How Should Society Manage Addiction?

Individuals dealing with addiction in society can be compared to a revolving door – they come and go. However, the situation becomes critical when the number of people seeking help increases rapidly, overcrowding the space and leaving little room for those who need to step forward. It's essential to address these consequences, but the question remains: how can we effectively provide support when the need continues to grow?

Addicts – What’s the Big Deal?

Prominent drug addiction in society can bring damaging effects. Losing many to the vicious cycle that is addiction, is losing the vital human labour contributing to a functioning society. With reduced employees and businesses, markets for products and services are significantly slimmer, and bureaucratic processes (e.g. creating and implementing new policies, globalization/trading) would be less efficient. 

In addition, there would be a significant burden on both government-owned and private-owned healthcare. With more overdose incidents, ER and hospitals can easily turn overcrowded, which prevents other patients of various health issues from receiving necessary treatment; when resources are limited, its allocation will be according to priority and urgency, which could cost the lives of many. Not only that, the mere waiting time for medical attention may be too long or too expensive due to high demand that many suffer permanent harm before being eligible to see a doctor.

In summary, with prominent drug overuse, the pillars, cornerstone of society, collapses as burden is pushed onto the few that have managed to prevent from falling into the hole of addiction.

Why Hasn’t Anything Changed?

Drugs are inherently a difficult substance to completely rid of consumption once it has started. These products contain chemicals packed with dopamine, injecting consumers with waves of temporary pleasure. By triggering the brain’s reward system, a direct correlation is established between these products and happiness, thus encouraging addiction.

Not only that, many cities have made drugs increasingly accessible to the public.

Portland, a city in Oregon, is a prominent example of drug abuse. In 2020, 816 deaths were caused by drug overdose, twice the amount in comparison to the year prior. In an attempt to control the issue, the city introduced a policy to decriminalize drugs, intending to diminish the link between drug consumption and retribution and jail time, and instead incentivizing citizens to seek treatment. However, overdose deaths surged 23% percent in 2021, exhibiting opposite effects that left a permanent scar in Portland. In late 2024, the city announced the implementation of recriminalizing drugs, aiming to save what is left of the sinking ship. Its effectiveness remains inclusive as it is too early to compare at this stage.

Most Practical Solution? 

Unfortunately, there is no definitive answer as to how we should manage drug addicts; there is simply no one solution that can completely prevent such an issue. However, decriminalizing drugs can be an effective method when paired with other solutions. 

Portugal, a country that has significantly improved drug-related deaths and health consequences in citizens, established a policy in order for citizens not to be lawfully punished for consuming or carrying small amounts of drugs. Instead, they would be taken for questioning and encouraged to seek treatment in government-funded rehabilitation centers and other sources of treatment. Not only that, health awareness campaigns were prevalent in informing citizens on the perpetuating harms of drugs and drug addiction. Lastly, small amounts of drugs were even distributed to users in order for them to consume healthy amounts from safe sources.

Although this method may have flaws, Portugal views jail time as a useless punishment as addiction has already begun and will likely continue, and thus resorts to solving the root cause of the issue. Instead of establishing a sense of fear and hatred towards the government, citizens now see them as a source of aid and assistance. In 2023, addiction rates were three times lower than it was 20 years ago.

Works Cited

Brian, Mann. “Why Oregon Is Recriminalizing Even Small Amounts of Illicit Drugs.” NPR, 5 Mar. 2024, www.npr.org/2024/03/05/1236075494/why-oregon-is-recriminalizing-even-small-amounts-of-illicit-drugs. Accessed 28 Dec. 2025.

FRANCE 24 English. “Portugal’s Alternative Response to Drug Addiction Sparks Global Interest • FRANCE 24 English.” YouTube, 16 Jan. 2023, www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElxXXTpw8Cg. Accessed 2 Jan. 2026.

Maldonado, Mia. “Rising Crime, Overdoses Reflect Pre-Pandemic Trends – Not Drug Decriminalization – PSU Study Finds • Oregon Capital Chronicle.” Oregon Capital Chronicle, 11 Aug. 2025, oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2025/08/11/rising-crime-overdoses-reflect-pre-pandemic-trends-not-drug-decriminalization-psu-study-finds/. Accessed 28 Dec. 2025.

National Institute on Drug Abuse. “Understanding Drug Use and Addiction Drug Facts.” National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institute of Health, June 2018, nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/understanding-drug-use-addiction. Accessed 2 Jan. 2026.

Zoorob, Michael J, et al. “Drug Decriminalization, Fentanyl, and Fatal Overdoses in Oregon.” JAMA Network Open, vol. 7, no. 9, 5 Sept. 2024, pp. e2431612–e2431612, jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2823254, https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.31612.