Before I go any further, let me just say that I in no way promote the use of recreational drugs. At the same time I have to state that I am totally opposed the drug laws as they exist now, an how those laws criminalize those with mental health issues. Not to mention those who live in poverty, and youth.
Gotten that out of the way, it should come as not shock that I am opposed to the current drug laws in Canada, and most of the world, since I just said that in the previous sentence. Like all prohibition laws they work, not to prevent the sale or use of these drugs, but to create a culture of violence around there sale and use.
However, it is the affect of the criminalization of drugs and their use on those with mental health issues.
The criminalization of recreational drugs has the effect of bringing many, law abiding, people with mental illness into conflict with the law. Not that all people with mental health issues use drugs. I don't, although I did smoke pot a couple of times in university. For those who do, however, many will end up in jail, where even those responsible for the jails admit they will not get the help they need.
Many people with mental illness, to a large extent due to the silliness around getting into the mental health system, self medicate with recreational drugs. Although many of these do not realize that that is what they are doing, as they do not realize they are sick.
Some people believe that most if not all mental illness is actually caused by recreational drug use. Although there is some evidence that long term use can cause some symptoms of mental illness, and that some drugs like LSD actually cause a temporary form of psychosis, the diagnostic criteria for most mental illnesses actually precludes the use of recreational drugs as a cause. Having said that there use in self-medicating is not a long term solution and will, in most cases, make the situation worse in the long term.
So does it really make sense to throw people in jail and criminalize them because they are simply trying to find ways to survive. Because that is exactly what our drug laws do to people with mental illness.
This in no way should be construed as my advocating the use of recreational drugs to treat mental illness. Rather, it is a recognition that the mental health system has failed many people, and that they should not be the ones to be punished for the failings of the system.
Having said all that, there are three things that I would recommend being done that would help rectify this situation:
1.Legalize and regulate recreational drugs, as is currently done with alcohol and tobacco. This would have the effect of reducing most of the violence and criminality that currently revolves around these drugs. It would also stop the criminalization of those people with a mental illness who use them for self medication.
2.Provide mental health services to those who need them, when they need them. The fact is that many people know they are becoming ill in the beginning, and ask for help, but loose that insight as they spiral into mental illness. If they were given the help when they ask for it, it could reduce the amount of self-medicating. Not to mention the fact that it would result in fewer people with mental illness being forced into the “criminal justice” system.
3.Recognize that many addiction issues are related to mental health issues. In other words, it is time to stop treating addiction as some sort of moral failing, even if mental illness is not involved. Then start make sure that the underlying issues, whatever they may be, involved in a persons addiction are dealt with. I have known a number of people who have gone through rehab, but have gone back to using drugs because they were not given help in dealing with the issues that brought them to drugs in the first place.
Well, there's my two cents worth. Would love to know what everybody else thinks, so feel free to comment, I won't be offended if you disagree with me. OK I might be, but I won't take it personally.
