Drug Abuse in Suffolk County and Possible Solutions

Purpose and Scope of Document

The research paper aims at meeting four goals. The first goal is to examine the problem of drug abuse and its implication on mortality rates in Suffolk County and some critical aspects of the county. The second goal is to examine the drug users and abusers as well as drug dealers in an attempt to understand their motivations. The third goal is to evaluate both success and non-success stories on diverse efforts and attempts to control drug abuse and dealing problems as well as the lessons we can learn from history. Lastly, the paper will propose a mitigation plan taking into considerations lessons from empirical evidence and history as well as what we know about the users and sellers of drugs in Suffolk County.

The Problem and the Environment

Overdose deaths resulting from the use of heroin and opioids reached a new peak in New York State in 2014. The state recorded 825 overdose deaths whereby heroin was a contributing cause represented an increase of approximately 25 percent over the past year. Overdose deaths whereby prescription opioids was a contributing cause was around 1,000 in 2014, that was almost 4 times the number recorded in 2005 (Hedegaard, Li-Hui , & Warner, 2015). Suffolk County topped as the county with the highest number of overdose deaths involving heroin and prescription opioids.

Suffolk County is located in New York State and it occupies the easternmost two thirds of long Island. It has a population of 1.5 million. When compared to other counties in New York, Suffolk residents are generally more aggressive and prosperous; its median annual household income in 2014 was around $85,800, second highest of all New York counties, furthermore, the residence are less diverse (Luthar, &D'evanzo, 1999). The income gap between the lower and upper socioeconomic classes is smaller than the state average (Luthar, &D'evanzo, 1999).

The Users and Sellers

CDC statistics for Suffolk County between 2000 and 2013 shows that the highest jump in opioids and heroin overdose was in non-Hispanic whites aged between 18 and 45 years. For New York State, same statistics for 2014 shows that mortality rate related to heroin for all residents was 6.5 percent per 100,000 people whereas the rate for only non-Hispanic whites was drastically higher at 10 percent (Nierenberg, 2017). According to Luthar, &D'evanzo, 1999), the reason why non-Hispanic whites are vulnerable to opioids use is that they have a greater access to the substance at least after treatment. CDC studies also shows that opioids users are mainly people living in rural places with low income, those with history of alcohol or other substance abuse, and those between the ages of 18 and 25 years. The current dangerous alarm is the use of opioids by teens especially those from wealthy background (Nierenberg, 2017). A U.S study from the northeast shows that teens that grow up in wealthy families are now at the risk of substance abuse. The study further indicated that when children from wealthy families are going through adolescence, they are tempted to experiment with alcohol and drugs perhaps as a means to blow off steam from the pressure of attending good schools, and at the same time parents might be thinking that the children will probably grow out of it which is not the case in many cases.

The main sellers are organized gang mainly mafias that are connected to wealthy people especially in government. This means that most of them are immune to the law in some way because they cannot be incarcerated easily.

Lessons from History

War on drugs is a fight that has been there for a long time and it has been mated with several ups and down. Serious war on drugs was started by President Nixon in 1971 by creating Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) (Schou, 2017). The war has changed through different administration and the current administration of President Trump seems intent on doubling down on the war. The war has failed because drug supplies create an eternal river. Since 1980s, governments across the world have been seizing and destroying millions of tones of illegal drugs each year (Schou, 2017). That led to reduced supply in the market hence increasing their prices. Their increased prices make it attractive business hence creating a complex market that is hard to crack. The business has also become international business. When drugs are produced in a different country and exported to another country, it makes it hard to fight it because a different government cannot arrest people from another country.

The country should learn from success and failures stories from other countries to achieve its target of destroying drug businesses and use. In Philippines, the war was intensified by president Duterte but failed because of the way it was carried out. The government sends police death squads into the streets to kill drugs addicts and dealers. This was highly criticized because it violated the country laws and international laws of human rights (Schou, 2017). The people of Philippines have largely repulsed against the government crackdown because of police harassment.

The country should learn from success stories from war against drugs in Portugal. Before President Pereira, drug users were demonized and they were punished heavily by being jailed. All the harsh things the government was doing never worked. In 1996, the penal code that deals with matters of drugs was overhauled. The court judge found that the practice of jailing people for possessing and using drugs is counterproductive and unethical. The country decriminalizes the consumption and possession of illicit drugs. The opioids problem stabilized and the following years shows a dramatic drop in problematic drug use, overdose deaths, and drug related crime. The humane way of handling drugs users shows that it bears more fruits than harsh punishment and incarceration.

Plan of Action

Treatment of affected victims

Gina Lombroso-Ferrero, in the article entitled “Criminal Man” revealed that some criminals have unique criminal physiognomy, which should be considered before castigating and punishing them (Lombroso, Gibson & Rafter, 2007). However, not all criminals have such defects. The revelation suggests that it is always crucial to assess any criminal and treat underlying causes of the criminal behavior. Drug Treatment will emphasize treatment over prosecution of drug users, making it safe for people to turn to treatment and to recommend others for treatment. Learning from the Portugal model of fighting drugs, drugs users should not be demonized or punished heavily by jailing. The users should be handled in humane manner and that will make them listen to the government, violating people’s rights will make them more violent. The government should provide free treatment for users instead of arresting and jailing, this will make it safe for users to turn for treatment and encourage others to go for treatment.

