’s are the easiest and least dangerous to target. Instead of treating drug addiction like you would with any other disease, we punish the user, ‘as if’ they are the real problem. We lose sight that this is a disease. The suppliers are the true menace. No, we aren’t talking about ‘twotime’ dealers who only sell to feed their own addiction.
• Whole Communities are being torn apart by drug usage, and most recently through the he**in epidemic that is spreading across communities within the United States.
Recent Drug Arrest Statistics
2014: 1,561,231 arrests for drug law violations
83.1% (1,297,384) were for possession of a controlled substance
Only 16.9% (263,848) were for the sale or manufacturing of a drug
2013: 1,501,043 arrests for drug law violations
82.3% (1,235,358) were for possession of a controlled substance
Only 17.7% (265,685) were for the sale or manufacturing of a drug
2012: 1,552,432 arrests for drug law violations
82.2% (1,276,099) were for possession of a controlled substance
Only 17.8% (276,333) were for the sale or manufacturing of a drug
2011: 1,531,251 arrests for drug law violations
81.8% (1,252,563) were for possession of a controlled substance
Only 18.2% (278,687) were for the sale or manufacturing of a drug
2010: 1,638,846 arrests for drug law violations
81.9% (1,342,215) were for possession of a controlled substance
Only 18.1% (296,631) were for the sale or manufacture of a drug.
See more at: http://www.drugwarfacts.org/cms/Crime .md7ifX9l.dpuf
The Questions to ask?
• Why are we seeing the drug users, and not the drug suppliers being punished?
• Why are we fighting a war against the victims and not the true criminals?
Drug addiction is not an issue being acknowledged by local and national media. We’ve forgotten about the people who truly need help. Longterm users, who are not dead, only continue to use he**in to treat withdrawals.
As we stand by, whole communities are being torn apart. This isn’t just a local issue, it’s a national one. Instead of judging the users, we need to shift our focus on ‘How to cure this epidemic.”
He**in drives people to do the ‘unthinkable.’ The addiction itself causes people to steal, lie, and manipulate to ‘get’ their fix. Addicts, are no longer the people they once were. They become a ‘husk’ of their former self. This is why acknowledging the broader problem of addiction will help communities mend.
