Brain Disease Model Of Addiction

The criminalization of addiction to drugs and alcohol has impacted society on various levels. Rather than treating addiction as a disease of the brain it is treated as a moral ineptitude that deserves punishment. It is estimated that the United States government spends $51 million a year on drug related arrests and imprisonment (Sledge, 2013). A paradigm shift on how society views addiction and treatment is needed to truly help those suffering from this disease. I would like to consider what a society who has had this paradigm shift would look like, and how it would impact the lives of those affected by addiction.
Policy and Criminal Justice The government has created a new branch of the Center for Disease control whose primary focus is addictions. The Center for Addictions (CFA) uses the brain disease model to inform policy and development. The brain disease model of addictions view addiction as chronic disease that needs lifelong treatment (NIDA, 2015). Special government funding is put aside specifically to provide treatment and research in the field of addiction. Through this funding researches have been able to make discoveries that have dramatically improved treatment options, and hopefully lead to a cure. …show more content…
Those whose evaluation proves they suffer from addiction will be prosecuted in the addictions court. The addictions court uses current laws and sentencing standards that are informed by addictions best practice. People with addiction still have to face the repercussions of breaking the law, but with the understanding that their addiction played a role in their actions. Addictions court will provide access to appropriate treatment options with the opportunity to have the conviction expunged from the offender's