Should there be a change in drug policy towards decriminalization of drug offences?
The current drug policy in the UK favors strict measures in place of decriminalization. The current system criminalizes possession of drugs, resulting in long-term prison sentences, whereas those arguing for the decriminalization of drug offenses believe that a “blind eye” should be turned on more minor possessions of drugs. This would mean the removal of criminal penalties for such drug-related offenses and instead be handled through fines or treatment programs. A change towards these measures would be extremely harmful as the government would be sending its constituents the wrong message and induce unnecessary economic costs and health-related risks. It is on the bases of these two arguments that this essay will argue against the decriminalization of drug offenses.
To begin with, if the UK were to change its drug policy towards adapting a decriminalization approach, it would normalize drug use in everyday life, influencing many young people to take part in such illicit practices. The purpose of the government is to serve in the best interests of its people. Decriminalizing drug offenses would undermine these interests by implying the encouragement of drug use. Today’s youth is certainly very impressionable, and decriminalization would lower their perception of the risks associated with drug use, leading to increased addiction rates among adolescents. If the government were to set forth decriminalization policies, it would be implicitly giving its ‘go-ahead’ for the youth, as well as people of all ages, to take drugs. By advocating against decriminalization, the government may actually help reduce drug offense rates. For example, the extensive public health campaigns and anti-smoking legislation in the USA led to a significant decrease in smoking rates. The same could be applied in the UK if policies stay away from decriminalization.
Furthermore, the UK must not move towards decriminalization of drug offenses in order to avoid unnecessary economic costs due to an increase in health problems linked to drug use. As argued in the above paragraph, decriminalization efforts would increase rates of drug use among the UK’s population. This almost certainly would lead to an additional increase in addiction, overdoses, and other illnesses caused by drugs. Subsequently, healthcare systems would be placed under avoidable strain, diverting resources away from more pressing issues, such as developing cancer treatments. Moreover, this strain would lead to higher social costs due to a rise in spending on healthcare and addiction treatment, leading to higher taxation on individuals that could use their incomes for other essential purposes. The decriminalization effort overall would create more of a burden that would outweigh any potential benefits.
On the other hand, proponents for the decriminalization of drug offenses argue that these measures would allow the drug market to be regulated and thereby make it safer for drug users. However, while regulation might generate tax revenue, the costs associated with treating increased addiction, healthcare for drug-related illnesses, and social services could still create a net negative for governmental costs.. Additionally, implementing effective regulation of the drug market is a futile task as ensuring an overall increase in quality control, as well as preventing underage sales has practical implementation challenges. The government simply does not have the time nor resources to dedicate towards drug regulation in the black market. Moreover, even with regulation, a strong black market offering cheaper or more intense drugs could persist, continuing to expose users to dangerous substances.
To conclude, this essay reaffirms its argument against the move towards decriminalization of drug offenses. Not only would it position the government as an enabler of drug usage, it would also produce detrimental effects on public safety and the economy. In order to avoid these risks, the current drug policy should remain in place in order to deal effectively with these criminal offenses.
