Operation Junkyard: Ending the Opioid Epidemic in the United States

               First things first, drug addiction is a public health issue and should not be a criminal justice issue.  Second, the opioid crisis in the United States could end by implementing proper healthcare for all Americans, better access to treatment programs, ending stigmas about drug-health issues, legalization of marijuana, and the decriminalization of small amounts of all drugs.  Ending the War on Drugs is crucial when dealing with opioid addiction, and by doing so, the country could progress into modern virtues that most citizens are calling for.  Moreover, this blog shall present notions to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, state and federal legislators, law enforcement professionals, and treatment organizations so that better laws and policies are performed.  Most importantly, American citizens will be able to live a healthy lifestyle without the burden of criminal justice intervention for drug use and abuse.  Operation Junkyard is a plan that entails communal actions that appropriately end the opioid epidemic in the United States by using the above-mentioned approaches in a long-term application.

Healthcare

             Shifting to a healthcare system that allows every American to have coverage is necessary if ending the opioid epidemic is a goal in this country.  Rather than continuing with our current structure of healthcare, or the changes that have been implemented by Obamacare, the system should shift to a wholehearted tax-based system that can either be deducted from citizens’ annual salaries or allowed to be paid via a one-time yearly fee that is based on an individual’s income.  Percentages based on a person’s income are required in order to not hinder other necessities for civilians; a flat rate will not work in the United States due to the massive dispersion of incomes (these are similar ideas that are within the Affordable Care Act).  Coverage for those who have no income, or are living with other government aid, will have to be accounted for by decreasing budgets in other areas in our national finances.  The main budget contributor could come from decreasing the expenditures associated with the criminal justice system; changing the structure of the prison-industrial complex that we have in this country would allow for all Americans to be covered while simultaneously altering our criminal justice system to a more humanistic deliverance.  It must be understood that elements of socialism are positive endeavors and do have plausible usage when engaging in the defeat of the opioid epidemic in the United States.  Political agendas need to be eliminated to end the current drug problem in this country. 

Treatment Programs 

             Drug courts and other diversion programs should be eliminated from the criminal justice system and preemptive social reforms should be the primary focus for the goal of ending the opioid epidemic.  In addition to this, other faulty drug treatment programs that have dismal results should have no place in our society.  By removing these erroneous programs, innovative and successful agendas could be implemented.  This idea that criminal courts and haphazard drug treatment programs are the answer to drug problems is ridiculous and botched social work must be converted into realistic channels so that opiate users (and other drug addicts) can get the help that they need and, in turn, sustain the change without being criminally sanctioned for any setbacks that they may participate in.  Judges and organizations who operate these courts/programs need to be made aware of the problems that they are causing in the public health issue.  These concepts go together with fixing the laws and policies regarding the War on Drugs.  In turn, this would diminish many of the negative stereotypes that are associated with drug use and mental illnesses.  Overall, the concept of preemptive-social interventions is being conveyed so that criminality does not occur by those who are using opiates and other drugs; using police and judicial contact in a better fashion can be done without arresting and sanctioning a person are the major ideas in this paragraph.  Community efforts involving the criminal justice practitioners is vital for the success of Operation Junkyard.  Lastly, everything discussed thus far does not suggest that people who commit crimes should not be held accountable for their actions. 

Legalization of Marijuana and Decriminalization of Possession of Small Amounts of Drugs

             Marijuana should be legal because of its harmless effects on society as well as its medicinal abilities.  Furthermore, marijuana could serve as a substitute for opiate-based withdrawal drugs such as methadone, Suboxone, and Subutex.  Legal marijuana sales can be used to increase the budgets for the procedures involved with ending the opioid epidemic.  Well-regulated marijuana dispensaries would assist with opioid addiction and allow law enforcement officers to concentrate on more pressing issues – such as violent crimes – and, in turn, give law enforcement professionals a better reputation when compared to the current negative image that they are usually seen as. 

             Decriminalization of possession of small amounts of other drugs would also allow for better social perceptions about law enforcers, as well as free up the criminal justice practitioners and budgets that are geared toward drug use and possession.  By decriminalizing small amounts of drug possession, the professionals in the criminal justice system would be able to learn who is causing serious harm to society and help those who are not.  People who are selling large amounts of illicit substances could be easily identified, properly dealt with, and mandated to perform community service in the area that they are working in.  With this being stated, the harsh drug laws in this country need to be changed so that people can recognize their mistakes and still be productive members of society; mandatory drug laws are horrible ideas that must be eliminated for the greater good of society and for the elimination of the opioid epidemic in the United States.

Operation Junkyard Conclusion

             By creating community-based initiatives the opioid epidemic will be fully terminated.  Use of law enforcement and non-law enforcement task forces should be configured.  These teams should focus on problem areas and create plans – based on the ideas above – and not be politically motivated.  Rather than attempting to take credit for a positive social reform, public officials ought to perform programs without biases and thus operate on a sincere public service agenda.  The War on Drugs is a stupid philosophy and has done nothing except cause serious harm to our society; it makes the United States look archaic in its criminal justice and public health practices.  As general and brief as this content/plan may be, the opioid epidemic is a complex issue and should not be underestimated.  However, simple actions can have massive impacts and do so in a beneficial manner.  We have reached the time for the public officials in the United States to stop being blatantly ignorant to the terrible results of extremely punitive law making and bullshit drug treatment programs.  Support to public officials who are diligently working to create a better society needs to be mainstream in American culture regardless of a person's political concepts and affiliations.  Helping people is not something that requires some form of political collusion.  Case in point, being authentic about an issue is synonymous with facing the truths of the problem and not being afraid to do something about it.  The opioid epidemic can be overcome through positive changes in our laws and drug policies.