Critics of the War on Drugs say not enough resources are used to counter the main reason for our drug problem - the demand for illicit drugs. Health advocates say that like alcoholism, drug addiction is a disease. They claim prison is no cure for millions of American drug users, nor is it the end of their addiction problems. They also claim that compared to incarceration, treatment for drug addiction is much cheaper and has more long-term benefits for both drug addicts and society. Between 2017 and 2018, nearly 71,000 Americans died from drug overdoses. It could be said the demand for certain illicit drugs wax and wane over time, and that opioids are now the current scourge.

The use of and addiction to natural opioids including heroin, morphine, and prescription pain relievers like oxycontin has killed more than 450,000 Americans since 2000. In 2017, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl accounted for 31,000 deaths. Millions of Americans need treatment for drug addiction but few receive it. Substance abuse disorders pose a heavy burden on society, endangering individual and family health and well-being, tearing through communities, and sapping resources from the health care system. Advocates say that substance addiction is a treatable disorder but will require a multi-faceted strategy - including more educational outreach programs, treatment facilities, medical personnel and treatment options.


Pending Legislation: H.R.6906 - To require the Attorney General and the Comptroller General of the United States to submit to Congress reports on the drug addiction treatment and recovery industry
Sponsor: Rep. Eugene Vindman (VA)
Status: House Committee on Energy and Commerce
Chair: Rep. Brett Guthrie (KY)