Drug Addicts Should Be Sent for Tre

Drug Addicts Should Be Sent for Treatment in Hospitals Instead of Prisons

In our society, we used to hear or watch in news that individuals who are captured for illegal usage of drugs or called as drug addicts are usually sent to prisons. That is the stereotyped scenario in our supposedly nurturing society.

Primarily addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking despite harmful consequences. It is considered a brain disease because drugs change the brain; they change its structure and how it works. These brain changes can be long lasting and can lead to many harmful effects, often self-destructive behavior.
Furthermore, it can lead to harming one's body, causing problems in family structure, and in society. The sooner people seek help for drug addiction problems, the more chances they have of gaining control of their life again.
There are many solutions to help drug addicts become better. Sending them to hospitals, rehabilitation centers, jails or prisons is just one of the ways. However, which place is suitable for them? Many people want to send them to prisons. I think that it is not a good solution but the better solution is to send them for treatments in hospitals instead of prisons.
As for me, there are three reasons that support my opinion.
First of all, I think that drug addiction is a sickness, thus drug addicts are sick people and not criminals. If they commit crimes, it is usually a direct result of taking drugs and not just crime itself. Accordingly, it will be better if we send drug addicted individuals to hospitals or rehabilitation centers, for these two places are set up to deal with the physical, mental and medical needs of an addict. Health workers or maybe therapists can give immediate care and treatment for the problem instead of letting the victim sit around in a jail and do nothing.
Secondly, prison is a place used for punishment not for rehabilitation. They don't have money or resources or systems to treat the drug addicts.
The last reason is the rehabilitation of drug addicts. Thus, persons rehabilitated from drug addiction can then be productive members of society. So instead of punishing them, let's help and give them another chance. The recovery will be faster if the drug addicts are taken care off in hospitals instead of prisons.
In conclusion, drug addiction is a not only a physical sickness but also a social one. While no mainstream law enforcement policymakers are arguing that drug addicts who commit non-drug related crimes should be left off the hook, it stands to reason that those whose sole offenses are drug-related should not be treated like criminals.