I am writing in support of the Ohio Issue 1 that is on the ballot this year. If you have not yet voted, I encourage you to read this so that you can make an informed decision about how you would like to vote.
Ohio is at the center of the national drug addiction crisis. This crisis is everywhere and affects every community, even our own. When you reach the levels of addiction and overdose deaths that Ohio has, you start to realize that the face of an addict is not what you might picture. There are addicts of every gender, age, color, religion, marital status, socioeconomic status, and level of observance. Every type of person is susceptible to this. But especially young people, precious teenagers who have full lives ahead of them.
The goal of Ohio issue 1 is to provide more non-prison support systems so that those inflicted with addiction can separate themselves from their addiction, recover, and move on with their lives. Doctors, nurses and many people who work in law enforcement support Issue 1 because it will reduce the number of drug users who go to prison and funnel resources to recovery services. Healthcare professionals agree that prisons do not solve addiction and that more resources are needed to provide services that help end the horrible crisis we are in.
There is also a dollars and cents logic here as well. Financially, it is incredibly taxing on law enforcement agencies and prisons to deal with drug addiction, especially because they are not trained to do so. Issue 1 would help put dollars where they are most impactful – into recovery resources.
Lastly, there is no current solution to this crisis. If you are worried about drug addicts on the streets, THEY ALREADY ARE. That is the crisis! This effort would help provide resources for them to get better, not be housed in a prison, a hotbed of criminal activity, which will often do more harm than good.
I’m happy to provide resources on Issue 1 to anyone who is seeking to learn more. It has been heavily vetted by non-political actors and I can send reports and testimonials to people upon request.
Ohioan says
No, Issue 1 should not be a constitutional amendment. It is cushy feely, but in reality, will make it more difficult to achieve said goals.
Do the research. Vote no on Issue 1.
CGS says
Vote no on issue one. Decriminalization of drug use increases drug use. This has not been successful anywhere it has been tried–drug use increases when legal obstacles are removed. And use leads to addiction. Addicts only stop when motivated. Fear of prison can be a great motivator to treatment. It can be a great motivator against starting at all–even better.
LS says
Found this link to be pretty informative:
https://ballotpedia.org/Ohio_Issue_1,_Drug_and_Criminal_Justice_Policies_Initiative_(2018)
Informed Voters says
Thank you for that link. Is very informative. Especially the explanation of the facts and way this issue one will go about amending the Constitution. The media excerpts at the end say it best. Here are a few:
The Plain Dealer (Cleveland.com):
“Amending the Ohio Constitution to recast this state’s drug laws is like using a chainsaw for surgery: It’s anything but precise. And once it’s embedded in the state’s constitution, a do-over is all but impossible. That, however, is what Issue 1, on Ohio’s November ballot, would do.”
Lancaster Eagle Gazette: “Again, the number of people dying each day and week in our state might motivate voters to do something – anything – to help stop the tragedy unfolding. Issue 1 is not the way to address the problem. It’s dangerous and filled with the potential for disaster. Vote no.”[64]
The Canton Repository: “Does Ohio need to move more drug offenders from prison into the treatment programs that offer them real hope for recovery and rehabilitation? Of course we say yes. Is Issue 1 the answer? With the known flaws in its language, the very real potential for other unintended consequences and the difficulty in undoing any constitutional amendment, we emphatically say no. Voters should say no, too.”[68]
Chana Levine says
Hi all! Thanks for engaging! I understand people have different views and encourage people to vote for what they think is right. One thing I will say is that the nature of addiction is such that criminalization does not act a deterrent. The vast majority of people who become addicted do so after using prescription or legal drugs and once they are addicted, the fear of jail time is not a deterrent. In fact, for users who are suffering from homelessness and a lack of medical attention, they may even want to be caught and housed in a facility with a roof, meals and medical attention. We need massive reforms for these issues and there is no way we will tackle the addiction crisis by throwing people in jail. Attempts to reduce the number of overdose deaths by taking a holistic, non criminal approach ARE successful.
Again, happy to share research with anyone.
Have a great shabbos!