Respond to DQA

Provide a substantive response to at least one colleague about their conversation.

The correctional policy implications that this learner used for this week’s discussion is regarding the reason for overcrowding in the prison system. “The U.S. accounts for only 5% of the world population but holds 25% of the world’s prisoners” (Engel, 2016). The prison populations in America rates have risen significantly since the war on drugs began in the early 80’s.At the national and states level, many have seen the effects of mandatory minimums and the ease at which drugs can be obtained, distributed and has led to overcrowding in prisons.

 The individual that this learner selected who is not familiar with the focus on this course is Peggy Rigley a colleague from Avertest. Ms. Peggy is 60 years of age a mother of 5 children and a grandmother to 16 grandchildren. She has been an employ of Avertest for past 3 years has a Master in psychologies and has been a “Drug Treatment Counselor” for the past 20 years in Nashville, Tennessee for the Court System. This learner choice this coworker because she has a wealth of knowledge regarding drug treatment programs and was a way in which to get to know her.

Her response to the question regarding the reason for overcrowding in the prison system was unexpected.  My colleague claimed that the pharmaceutical industry is partly to blame for overcrowding and should make restitution for its part. Stating that the pharmaceutical industry makes billions a year on drugs in regards to manufacturing and distributing various producers and should provide the government with 1 billion a year in which to put into drug treatment programs. This learner found this surprising because I never thought of overcrowding to be a result of drugs being more available to individuals.   

After asking questions and speaking with her I can see some truth behind her thought process. for example, the pharmaceutical industry “giant Pfizer is the world’s largest drug company by pharmaceutical revenue making a 42% profit margin that is near half it average profit” (Anderson, 2014). These companies make million upon billions of dollars to provide these drugs that are highly addictive, readily accessible and cost well above what it cost to make them. Upon doing this-this learner had difficulties in see what was to blame for overcrowding contributing most if not all too non-violent criminals being lock away for victimless crimes and mandatory sentencing but that is not just the case. For example, “In 2014, more than 28,000 people died from an opioid overdose, and at least half of those deaths involved a prescription opioid. Much more became addicted to prescription and illegal opioids” (“Opioids”, 2015). The pharmaceutical industry should have a responsible to its consumers and take responsible for a portion of the blame and to help start a plan to help correct the issues in regards to treatment and in doing so it can help to cut down on overcrowding.   

References:

Engel, P. (2016). Watch How Quickly The War On Drugs Changed America’s Prison Population. Business Insider. Retrieved 11 August 2016, from http://www.businessinsider.com/how-the-war-on-drugs-changed-americas-prison-population-2014-4

Anderson, R. (2014). Pharmaceutical industry gets high on fat profits – BBC News. BBC News. Retrieved 11 August 2016, fromhttp://www.bbc.com/news/business-28212223

“Opioids”, (2015). Opioids: The Prescription Drug & Heroin Overdose Epidemic. HHS.gov. Retrieved 11 August 2016, from http://www.hhs.gov/opioids/