US Divided: Substance Use Seen as Health Issue, Yet Criminalized
Originally Published 1 year ago — by The Guardian US
A new poll by the Legal Action Center reveals that 75% of Americans now view substance use as a health issue rather than a criminal one, up from 67% in 2019. Despite this shift in public opinion, many states still criminalize drug possession, and policies on substance use remain inconsistent. While there is growing support for harm-reduction measures like naloxone and fentanyl test strips, funding and access to treatment remain inadequate. Insurance companies often fail to comply with laws requiring coverage for substance use disorder treatment, and criminalization policies continue to hinder access to care, potentially increasing overdose risks.