The second supposition, the war on drugs being considered a failure, is a supposition that I agree with. I chose this supposition because I have always agreed that high penalties for drug charges is unfair and a social justice issue. However, I had never done much research regarding the issue. By choosing this supposition, I gave myself a chance to research the War on Drugs and the effects that it has had on individuals who suffer from substance dependence. Furthermore, my interest has always been working with children. Just as many of the Edgewater homeless have been affected by criminal histories that include drug charges, so have many of my clients. I have had many clients whose ability to get a job and provide a stable and fulfilling …show more content…
22). There are several examples of the effects of the War on Drugs on the Edgewater homeless in Righteous Dopefiend. For example, in the novel, Little Vic was not prosecuted for his violent assault on a man. Instead of prosecution, he was sanctioned with a parole violation and received a relatively short sentence. Little Vic’s lack of prosecution was due to an effect of the War on Drugs: overcrowded courts. According to James Inciardi (1993), the War on Drugs had several detrimental consequences including overpopulated jails and liberal release policies. Furthermore, the War on Drugs also exacerbated the spread of AIDS among the incarcerated population. The spread of AIDS was due to the over populated prisons and the increased presence of intravenous drug users in the jail system (Inciardi, …show more content…
The author’s in depth analysis of individuals who suffer from substance abuse as well as other factors that influence their daily lives enabled me to think deeper into my personal opinions about clients I interact with who also suffer from some of the same challenges as the Edgewater homeless. By reading the novel, Righteous Dopefiend, I will be better informed about the challenges and barriers individuals who suffer from substance abuse face. Through Philippe Bourgois and Jeff Schonberg’s research and opinions regarding the issues of substance abuse, mental health, physical health, and homelessness I have become a better clinician equipped to assist individuals that I come into contact with in