Those who are caught using drugs, dealing drugs, or both can face grave legal consequences after further assessment. However, what many do not realize is what action is taken to determine the severity of one’s addiction. It is through such that various individuals—addicts or not—can begin to understand DSM (and/or a specific medical criteria for substance abuse and addiction). According to such, “you have a substance use disorder if your substance use is causing significant problems in your life, like health issues or disability that are related to your substance use and/or not meeting your responsibilities at work, home, or school”.
As a result, what this criteria includes is listed as follows; “hazardous use, social or interpersonal problems related to use, neglected major roles to use, withdrawal, tolerance, used large amounts/longer, repeated attempts to control use or quit, much time spent using, physical or psychological problems related to use, activities give up to use, and craving.” It is through these categories that a diagnosis—of one individual, or many—can be made.
When one begins to meet a majority of these it can begin to not only take a toll on his/her personal life, but his/her good standing within society as well. It is then that the need for the substance can overpower one’s morals—and/or even values. As a result, they might find themselves saying that it will only happen that one time, or finding other ways to justify that what is taking place is okay. In doing so, the willingness to do whatever it takes to get the substance—whether it be drugs, alcohol, or both—can begin to overpower their better judgement.
In conclusion, several drug related arrests take place on a daily basis all because of the addiction that one is faced with—whether it be through alcohol, tobacco, opioids, hallucinogens, etc. For, they may have been under the influence of one or more substances at the time of the crime—or they may have taken part in criminal activity so that they could obtain a particular stimulant.
However, this is something that is oftentimes overlooked because many solely see the crime itself, instead of the reason behind such. But, as the individual receives the treatment he/she needs—to aid in his/her recovery—what he/she is struggling with can be handled right at its source. Through such, addicts can begin to find treatment before the legal consequences—of criminal offenses—even take place, resulting in a healthy, and jail-free life from then on out.