When individual groups, such as gangs and the government, are able to benefit from drug abuse and addiction, it creates a strained relationship for drug addicts. Gangs are making drugs widely and cheaply available and the government is allowing heroin related drugs into recovery efforts …show more content…
When an addict repeated overdoses and has to go to the E.R., it puts a strain on the staff with repeated drug overdoses taking them away from patients with other serious health issues. Furthermore, the perception from healthcare providers is that non-compliant drug addicts do not have a disease similar to a patient having chest pains.
Social inequalities due to race and healthcare provide insight into the public’s perception on who is becoming addicted and how the lack of quality treatment addicts are receiving is only exacerbating the problem of addiction. Until society realizes that addiction is a disease similar to that of a mental illness, it will be challenging for addicts to get the help they deserve.
As a result of increasing heroin addiction, several changes to legislation have been proposed as a means of gaining control over a growing epidemic and preventing more deaths as a result of drug overdose. The President of the United States signed legislative changes expanding access, of those addicted, to treatment, prevent overdose deaths and increase community awareness, education and prevention with the aid of $1.1 billion in funding. Unfortunately, this approach differs from that of the Reagan administration. The infamous “war on drugs” was less about advancing public health than it was about filling prison beds. Yet another distinction that comes down to