In many, many drug cases, the real issue at the heart of the case is that the person accused of buying, possessing or transporting drugs is actually addicted to those substances. This makes the entire case far more complicated, as addiction is a disease and a medical issue.
For instance, someone may have no desire to break the law. They may be trying to stop on their own, but they just can’t seem to put their drug use behind them. Every so often, they slip back into their old habits.
If that person then gets caught with illegal drugs, the police may simply advocate putting them behind bars. But is that what they really need? Jail time is not going to change anything. It often just makes it worse. What the person really needs is medical assistance with the disease of addiction, giving them the power to put drug use behind them. That’s the goal that both the person and the authorities have. They need to know how to work toward it together.
Addiction is difficult to break
With all of that in mind, it’s important to remember how addictive different drugs can be and how difficult it is to break that addiction without assistance. Some of the most addictive drugs include:
- Heroin
- Cocaine
- Methamphetamines
- Alcohol
- Nicotine
On top of that, there’s a relatively new epidemic of opioid use in the United States. These prescription painkillers are some of the most addictive drugs in the world. People may start using them legally, with a prescription, and when they are medically needed. If that need turns into addiction, though, they can start using them illegally or abusing them. Sometimes, the opiods can even lead to other drug issues, such as heroin use.
Getting the help you need
If you’re facing charges for drug use and you know that addiction is the reason why, it’s important to understand your legal options and to know how to get the help you really need.