SMART Recovery
SMART Recovery
Could it be Time to Decriminalize Drugs?
Could it be Time to Decriminalize Drugs?
Could it be Time to Decriminalize Drugs?
Wednesday 18th May 2022
Maia Szalavitz discusses drug decriminalization and challenges traditional views on addiction on the SMART Recovery® Podcast.
42 minutes
Informative
Thought-provoking
Raw
Engaging
Transformative
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SMART Recovery
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Categories:
Sobriety Toolkit
Innovative Treatments & Recovery Paths
Family Recovery from Addiction
Body & Mind
Financial Health in Recovery
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Get the buttons here!Rethinking Addiction: Maia Szalavitz on Drug Decriminalization and Harm Reduction
Drug policy must be liberated from the idea that without criminal penalties, no one would ever quit drugs.
What if the way we think about addiction and drug policy is all wrong? In this thought-provoking episode of the SMART Recovery® Podcast, award-winning author Maia Szalavitz dives into the controversial topic of drug decriminalization. Szalavitz, known for her groundbreaking books like 'Undoing Drugs' and 'Unbroken Brain', argues that criminalizing drug use does more harm than good.
She shares insights from her New York Times opinion piece on Oregon's decision to decriminalize drug possession and highlights the racial disparities in the justice system exacerbated by current drug laws. Szalavitz discusses how external pressures often undermine internal motivation, making recovery even harder. She uses compelling analogies, comparing addiction to experiences like falling in love or having a baby, to illustrate that people with addiction aren't lazy—they're hurting. Punishment, she argues, isn't the answer.
Instead, we need to meet people where they are and offer compassionate, science-based treatment options. This episode isn't just for those directly affected by addiction; it's for anyone interested in understanding how policy and perception can change lives. Szalavitz's call for more expansive definitions of recovery and her critique of traditional approaches provide a fresh perspective that challenges listeners to rethink what they know about addiction and recovery. Curious about how changing drug policies could impact society?
Tune in to hear Maia Szalavitz's compelling arguments and join the conversation on a topic that's more relevant now than ever.