Addiction
Washington state currently suffers from a nation-wide fentanyl crisis, the latest evolution in what was formerly understood as the heroine epidemic. Addiction and drug abuse are apparent everywhere and are major contributors to the increasing rate of deaths of despair.
Widespread addiction is a symptom of a struggling society and despite the temptation to think of drug abuse as a purely personal failing, the reality is that the criminalization of simple possession and consumption of drugs is not for most people a pathway to healing and self-sufficiency. In fact, for millions this approach on drugs has not only failed to address their addiction, but has disrupted their lives with incarceration, destroyed their careers with criminal records, and effectively taken away many pathways to recovery.
The addiction crisis and its broader causes are major problems deeply entrenched in our society and call for system-level solutions that may take time to produce results that are seen and felt on a widespread basis. The following are a high level rundown of how Washington should approach the addiction crisis.
Our education system must establish modern and realistic evidence-based education on drugs and addiction starting in elementary school.
Preventative services including mental healthcare, free prescription drugs, behavioral care, addiction recovery, and a guarantee to permanent housing must be made universal and widely known and available to keep folks off the street and in the care of professional health workers.
Establish safe indoor treatment facilities with professional staff and needle disposal as the only legal consumption zones.
All nonviolent drug offenses including possession, consumption, and addiction must be decriminalized and treated as purely civil offenses.
Civil drug offenses should result in mandatory participation in recovery programs.
All civil offenses should be removed from public records upon completion of mandatory recovery programs.
Repeat offenders may be subject to more intense recovery regimens.
Offenses may include public consumption or irresponsible disposal of drugs or biohazardous materials like used needles (only enforceable as long as the state provides safe and legal means for consumption and disposal).