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Beneficiaries of Drug Prohibition: A Closer Look for Concerned Families

A tangled web of interests hinder the adoption of progressive addiction treatment policies that could save lives.

Timothy Harrington
3 min readFeb 28, 2024
Photo by Steven Van Loy on Unsplash

Introduction

Hello to all the dedicated parents and family members out there. Today, we’re diving deep into a topic that’s close to my heart at understanding the complex world of drug control policies, specifically prohibition, and how it impacts our loved ones and people in our community struggling with the experience of addiction. We’ll uncover the stakeholders who, intentionally or not, benefit from these policies and how their interests often clash with progressive treatment approaches like needle exchange programs, safe injection sites, and more.

The Landscape of Drug Prohibition

The Players Who Benefit

  1. Law Enforcement Agencies

How They Benefit: On the front lines, law enforcement agencies receive significant funding and resources to combat drug trafficking and use. High-profile drug busts and arrest quotas often serve as performance indicators.

The Roadblock: While protecting society is their main mandate, this focus can sometimes…

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Timothy Harrington
Timothy Harrington

Written by Timothy Harrington

Champion of Family and Community Powered Change Related to Addiction, Mental and Emotional Health Challenges

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