I attended the strategy session in the International Affairs Building before the United Nation’s General Assembly Special Session on the World Drug Problem. The first session included Mayor of Ithaca Svante Myrick and Dr. Carl Hart of Columbia University. The session was moderated by Kassandra Frederique of the Drug Policy Alliance. This session was on how we can’t end racial injustice until we end the drug war. Mayor Myrick began with a very personal story on how his father was a crack addict and how he eventually drifted out of his life. Myrick went to Cornell, where as an undergrad ran for a spot on the city council and won. Following graduation he ended up winning an election as Mayor, since then he has implemented drug reforms in the city.
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He then went on to point out that most opioid deaths are the result of taking drugs in combination. Therefore, education on the fact that taking drugs in combination is dangerous would reduce the deaths associated with the drug. Furthermore, many other deaths are a result of adulterants in the drugs, meaning it would be useful for the government to give public health announcements when adulterants are found in drugs that are being dealt in a given area. Hart then went on to comment that progressives have coopted the language and have failed to pursue policies that would end the drug war, instead they focus on treating all drug users as the same. Hart also pointed out that he is a drug user, but is a high functioning contributor to society and that most drug user’s fall into this category. On the subject of race Hart pointed out that so many black youths have had their life’s cut short by overzealous cops, such as Hart Graham. When asked why the entire minority community is not united against the drug war, Hart responded by pointing out that not every person identifying as minority will have the same interests, essentially creating a collective action problem. A final point from Hart’s talk I would like to make is that most research focuses on pathology rather than treatment or benefits of …show more content…
He is formerly incarcerated of first degree murder and since being released his founded a treatment facility and a needle exchange program. He delivered a great line about being a 12 stepper, but believed that it takes more than 12 steps to get to the top of a mountain. He also commented that whether his son is smoking a blunt or drinking beer he expects him to come home safe. The final panelist was Joseph Hayden, who was a former drug dealer and user. He said he decided to stop using over thirty years ago simply by choice. Much like Jones he was never offered a program and was sentenced to prison. He also pointed out that big pharmaceuticals continues to exercise its power and focuses on maintaining its power in the very same way, only it’s legal. He also pointed out that there is often a collective action problem in even predominantly black communities. He gave the example that in Ferguson, the black community had the numbers to control every lever of government, but it took a tragedy for them to come together to demand change. On a final note about this conference it was strange not to see a single woman on the second panel. Our host Kassandra Frederique explained on the stigma and laws surrounding drug use for women could very well cost women their children so it was a very conscious decision on the part of event
He then went on to point out that most opioid deaths are the result of taking drugs in combination. Therefore, education on the fact that taking drugs in combination is dangerous would reduce the deaths associated with the drug. Furthermore, many other deaths are a result of adulterants in the drugs, meaning it would be useful for the government to give public health announcements when adulterants are found in drugs that are being dealt in a given area. Hart then went on to comment that progressives have coopted the language and have failed to pursue policies that would end the drug war, instead they focus on treating all drug users as the same. Hart also pointed out that he is a drug user, but is a high functioning contributor to society and that most drug user’s fall into this category. On the subject of race Hart pointed out that so many black youths have had their life’s cut short by overzealous cops, such as Hart Graham. When asked why the entire minority community is not united against the drug war, Hart responded by pointing out that not every person identifying as minority will have the same interests, essentially creating a collective action problem. A final point from Hart’s talk I would like to make is that most research focuses on pathology rather than treatment or benefits of …show more content…
He is formerly incarcerated of first degree murder and since being released his founded a treatment facility and a needle exchange program. He delivered a great line about being a 12 stepper, but believed that it takes more than 12 steps to get to the top of a mountain. He also commented that whether his son is smoking a blunt or drinking beer he expects him to come home safe. The final panelist was Joseph Hayden, who was a former drug dealer and user. He said he decided to stop using over thirty years ago simply by choice. Much like Jones he was never offered a program and was sentenced to prison. He also pointed out that big pharmaceuticals continues to exercise its power and focuses on maintaining its power in the very same way, only it’s legal. He also pointed out that there is often a collective action problem in even predominantly black communities. He gave the example that in Ferguson, the black community had the numbers to control every lever of government, but it took a tragedy for them to come together to demand change. On a final note about this conference it was strange not to see a single woman on the second panel. Our host Kassandra Frederique explained on the stigma and laws surrounding drug use for women could very well cost women their children so it was a very conscious decision on the part of event