Decriminalization is 25% of the problem. Lack of universal healthcare, well funded housing support, and rehab-to-work programs are the other 75%. Source: I work

Decriminalization is 25% of the problem. Lack of universal healthcare, well funded housing support, and rehab-to-work programs are the other 75%. Source: I worked in chemical dependency rehab for 5 years. We had a great in-patient residential program that didn't use suboxone as a substitute, but as a bridge to not taking ANY drugs. 7-14 days for most patients and that's it. And we had a huge success rate, but our patients tended to have great support in their lives. The ones who failed were the ones who had no support. Not putting people in jail isn't enough, putting them into treatment is the goal.