National Drug Control Policy and the Overdose Crisis Essay

Public Policy Meeting

The drug overdose and addiction issues have been of great concern in the United States, which has triggered the government to take various actions to formulate effective strategies and interventions toward drug control. As a result, the assigned video contains information the American House Oversight and Reform Committee provides as they try to dig dip and identify gaps leading to addiction and overdose crises. The hearing starts with an opening statement from Carolyn Maloney, the New York Representative and chairperson of the committee. Rep. Carolyn admits that the drug addiction and overdose issue has affected most communities in the United States, thus requiring urgent intervention. The main theme of the meeting is to ensure that all individuals within the US struggling with addiction issues can easily access healthcare services while ensuring that all people who deal with such drugs are held accountable. Also, as the head of the Committee, Carolyn Maloney made it clear that the session was to hear a confession by Dr. Gupta. The main topics that the meeting observed include health equity issues, opioid seizures, intervening in healthcare accessibility for substance abuse victims, the gap between addiction disorders and mental health disorders, and how the country can control illegal narcotic flow. National Drug Control Policy and the Overdose Crisis Essay

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According to Rep. Carolyn, the issue of drug overdose and addiction has affected America for approximately two decades, with the Covid-19 pandemic initiating to increase in these cases. That is because deaths associated with drug addiction and overdose increased by 36 percent in 2020, while in 2021, those deaths were at 15 percent (C-Span, 2022, 1:05 . Such crisis has then led to the current United States administration led by President Joe Biden to take the matters more seriously an action that has received great support from Democrats. Some of the identified drugs on a red alert include Fentanyl which every month, almost 800 pounds are seized (C-Span, 2022, 1:47- 2:08). Also, James Corner, a Kentucky representative, raises a concern about the way the social media platforms have influenced young people and teenagers in abusing drugs like Xanax which currently are considered counterfeit in the country and which are now being replaced with Fentanyl (C-Span, 2022, 1:50: 03 – 1:57:16). From information disseminated from Dr. Gupta, who is the White House Director on National Drug Policy, it is clear that the overdose crisis has had a great effect to the American society especially in destroying most American youths’ future. National Drug Control Policy and the Overdose Crisis Essay

One of the topics that Dr. Eleanor Holmes, a representative of the District of Columbia, raised is President Joe Biden’s administration prohibiting the District of Columbia from using its local funds to commercialize recreational Marijuana. From Dr. Eleanor’s point of view, he posed a question to Dr. Gupta. But first, he clarified that he acknowledges how the administration is striving towards advance equity, including censoring recovery, instead of focusing more on punishment as part of the federal government strategy in fighting the drug crisis. However, Dr. Eleanor wanted more clarification on racial disparities, especially concerning arrests and incarcerations for drug-related offenses. Dr. Gupta admits that incarceration disparities have led to many challenges. However, Dr. Gupta informs that in as much as there is a wide range of incarceration disparities, President Joe Biden’s administration has outlined strategies to ensure that those offenders found to have been addicted to substances get the needed assistance (C-Span, 2022, 1:00:00 – 1:05:32). Dr, Gupta believes that there are many ways of helping individuals affected by drug addiction and substance abuse other than incarcerating them. For instance, some of the strategies provided include housing and treatment for these individuals since such strategies also help in reducing instances of recidivism which is on the rise. Hence, the best way to solve the issue of drug addiction and abuse is through solving the issue at a community level, but factors like equity have to play a key role. Also, Dr. Eleanor tried to inquire how the criminal justice system will ensure that it arrests people without engaging in inequalities. However, Dr. Gupta was very clear that the only and sure way to deal with such vice is by educating people on how to acknowledge when people need help and thus understanding when to arrest and help an individual with drug issues or addiction. National Drug Control Policy and the Overdose Crisis Essay

The key interaction in the meeting was between Rep. Carolyn Maloney, Dr. Gupta, and the representatives. That is because Rep.Carolyn was the committee’s acting chairperson, thus having the mandate to control all the proceedings. For instance, he would moderate time to ensure that all the house representatives had ample time to vest their questions to Dr. Gupta. Also, the representatives had a key role in ensuring that they posed the most burning questions to Dr. Gupta to address their concerns on the drug addiction issue and also to question the government’s effort toward controlling the drug issue, and Dr. Gupta provided all the needed answers on behalf of the government. In that case, the meeting outcome was that the discussion needed a more comprehensive approach to the crisis, considering that most drugs like heroin and Fentanyl came into the county through the legal border. Conclusively, Rep. Carolyn closes the meeting with a hopeful acclamation on Joe Biden and Harris Kamala’s administration’s efforts to fight drug addiction and abuse.

Reference

C-Span (June 27, 2022). National Drug Control Policy and the Overdose Crisis. https://www.c-span.org/video/?521320-1/national-drug-control-policy-overdose-crisis

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– The title of the meeting which is the link below is: National Drug Control Policy and the Overdose Crisis (the link for the meeting is below)

https://www.c-span.org/video/?521320-1/national-drug-control-policy-overdose-crisis National Drug Control Policy and the Overdose Crisis Essay