Crime and Addiction: The Smartest Way to Fight Both
As I go about my days busily trying to put the pieces of my interrupted life together in a way that makes sense, I am constantly reminded of just how many uphill battles I am facing. One of the greatest challenges in this endeavor is working within a system that prevents its own objectives from being attained, and which strips the individuals within its confines of the very autonomy they need in order to lead productive and happy lives. Our justice system is beyond dysfunctional...this is evident in our incarceration rates, our addiction rates, our recidivism rates, the daily number of overdose deaths occurring nationwide, and the tremendous number of untreated or under-treated people suffering from mental illness in our society. The proof is everywhere...if there is to be any hope of healing our communities and giving future generations a sense of hope, change is necessary. Not tomorrow, not next week, not next year, NOW! The human casualties of this systemic dysfunction are far too r...