Jailing Those with Addiction

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                                           Jailing Those with Addiction


Portland has been dealing with the fallouts and tribulations of its city's drug problems for a while. The city's approach to substance abuse has become a hot topic for many politicians in the country. There have been so many talks, lectures, and articles written about Portland’s addiction and other issues.

Many cities in America have the same issues and Portland is not an anomaly. Opioid deaths have been a pressing concern, with calls from Portland's citizens to make harm reduction strategies. This includes needle exchange programs and more availability of Narcan. Addressing the main cause of why people do drugs means there has to be a bigger discussion. This includes not having everyday needs met like food or shelter, mental health issues, and lack of access to help. This topic is still fought about to this day and will be for a long time in the future.

Portland has been increasing access to help for those struggling with addiction. Portland recognizes that arresting those who are struggling with drug addiction and the causes of it with jail time or arrests is not the way to go. Portland has instead opted for a more compassionate approach by introducing many programs to help people, instead of punishing them for their addiction and health problems. 

This is the right way to help those struggling. Punishing those who have been dealt a bad card will not fix the overall problem. There is power in kindness and putting those who have an addiction into jail will not help the systemic problems.


https://www.lifeworksnw.org/addiction-services/ - Look here for help with addiction for yourself or loved ones

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