Alexander The Cruel Hand Analysis

Michelle Alexander in her writings from “the Cruel Hand”, is highly critical of the systems in place governing the War on Drugs as well as the current problem with how our society views and treats felons after prison. Her argument is solid but it may still benefit by including the studies used by Richard DeGrandpre in his writings from “The Cult of Pharmacology” which relates use of drugs in lab animals to use in humans. The studies show how situational factors of the user are a major cause for their drug use and not necessarily the drug itself being evil. In her chapter “The Cruel Hand”, Alexander argues that the current Justice system in place in the U.S. is set up in a way that treats modern criminals similarly to slaves when slavery was …show more content…
Studies were carried out on animals in the late 20th century to illustrate and determine cocaine to be a “demon” drug in the eyes of U.S. lawmakers. In these studies it was found that many animals if given the opportunity would take cocaine until their death. That is not the whole story though, as the animals only did this due to being placed in environments void of anything other than the drug. It makes sense that they turn to the only stimuli available to them. When placed in healthy social environments drug use was significantly decreased, “...enriching the environment… not only decreased the drug consumption but actually reduced the number of animals that acquired the habit in the first place.”, implying that the drug itself is not to blame but rather the environment that the user is in that can have an effect on the amount of drug use. With no other outlets to turn to when seeking relief, paired with the allure of a cheap, easily available thrill, it’s easy to see why drug use may be appealing. With the difficulty faced by felons when returning to society, as well as the likelihood of drugs being easily acquirable, drugs may seems like an easy vice to relieve stress or even to relax