Like my uncle says, a cop, "what would we do then". Drug & alcohol related arrests are 99% of their work.
These types of policies should be data and analysis questions, not based on politics and world view. Some of them inarguably work better than others.
We need to exit the theater of unfounded opinion when it comes to these things. It's not useful.
I do recognize that cops are just "trying to help", and that no one cares about social workers. Cops are in an advantaged position in the USA because they are relatively well respected by most mainstream members of the population. So the fact that they want to help is good.
But Cops aren't given the right training to deal with medical problems or other problems (ie: Fire hazards. In theory, cops could be the ones to inspect Fire Hazards in buildings, but realistically, its better for Firemen to do it).
There are lots of social work jobs in America. A big problem, a seriously big one... is that we expect Cops to do any job. Erm... no. Have drug specialists deal with the drug problem. Cops really shouldn't shoulder the burden of everything in the country.
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Cops should focus on the distribution of drugs. Not on the users of the drugs. The users need treatment, mental treatment that cops do not have the abilities to give.
These drug abusers need nurses and social workers to check up on them every few hours. Not cops.
We should have figured this out years ago. This won't be the last article we see like this.
Which is why cops should continue to focus on the violent distributors of drugs. But social workers and hospital workers should step up their responsibility and start treating drug abusers better.
Or perhaps, more programs need to be made so that hospital workers / social workers are paid to fix this drug problem.
Hint: throwing drug USERS in jail, where they only get more underground connections and better learn to become a criminal, will start a cycle where they have to end up in jail again. Jail is just about the worst place you can put a person.
What is: the most profitable outcome you can hope for when your prison system is privately owned?
Citation needed.
Watch the video here: https://twitter.com/ProfLAppleby/status/917838820682489858?s...
The initial claim was 'usually turn violent', compared to your 'relatively good predictor of violent behaviour'.
I've known quite a few people with drug dependency problems and very, very few of them were violent.
So, citation still needed.