In many cases, serious drug charges simply stem from the fact that someone is addicted to the substance in question. They cannot break that habit or that addiction on their own. As a result, they do things that they know break the laws at the state or federal level, but they don’t even feel like they are really in control of their own actions.
According to some experts, a mere 10% of those with addiction problems actually go seek treatment. They also say that there are at least 21 million people in the United States who struggle with addiction.
One of the biggest issues is with opioids, which are prescription painkillers. Nearly 200,000,000 prescriptions are written out for them annually in the United States. Misuse is common, though, happening with anywhere from 20% to 30% of those who take them. More than 100 people die daily from overdosing on opioids.
All of these statistics raise a very important question: What is really best for those who are struggling with addiction? If they get arrested on drug charges, will time behind bars or extensive fines really help them change? Or is the whole issue rooted in addiction anyway, meaning what they really need is help from medical professionals so that they can break the addiction and then begin to follow the law?
Drug crimes are a complicated subject, as you can see, with a lot of different influences. If you find yourself under arrest or facing charges, make sure that you are well aware of all of the legal options that you have.