Drugs and addiction have interrupted many lives and even communities. Many Americans face problems with drugs and many do not know how to manage these problems. Drugs cause many people to shift away from a normal life and it affects many people, including the ones who don't take the drugs. One main solution is mandatory rehab and counseling, this can help people with addictions and it can prevent the steps to addiction.
Rehab and counseling has many benefits on addiction and drugs. Addiction counseling has provided help for people struggling with substance use disorder. A report of The National Institute on Drug Abuse states that in 2023, people of the age 12 or older have struggled with substance abuse disorders, the total number of these people are 48.5 million people. Rehab counselors are trained for different types of problems of individuals. In here they are able to share overlapping challenges, complexities, and trauma, they can share their struggles without fear or judgement while recovering from addiction and drug abuse.
Many people with anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorders take drugs and alcohol to relieve them from their problems. While some drugs do help to alleviate symptoms, over time they make symptoms worse. This can be avoided with rehab and counseling, they can provide the right treatment for the individual and prevent the stages to drug abuse and addiction. If the 30-day program isn't enough, the individual will be in rehab for a longer period of time.
However, even though mandatory rehab and counseling have many benefits, it can have various disadvantages. Lack of support being one, meaning that relapse rates are high due to the short 30-day program. There is an estimate that 40%-60% of individuals who attend rehab relapse within a year. Another problem is that the price for rehab and counseling can be too much for an individual to afford. Insurance can cover the cost for it, but sometimes it doesn't fully cover the cost. Sometimes an individual's case is serious and it can cause 24/7 care, this can lead to time away from family, friends, and/or work.
The Executive Branch and the Legislative Branch will be the one responsible for this policy. The Executive Branch mainly deals with drug enforcement and rehabilitation, while the Legislative Branch is responsible for passing laws that categorize drugs. This policy is constitutional if it meets a specific criteria, for example it can't go against someones liberty or rights. The 14th Amendment grants citizenship to all people born or naturalized in the U.S. and prohibits states from denying anyone "equal protection of the laws" or "due process". As long as this policy doesn't invade anyone's rights, the policy is considered constitutional and legal.