Laws Breed Drug Re-Offenders
(Ivanhoe Newswire) – Government laws intended to reduce drug use for convicted drug users may be doing the exact opposite of their intentions, according to a recent study at San Francisco State Universality.
The study is referring to policies such as the federal ban on food stamps for those convicted of a drug offense. Drug offenders are also prohibited from using public housing, according to the “one strike and you’re out” policy.
“Punitive drug and social policies … make it extremely difficult for users and former users to live a normal life and reintegrate into society,” lead study author Juliana van Olphen, assistant professor of health education at San Francisco State University, was quoted as saying.
The study’s authors claim that the women are unable to reintegrate into society, placing blame on the government policies. The laws are limiting the convicted drug users' capability of supporting themselves drug-free in the future.
clipped from: www.ivanhoe.com