How Incarceration Fails As A Method Of Illicit Drug Control

In 2014, approximately 13 million people are injecting drugs worldwide, which is an alarming 0.3% of the entire adult population (UNAIDS, 2014). Injecting drugs often results in increased negative health consequences and may lead to the transmission of blood-borne viruses such as HIV. As of now, about 1.7 million, or 13% of the injected drug users are living with HIV (UNAIDS, 2014). Though featured in nearly every country, injected drug use is still treated as a crime and lead easily to incarceration (UNAIDS, 2014). This essay seeks to examine how incarceration fails as a method of illicit drug control and puts an already at-risk group in further peril. About 56% to 90% of injected drug users will be incarcerated at some point in their lives worldwide. Imprisonment, however, will not necessarily eliminate an individual’s access to illicit drugs. If anything, illicit drugs may be cheaper inside of the jails than outside (Pisani, 2008). Some prisoners even inject drugs for the f irst time in jails, thus potentially initiating dependence under the most unfavorable circumstances. While drugs may be cheaper, the clean needles required to inject them safely is a lot less affordable in comparison (Pisani, 2008). According to Elizabeth Pisani in her book, The Wisdom of Whores, clean needles cost three dollars apiece while a hit of heroin cost fifty cents less (2008). Due to this, the same needle usually passes around and if one prisoner was infected with HIV, the virus will soon beShow MoreRelatedEssay on Americas War on Drugs5842 Words   |  24 PagesNixon initiated the War on Drugs when American soldiers were coming home from the Vietnam War addicted to heroin. More than a decade later, President Ronald Reagan launches the South Florida Drug Task force, headed by then Vice-President George Bush, in response to the city of Miami’s demand for help. 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