On the legalization of Heroin and Other Hard Drugs
Chicago is currently suffering through a horrific Heroin crisis. For the past six months I’ve been working on a documentary photo project which focuses on Heroin addiction. During this time, I have come to know several Heroin addicts on a deep and personal level. We have built relationships, and are working together to tell their stories in a forthcoming book. These photos on my blog are but a small glimpse into the dark and dirty world of Heroin addiction.
What have I learned through working on this project? First and foremost: don’t do junk! The number one message that Heroin addicts have asked that I pass along is: “Don’t Do Junk!” Don’t think that you can just snort Heroin one time – it’s NOT worth the risk. That one time, soon turns into fifty – fifty quickly transforms from snorting, to injection. Six months later, you’re looking back wondering what the fuck happened.
The second thing that has changed in my thinking due to this project, is my position on the legalization of all drugs. In the past, I’ve been a strong advocate for the legalization of marijuana, while holding that hard drugs, such as Heroin, should remain illegal. Due to what I have experienced during this adventure, I now personally believe that the best use of societal time and money in combating Heroin addiction, is on prevention, harm reduction, and treatment rather than criminal incarceration.
Our current drug policies are a futile game of cat-and-mouse, which do nothing to curb drug addiction. In short, the “War On Drugs” has proven to be an absolute failure, and it is now past time to seriously consider legalization of all drugs. While I in no way advocate in favor of hard drug use, I see no better way of removing the fuel that keeps alight the fires of black-market violence and destruction, than legalization and regulation of drugs such as Heroin.
My position on drug legalization mirrors your, Chuck. Imagine a country where all drugs were legalized, regulated and taxed. Hard drugs would be available by doctor’s prescription to any addict, and purity and dosage would be guaranteed. Junkies would come out of the shadows, and the number of OD’s would plummet. The demand for illegal drugs would dry up, and so would the whole distribution scene. Addicts would not give up their script to give drugs to new users, and the number of junkies would stabilize and slowly decline. Drug arrests would drop to zero, drug related crime would drop to zero, drug deaths would drop to nearly zero, prison populations would decline, tax revenue would go up, police would stop hassling people for drug violations, and the world would be a better place. Regrettably, the Congress would never pass this legislation, as the public outcry from the Moral Majority would be deafening. Too bad. It’s a great idea.
I agree… for all the reasons that you mentioned, they won’t do it…
A few thoughts:
Showing my work in public for the first time last night was enlightening in multiple ways. First, I gained a new sense of responsibility about this project; about what it is precisely that I want, or rather need, to convey. The ultimate message has now crystallized: The importance of the legalization of Heroin and Other Hard Drugs.
Second, I gained a new understanding of just how powerful these photos that I’ve acquired are. You could feel the energy they put off throughout the club. I hope some of the photos that we took of people viewing my work turn out good (you know, that low-light quick movements thingy). Some of the sentiments often expressed last night from folks that viewed the prints: “Powerful,” “the most important work in the show,” “seriously well done,” “when I leave here tonight, it’s these photos that will stay in my memory.”
I was so humbled – gained a new vision, and a deeper sense of responsibility last night. Time to continue forward…