Social change

Social change is a broad element that helps in shaping the social environment and hence discouraging crinimogenic tendencies. Gottfredson and Hirschi (1990) describe how the process in which people are brought up or socialized generates self-control. First, they noted there is socialization process that the parents' affection for the child establishes a long-term interest in the child's success. There is also socialization process that allows a style of education that is characterized by positive efforts to track the behavior, and sanction the deviation in an appropriate way. Third, there is socialization process that creates self-control. Lastly, there is socialization process that is expressed through the affection of the child to the father and, by logical extension, to other socialization institutions such as schools and friends. This model implies that social bonds between parents and children, and self-control in the child will be very difficult to separate empirically, and in certain circumstances, can lead to the same. Socialization of young people towards correct direction is a concerted effort that involves many parties such as doctors, role models, media, parents, teachers and peers.

Doctors should regulate the prescription drugs. The doctors should also lead the way by discouraging prescribed opioids drug use because it encourages the use of heroin. They should provide alternative means from prescribed opioids. There should be a change in the way prescription of addictive drugs is made. This is because some “patients” uses drug prescription as an excuse to use the otherwise prohibited drugs. A person may go to one pharmacy and order medical opioids and then go to another pharmacy and do the same. At the end of the day, such person will have a lot of opioids in possession. With uncontrolled prescriptions, youths get opportunity to meet their selfish desires in the name of prescription drugs. The theory of Gottfredson and Hirschi considers opportunity as a precursor to commit a crime. In this way, a subject with low self-control who finds an opportunity to commit a crime is more likely to engage in selfish desires such as crime (Gottfredson and Hirschi, 1990).

Role models should play their role by discouraging the use of drugs and suggesting other better options for the youths. According to the behavioral change theories, individuals are likely to emulate what key characters in the society do. Key characters include celebrities, teachers, politicians and all famous personalities (Nader, 2017). This means that one way of addressing issue of drug use is to allow such people talk to the youths. Not everyone will be valedictorian but everyone can make meaningful contributions and should receive rewards commensurate with their efforts.

Another element of social change is the adjustment of media content on drugs. There is need to encourage media to portray victims realistically, allowing the community to begin to recognize both that anyone can be a user and what signs they should watch for.

In addition, social change can be achieved when parents and teachers play their part accordingly. Parents and teachers can foster self-control. The theory of self-control is influenced by the observation that children are more likely to develop the tendency to ignore long-term costs seem to be established in childhood and that such behavior can persist if there is no social control. The theory of control assumes that human nature includes the general tendency to obtain the satisfaction of individual needs and desires. Guardians, parents and caregivers, according to the social control and self-control theories have a role to train children to pay attention to the long-term consequences of their action. When an adult caregiver is present in the environment of the developing child, and plays an active role in socialization, high levels of self-control arise, which seem to become a stable characteristic of the person (Gottfredson and Hirschi, 1990). There is a mounting body of evidence that suggest that modern parents are too committed such that they do not monitor their children behaviors. When left unattended, children will adopt wayward behaviors. They will look for other role models to guide them. The most probable role models would be their peers. This means that if parents and teachers do not do their part, peers will take over and guide the youth. Gibbs et al. (2003: 443) correctly describe the theory: "In order for their children to develop high levels of self-control, parents should regularly monitor them, recognize deviant behavior when it occurs, and punish behavior by non-bodily means. Self-control is related to the consistent application of these principles during the child's early development.

Addressing peer influence is another element of social change. Peer pressure tends to antagonize the attempt by children and teen to develop self-control. The greatest influence on the youth is their peer group. A young man at a certain age has the feeling that his parents, teachers, and other adults do not understand him. They think one thing, say another, and they do the opposite. Parents often express dissatisfaction with the child’s schooling, even if the child is learning well. The discomfort sensation associated with adult relationships leads to the fact that he begins to look for understanding in other age groups. If his friends use drugs, he adopts their behavior, because he wants to be accepted in their group, to become an accepted person (Luthar & D'evanzo, 1999).

Enforcement.

In U.S, I believe the best way of handling opioids problem in Suffolk is that enforcement should focus on reducing the access to drugs and availability of the drugs by arresting the drug dealers and encouraging community policing in the County. Vigilance and prevention are better than cure and treatment; this will reduce the vulnerability to access to drugs and substance abuse (Nierenberg, 2017). Effectiveness of enforcement is explained in Deterrence Theory. While describing the theory, Beccaria reveals that the intent of punishment is to deter future injury to society, and punishment ought to be chosen to maximize its deterrent effects.

Secondly, media and the community should be discouraged from portraying drug dealers as successful and untouchable in their “gangs”. Most of the media stories tend to depict drug users as powerful people. Myths and legends about drugs are inescapable among young people, the stories that cocaine makes you feel like a king, cannabis promotes creative thinking, and with the help of amphetamine it is easier to pass the session (Nader, 2017). Consequently, media stories should be regulated such that they discourage drug use.

In addition, enforcement should be aimed at the youngest, with diversion programs such as sports. When idle, most youth are likely to experience stress and anxiety. One of the opportunities to get away from the problems is narcotic drugs, thanks to which for a while you can plunge into the world of dreams and dreams, feel a sense of elevation.

Conclusion

I will argue in support of the prevention of drug abuse through advancing the war against drug business. Substance abuse in the county is a menace and problem that demands collective efforts of the citizens of Suffolk County community members. A change in the society is imperative to address the challenge; it demands the coordinated efforts of parents, teachers, peers, and the media. Feasible enforcement measures include a change in media reporting on drug dealings to desist from promoting the perception of being irreparable, reducing the access to drugs and availability of the drugs, and adoption of with diversion programs.

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