Aaron Moore
High School Writing
2023-09-17
“Don’t do drugs, kids!” is a sentence hammered into each and every kid with competent parents for very good reason. Drugs are infamously dangerous and have been a topic rigorously surveyed by every developed country since the beginning of their criminalization. Drugs are a very prominent problem around the globe and are dealt with differently in every place. Japan deals with drugs in a very systematic and strict way when in reality, drug addiction is something that should be dealt with in a more delicate manner. In Japan, drug users are shunned by society, making it very hard to be rehabilitated after struggling with drugs, therefore making it difficult to become a functioning member of society. Instead of harshly punishing these addicts, Japan should have a more decriminalizing stance on drugs instead of one that is not much more than a foundation for stigma and suffering.
The core of the problem lies in how the Japanese government treats drug abuse as a criminal issue rather than a health and societal one. A heavily critical article on Japanese drug policies by the East Asia Forum condemns Japan as being very far behind in drug policies compared to other first-world countries. The article states that Japan is the only nation in the G7 that has yet to realize that “Punitive approaches to drug use turn a public health issue into an intractable police matter without addressing the underlying concerns” (Christensen, 2023). The mentioned underlying concerns here can range from a wide variety of issues, from public health concerns like the spread of diseases to even economic burdens like high costs of incarceration and empowerment of the black market.
An obvious concern is that decriminalizing drugs would lead to an increase in consumption. With no harsh penalties, people would be more open to experiment with drugs. However, evidence from countries that have decriminalized drug possession suggests otherwise. A fact sheet made by the Drug Policy Alliance (2015) states how in Portugal, drug decriminalization in 2001 led to not a rise, but a decline in young drug users. The key is to pair decriminalization with comprehensive public education and treatment programs that emphasize the risks and consequences of drug use. Japan could adopt a similar model, focusing on prevention through education and harm reduction strategies. When decriminalization is paired with access to healthcare and support services, it encourages responsible behavior and empowers individuals to make informed decisions.
Another underlying concern of the Japanese government are the cultural values of Japan. Japan has a strong cultural emphasis on discipline, social harmony, and personal responsibility. Critics would argue that drug decriminalization goes against these values and that society would not tolerate behavior that could harm individuals and disrupt social order. While it is important to respect cultural values, it is also vital to recognize that addressing drug use through punishment often leads to more harm, both for individuals and society. The compassionate approach of decriminalization aligns with traditional Japanese values of care and community support. By focusing on rehabilitation and reintegration, Japan would be promoting responsibility and social harmony. This approach provides people with the resources they need to overcome addiction and return to being productive members of society, which ultimately strengthens society rather than weakening it.
People who are undereducated on the topic of drugs can easily argue that drugs are inherently harmful to humans, therefore they shouldn’t be decriminalized. While it is true that drugs can be extremely harmful when used wrongly, this is a blanket statement that clearly oversimplifies a complex topic. Many substances that fall under the wide category of “drugs” have many recognized medical benefits. Substances like cannabis and other psychedelics have shown promising results in treating conditions such as chronic pain, PTSD, depression, and anxiety, as stated in the national library of medicine of the USA (Morgan et al., 2013). Not giving citizens access to medication that could improve someone's quality of life can be even considered a violation of human rights. In a country as developed as Japan, it is simply appalling to restrict citizens of potentially life-saving medication.
In conclusion, Japan remains heavily uneducated about the complexities of drug use, with current policies rooted in outdated perspectives that focus on punishment rather than public health. The evidence from other countries shows that decriminalization, coupled with education and harm reduction, can effectively reduce the harms associated with drug use. It is time for Japan to renew its drug policies, moving away from criminalization and toward a more compassionate, science and evidence-based approach that prioritizes health, safety, and societal well-being.
Word count: 775
References
Christensen, P. (2023, April 4). The hypocrisy of Japan's punitive drug policy. East Asia Forum. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
Drug Policy Alliance. (2015, February). Approaches to Decriminalizing Drug Use & Possession. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
Morgan, C. J., Noronha, L. A., Muetzelfeldt, M., Fielding, A., & Curran, H. V. (2013, June). Harms and benefits associated with psychoactive drugs: findings of an international survey of active drug users. NCBI. Retrieved September 19, 2024.