Question

The Opioid Crisis is affecting New England like many other parts of the country. After reading the Boston Magazine article, please discuss the role that you think police should play in addressing the crisis. Do you agree or disagree with the article and your classmates?

Answer 1

I would start by saying that I'm aghast to see and hear about such things happening in my country everyday. Thousands are losing their lives to such madness and it has to stop. Despite the current government taking some much awaited steps such as the STOP act mentioned in the article, I believe and agree with the author that it's not enough to curtail this menace. Our highly trained police force should step up and take some more responsibility in handling this crisis.

According to me, the police should be more vigilant in their quest to nab the dealers, especially around the college campuses. According to an article mentioned on the 'Centre on Addiction', approximately 22% of all college students in the USA come under the category of substance abuse or dependence. This is alarming and deeply disturbing. In some cases, the dealers were found to be senior students in the same schools. On campus police and the local PD should focus heavilly on catching thses dealers red handed and punished (Community service, attending substance abuse meetings, interventions through peers and parents etc.) Detention centres can be set up to make these people understand the importance of not indulging in substance abuse and also help others who are fighting substance abuse). I have faith in our younger generation that they will understand in the right circumstance.

As for the poeple with criminal intent, the local PD should look into having more informers and suitably rewarding people who would give information about these drug dealers in their areas (with anonymity of course). The criminals should be shown on TV and other media, to indirectly instill fear and embarrassment among people who might be considering dealing in the future.

I completely agree with the article. The entry of these substances should be made very difficult by using AED on our postal service, but until there is a market for such drugs, the producers and suppliers will keep finding loopholes and other innovative strategies to get the drugs into the country. The best way for long term benefit is to reduce the demand for these substances and live clean.