Frank Watson: Everyone is a Victim

There was a brief furor a week or so ago about our national problem with substance abuse.

President Trump said that we are experiencing an opioid epidemic.

He may be newly aware of this, but it is not new.

We have had a problem with opioids for as long as I can remember.

We also have a cocaine epidemic, a methamphetamine epidemic, and chronic misuse of prescription drugs.

We have a long standing drug epidemic that continues to grow despite all efforts to suppress it.

We have spent billions of dollars trying to counter the problem and have thousands of policemen whose primary function is drug enforcement.

Our efforts, however, don’t appear to be working.

Could it be that we are going about it wrong?

Anyone who has had a basic course in economics can tell you that the market is driven by demand. Demand creates an opportunity for profit. As long as there is a demand for a product and an opportunity for profit, entrepreneurs will supply that product. We have focused all our energy toward cutting off supply and ignored demand. This has not worked and never will. The product in this case is, of course, illegal drugs. Our laws and law enforcement efforts have made it risky for drug traffickers, but as fast as we take dealers off the street, another takes his place. If we really want to win the war on drugs, we must attack the demand along with the supply.

It is against the law to use heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and other banned drugs, but we seldom if ever hear of a user being punished.

Rather, we tend to view the user with sympathy.

They are often portrayed as victims of the system.

A father who tragically lost a child to a heroin overdose blames the doctor who originally prescribed pain medicine.

A mother blames the lack of government rehabilitation centers for her child being born addicted.

Everyone is a victim and blames someone else for their circumstances.

Most of us, thankfully, have limited experience with addiction.

Doctors tell us that one of the most addicting substances available today is nicotine.

I began smoking when I was 18 because I viewed myself as a man, and men smoked.

I wasn’t influenced by Marlboro ads or tobacco company propaganda.

I knew smoking was bad for my health and did it anyway.

It was my fault; my own stupid decision.

When my kids became of an age where I was concerned about my example, I tried to quit and found it extremely difficult.

I stopped twice for a year each time only to go back to smoking.

It was only when I accepted full responsibility that I was able to postpone my next cigarette indefinitely.

If I was a victim, it was because I victimized myself. Those who abuse illegal drugs are equally victims of their own making. There was no excuse for me to allow myself to become addicted to nicotine, nor is there a legitimate excuse for anyone to allow themselves to become addicted to other drugs. Drug users provide the demand for our national epidemic. To have any chance of winning the war on drugs there must be consequences for all those who violate our narcotic laws, users as well as suppliers.

I’m not suggesting that we discontinue drug treatment centers, nor should we reduce our efforts to catch and punish drug dealers. I am suggesting, however, that we acknowledge that the kid next who brings heroin to a party is part of the problem and should be held accountable. The businessman who unwinds by sniffing cocaine is part of the problem and should be held accountable. If we are to stop this deadly epidemic we must hold all those who violate our drug laws accountable.

(Frank Watson is a retired Air Force Colonel and a long time resident of Eastern Washington. He has been a free lance columnist for over 18 years.)