Is drug addiction a criminal issue or a medical problem?
by 
Cannabis its just a plant
ANSWERS: 17
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At it's core it is a medical issue. However, when one's addiction leads to harm to others that is where the criminal aspect comes in imo.
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IMO, it is a medical problem. +5
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Actually, I'd say at its roots, it's typically more of a socioeconomic problem than either of your options.
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It's a danger to yourself when you use it, making it a medical problem. The criminal issue is when your judgement affects others, thereby hurting them.
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If you're addicted to drugs, it's not your fault. Society gave you the drugs. No one should take you away from it (society). You will need professional help to stay off of most drugs, once you are addicted. Then, if you are addicted to a drug that eats away at your brain, it is definitely a medical problem. But, if you give off symptoms of being addicted to a drug that boosts immunity to all of your body's cells, then society's problem is that they still have to keep calling it a drug.
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I'd say it's more of a psychological problem.
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Medical
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Drug possession makes it criminal.
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Did the "addiction" result from the use of painkillers after an operation? Did it result from your actively seeking illegal drugs by going to a "pusher" and "doing drugs" under the radar, when no one was looking? Come on...of course it's a criminal issue when it gets out of hand, but if it occurred due to mitigating circumstances it's one thing..if there was only the "need/want" to "get high" or "be cool" or any of that other crap that people use to justify bad behavior, then there are no mitigating circumstances..you can't blame society for everything you do wrong..you are accountable, you are to blame and you need to accept the consequences of your actions! Grow up, people! :(
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It depends on the drug. We have to guess with these ab questions. doctors and pharmacies get old folks addicted to drugs so they keep buying the stuff. doctors get patients addicted to drugs so they stop asking questions. so they will be quiet in their married relationships. certainly its criminal for the pharmacist and the medical doctor who prescribes. the patient is the victim. and then illegal drugs...what about the ones that are not addicting? and I suppose smoking cigarettes is not a drug. and we all know it is addicting. and alcoholism is considered a disease...think about that! its an addiction. Jeeez
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i think it is a psychological problem much like depression or bipolar disorder is.
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The term "addiction" - in the clinical sense - means that the body has adapted to the substance. The user has developed tolerance, requiring more of the substance to get the same effect. Cessation of the drug will provide unpleasant and sometimes dangerous medical problems. I refer to someone who is dependent on alcohol getting "the shakes" and other symptoms. (Alcohol, by the way, is one of the most dangerous drugs to detox from and requires intense medical attention.) There is the issue of "psychological dependence" but that's probably for another question. I say all of that as a way of expressing that addiction in the clinical sense is at very least a medical problem.
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without question medical, legality should protect not impeed a human seeking treatment, society should become more accepting this as a medical issue and show empathy, sciece should continue and step up thier efforts to combat this horrific disease that currenty 1 in 6 americans suffer from stats CDC2007
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both, more often medical, but as the addiction takes hold, often criminal activities are involved..........
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its a medical problem and the sooner people wake up to it the better, many times its the law that makes these people a criminal and not the drug
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Neither. A mental issue. My 2 cents.
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When the addict is robbing houses and people to fund their habit, then first and foremost it's a criminal issue. If (and there are very few) the person can afford their own habit then IMHO it's a medical issue. And it us up to both of them to kick the habit or not. Criminalising someone for carrying a little bit of smack or ganja is waste of police resources. It's the top suppliers in illegal drugs that need to be stamped down on.
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