Johns Hopkins Medicine
Johns Hopkins Medicine
How should policy address substance use? Elizabeth Tracey reports
How should policy address substance use? Elizabeth Tracey reports
How should policy address substance use? Elizabeth Tracey reports
Thursday 22nd February 2024
Explore alternative approaches to substance use policy with expert Michael Fingerhood, as he discusses treatment-focused models and their potential impact.
1 minute
Informative
Thought-provoking
Compassionate
Honest
Non-judgmental
About this podcast
Author:
Johns Hopkins Medicine
Overview:
Categories:
Understanding Addiction & Recovery
Navigating Alcohol Dependency
Navigating Intimate Relationships
Nutritional Pathways to Recovery
Family Recovery from Addiction
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Episodes:
40 (View all)
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Get the buttons here!Rethinking Substance Use Policy: Insights from Johns Hopkins Expert
Episode Overview
- Over 100,000 drug overdose deaths in 2022 highlight the need for new strategies.
- Oregon's decriminalization approach hasn't reduced substance use.
- Burlington, Vermont's model focuses on treatment over arrest.
- Most people arrested for drug-related issues are users, not dealers.
- Treatment-focused policies could be more effective than punitive measures.
It's so hard to know what the right answer is because treatment can work.
In this episode of the Johns Hopkins Medicine podcast, Elizabeth Tracey dives into the complex issue of substance use policy. With over 100,000 drug overdose deaths reported in 2022 by the CDC, it's clear that current strategies need reevaluation. The episode features substance use disorder expert Michael Fingerhood, who shares his thoughts on decriminalization and treatment models. He discusses the situation in Oregon, where decriminalizing drugs hasn't curbed substance use, leading the state to reconsider its approach.
Fingerhood highlights a model from Burlington, Vermont, where police offer to take individuals to treatment rather than arrest them. He believes that focusing on treatment rather than punishment is crucial, especially since most people arrested are users, not dealers. This episode provides a thought-provoking look at how policy can better address substance use issues and offers insights into alternative approaches that might make a difference.